Beer. It’s a good thing. Even better when it’s done well. Lately the art of brewing fine beers really seems to be taking off. Isn’t it great? Around every corner you can find craft breweries, microbreweries, brewpubs–all brewing their own delicious, distinctive, and sometimes delightfully odd versions of the world’s third most popular drink (water and tea come in first and second). So, why not take a beer tasting trip? People do it for wine all the time. Here’s a list to get you started– breweries that strive to produce unique and flavorful beer rather than that watered down, merely palatable stuff. For the most part brewpubs are not included because really, why would you want to ruin a perfectly good beer with food? Now talk someone into being your designated driver and get out there.
Abita Brewing Company – Abita Springs, LA
A gaslamp-lit courtyard, ornamental iron gates, it’s everything you’d expect from a brewery in Louisiana. What makes the beer special? The pure, unfiltered, untreated water from the 3,000-foot deep artesian wells. Tour Info.
Alaskan Brewing Company – Juneau, AK
You’ve got to hit this brewery simply because it’s in Alaska. If you’re doing the Alaskan cruise thing, some boats offer a bike and brew trip. Do it. Another reason to visit? The Smoked Porter, fresh from the source. It’s just so good. The brewery has teamed up with nearby Taku Smokeries (where they usually smoke salmon) to smoke their malts over local alder wood. Did I already mention it’s delicious? Tour Info.
Allagash Brewery – Portland, ME
A fan of Belgians? The folks at Allagash sure are. They’ve even got their own proprietary Belgian yeast strain. Their flagship Allagash White was first released in 1995 from a small 15-barrel brewhouse. Today they produce a whole line of fine Belgian-style beers. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste their Reserve beers made via méthode champenoise. That’s two fermentations, one in the brewery’s fermenting tanks and the second in the bottle. Pop the cork and yum! Tour Info.
Anchor Brewing – San Francisco, CA
Something about this tour makes you want to get a job here. Is it the shiny copper kettles? The super laid back staff who are allowed to drink on the job? Well, don’t get your hopes up. Let’s just say they don’t have a high turnover rate. The Anchor tour is super informative and ends with a seemingly endless tasting session. Be sure to book your tour well in advance. Tour Info.
Boulevard Brewing Company – Kansas City, MO
What will you learn here? All about bottle conditioning. The short version: they add a little yeast to the finished beer just before bottling for a secondary fermentation. Why? Take the tour to find out. Be sure to check out the Smokestack Series. Double Wide IPA anyone? Tour Info.
Brewery Ommegang – Cooperstown, NY
(Source)When I say Cooperstown, do you think baseball? Well think again. Nestled in a pastoral setting in upstate New York, you’ll find Brewery Ommegang. Winner of my favorite beer name: Ommegeddon (say it with a New York accent). Tour Info.
Brooklyn Brewery – Brooklyn, NY
(Source)Wind power! In 2003, Brooklyn Brewery became the first company in New York City to switch to 100% wind-generated electricity. Their lager is pretty darn good, too. Tour Info.
Capital Brewery – Middleton, WI
(Source)Check out the list of awards that Capital’s beers have won and you know you’ve got to visit. Much of their equipment, including the copper tun and kettles, were brought over from the Hoxter Brewery in Germany. Throw in the Bier Stube, Bier Garten and Gift Haus and it’s like your own little slice of Bavaria. Tour Info.
Central Waters Brewing Company – Amherst, WI
(Source)Sip some Shine On, their Red Ale commemorating their recent addition of 24 solar panels. This brewery isn’t just dabbling in going green, though. You’ll find energy efficient lighting throughout, radiant floor heat, and a taproom recently remodeled using recycled products. They also recycle the grain used in the brewing process by sharing it with local farmers to use as feed and compost. Pretty cool. Ok, I admit, they don’t offer a full tour per se. But if you’re in the area it’s worth stopping at their taproom and sneaking a peak at the innovative building. Tour Info.
D.L. Geary Brewing Company – Portland, ME
(Source)With over 20 microbreweries located within its borders, Maine is a beer lover’s paradise. Pair any of their brews with fresh lobster and you won’t want to leave. D.L Geary is the state’s first microbrewery so it’s a good place to start. Or end. Or just stay. They make a great classic pale ale. Be sure to scope out their labels. Every year students from the Maine College of Art submit designs for the Summer Ale package. The winner receives a scholarship. Tour Info.
Dogfish Head – Milton, DE
(Source)The Valhalla of craft breweries. Flavorific. The highpoint of the tour these days is the massive Palo Santo barrel. It holds 10,000 gallons and Brewer Sam Calagione’s quest for this exotic, aromatic, and extremely hard wood is legendary. Tour Info.
Flying Dog Brewery – Frederick, MD
(Source)The brewery with the Gonzo spirit–you probably recognize the art of Ralph Steadman, Hunter S. Thompson’s longtime co-conspirator, on the labels. Winner of my second favorite beer name: Raging Bitch. The tours let you get up close to the action. Just be sure to get there early. Tour Info.
Great Lakes Brewing Company – Cleveland, OH
(Source)Great Lakes has a whole collegiate theme going on. You can visit their “campus” (six buildings) and even attend “Beer School” (an extensive brewery tour and information-packed tasting). It may sound a little hokey but it’s worth it for the beers. They have great names like Burning River Pale Ale, named after the infamous 1969 burning of the Cyahoga River, and great flavor. The Commodore Perry IPA is tasty. Tour Info.
Hair of the Dog Brewing Company – Portland, OR
(source)If you’re looking for some hardcore beer scholars this is the place. They love to brew styles that are totally new, really old, or just plain unusual. The base of all their beers is an organic malt. Hair of the Dog can be a little tricky to find so take their advice and use the map on their website. Tour Info.
Half Acre – Chicago, IL
(Source)Who hasn’t sat around with a group of friends saying, “We should start a brewery”? Well, in 2006 these folks actually did it. The construction at Half Acre’s latest site is finished and ready for visitors. Jealous? I sure am. Tour Info.
Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company – Chippewa Falls, WI
(Source)Yes, I know Leinies is owned by Miller-Coors. Despite that, I’m including it in this list for several reasons. First, it’s still operated by the Leinenkugel family. Second, it was my gateway beer—the first beer I ever had that had some flavor to it—opening my tastebuds to the world of craft beers. Plus, it’s a darn fine tour. Leinenkugel’s was founded in 1867, so there’s a lot of history here that makes the tour interesting—the family, the signage, brewing equipment–it’s a cool tour. Tour info.
Lagunitas Brewing Company – Petaluma, CA
(Source)After 15 years in business, Lagunitas recently opened a taproom so you can show up most days and enjoy some of their fantastic beers with a panini. But no worries, you can still go old-school and call ahead for a tour of the brewery. Tour Info.
Lakefront Brewery – Milwaukee, WI
(Source)Located in Milwaukee’s historic Brewer’s Hill neighborhood, right on the Milwaukee River, in an old trolley station. This place is a landmark. Try to stop by for a Friday night fish fry in the banquet hall. One word—polka. Tour Info.
The Lost Abbey – San Marcos, CA
(Source)This one’s more a tour for the tastebuds. It’s basically just a warehouse with a tasting room after all, and most of the space is occupied by barrel upon barrel of delicious beers brewed using Belgian monastic traditions. Sidle up to the bar and taste whatever they have on tap. Tour info.
Magic Hat – South Burlington, VT
(Source)Looking for quirky? Magic Hat is where it’s at. It’s a short jaunt of a tour with plenty of tastes. Be sure to check out the bottle caps – they have highly amusing sayings printed on the underside. The “not quite pale ale” #9 has diehard fans, but you never know when one of their seasonal or experimental brews will win your heart. Tour Info.
New Glarus Brewing – New Glarus, WI
(source)The town of New Glarus proudly calls itself “America’s Little Switzerland.” It’s adorable. The new Hilltop Brewery fits right in. It’s only fair that New Glarus has been able to upgrade a bit as they’ve routinely won recognition as one of the best craft breweries in the nation to visit. What can you expect? Sampling award winning brews like Fat Squirrel and Yokel. Tour info.
New Belgium Brewery – Fort Collins, CO
(Source)Everyone loves the New Belgium Brewery. Sure they’ve gotten a bit big, but talk about green—these guys started using wind power way back in 1999. And that’s just the beginning. They are uber energy efficient from their lighting to their special Steinecker’s Merlin brew kettle. Then of course, there’s their tireless promotion of the bicycle–their Tour de Fat festival celebrating the bicycle even features a solar-powered stage. Friday and Saturday tours are packed but the brewery has been working to improve the schedule and frequency of tours so they are getting smaller. Still, go on a weekday if you can. Tour Info.
Rogue Brewery – Newport, OR
The folks at Rogue have had a few chuckles at the idea of Sarah Palin joining their Rogue Nation. Say she did. Which ale would she choose? Mom Hefewiezn? Eh, too blond. Mogul Madness? That sounds more like it. Rogue Brewery tours focus on information rather than free samples. If you’re just looking to get a buzz on, head to one of the many Rogue Ales Public Houses. They even have a B&B (that’s Bed and Beer) above the Public House in Newport so you can reserve a room within stumbling distance. Tour Info.
Saint Arnold – Houston, TX
(Source)Texas’s oldest craft brewery. Sure, that only dates them back to 1994, but hey, the world of craft breweries is a young one. A small staff of seventeen people do all the brewing, bottling and selling. For the past year a new location has been under construction, and it’s due to open any time now so be sure to check the website or call ahead before showing up. Tour Info.
Sprecher Brewery – Glendale, WI
(Source)If you’re in the Milwaukee area you are simply required to go to Sprecher. It’s hugely popular as well as a rather family-friendly brewery, or at least driver-friendly. They also make soda. Tour info.
Three Floyds – Munster, IN
(Source)Don’t worry, this isn’t what the line looks like every day. This is the line on Dark Lord Day–the last Saturday in April and the only day of the whole year to purchase the heavy duty Russian Style Imperial Stout. Their other beers definitely make Three Floyds worth a visit the rest of the year. Tour Info.
Yuengling – Pottsville, PA
(Source)You can’t miss seeing the country’s oldest brewery can you? Started as the Eagle Brewery in 1829, this family business has weathered many storms, not the least of which was Prohibition. How did they survive? They produced “near-beer”, with only .5% alcohol it was similar to what we now call nonalcoholic beer, and opened a dairy across the street. A ton of history here including cool murals. Tour Info.
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I’d say Anerson Valley Brewing Co. should be added to the list. Their solar powered brewery with a disc golf course on the premesis is pretty unique. Also Full Sail in Hood River, OR is another Craft Brewery that I’d add to the list. Great tour, and the company is employee owned.