The bumper sticker read: “Will Travel For Beer.” I had no choice but to believe them. Their car was parked in a Denver parking lot while bearing Florida license plates. The bumper sticker shared back-window real estate with dozens of stickers acquired from breweries all over the country.
This car traveled for the sake of whatever came out of the next tap handle. It’s no secret how craft beer has exploded in popularity over recent years. It is estimated the industry contributed nearly 68 billion dollars to the national economy in 2016, and the impact is seen within local municipalities. Brewers have given new life into all-but abandoned industrial areas of cities, filling in vacant warehouses and giving a reason for local funds to re-develop areas seen as a lost cause. In addition to enhancing public areas, craft breweries bring rise to an extensive number of jobs – from production and inspection to distribution and marketing.
The fact that people travel for craft beer, crossing state – and international! – lines for the chance to try something completely new and unique only adds to the local tourism industry – hotels, transportation, tours, shopping.
All in, $68 billion feels a little light.
The number of craft breweries to try can be overwhelming, and with the rise of brewing scenes in just about every state of the union, it can feel impossible to pick just a single place to visit. Chances are, you can visit just about any well-established city and find a handful of fantastic breweries to visit. To be safe, we’ve added a few below that are worth building your next road trip around.
Denver, Colorado
Of course, we are going to head of this list with the home of the Great American Beer Festival! Even if you aren’t in town for the annual festivities, enough breweries and taprooms are hosting year-round events, the city always feels like a bit of a festival. Thanks to the state’s supportive legislation for the production, sale, and distribution of beer, brewers can start up a brewery and scale quality products with ease. A beer connoisseur can quickly eat up an entire day, each, in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins and still not scratch the surface of all the refreshing brews available.
It feels like the large-scale breweries anchor most of the trendy neighborhoods in Denver. Every brewery started small, scaled quickly, and has given fertile grounds for other smaller breweries to bloom. Epic Brewing (from Utah) opened the second brewhouse in Denver’s River North Art’s District (search for “Rino”) and now features a dozen tap rooms within walking distance. Check out Ratio brewing and Our Mutual Friend for something local and new. Want to stick with the big boys? Great Divide Brewing and Odell’s are nearby, and New Belgium’s all-sour brewhouse and taproom are within an easy walk.
Asheville, North Carolina
Any town that features a place called “Beer City Crossfit” is a good a place as any to host a fantastic beer scene. Asheville certainly fits the bill with innovative brewers such as Burial Brewing, Green Man Brewing, Wicked Weed, and High Wire Brewing. Set in the bucolic region of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has served as a haven for those looking to get away, and the local brewery scene makes sure everyone who arrives is relaxed and sated. In recent years, bigger name breweries from the western region of the United States have set up operations in the Buncombe County region – such as California’s Sierra Nevada and Colorado’s Oskar Blues. Big, small, Asheville’s got it all.
Bend, Oregon
Located about two and a half hours east of Eugene is the small town of Bend that has served as a brewing powerhouse for the state of Oregon. Settled on the banks of the Deschutes River (hey, that’s a brewery in Bend!), you can experience the small-town vibe which gave way to critically acclaimed beers now enjoyed nationwide. An afternoon walking tour can take you through Deschutes brewing, Ten Barrel, Good Life, and Bend Brewing company’s tap rooms. Want to add to your experience? Start the day with a hike in the nearby hills or a float down the river, and finish it off by quenching your thirst with a beer brewed with those fine, Cascadian hops.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Beer might be the last thing you think of when “Utah” comes to mind, because of, well…you know. Yet, the city West of the Rockies has figured out how to make the laws work for them to develop an active craft beer scene. Epic Brewing found its roots in Utah and built a portfolio of strong, robust beers while Uinta, Fisher, and Saltrock Brewing all grew up along with them. While the beer scene is surprisingly prolific, make sure you have a designated driver or a trusty bicycle to get from one location to the next.
Santa Rosa, CA
Napa Valley is known the world around for their wines. Santa Rosa, nestled right in the Napa region, is known for their extensive collection of breweries. Pliny The Younger, one of the first well-known beers to hit the craft-world is a heady number brewed in downtown Santa Rosa at a little place called Russian River Brewing Company. During the annual release of Pliny, you can expect to stand in a day-long line (other days, the taproom is open and welcoming!), so you may want to walk a block in any direction and give Steel & Hops, Fogbelt, or Three Disciples Brewing a taste.
Lexington, KY
Hold up – isn’t Kentucky known for distilling? Why do they sing so many songs about Kentucky Bourbon if we’re suggesting you find the brewery scene here? Both are great questions – and here’s another: what goes better with a massive plate of smoky barbeque than a finely crafted IPA? In Lexington, you’re likely to find a sign that reads “Brewery AND Smokehouse” to serve both of your appetites. I’d suggest checking out West Sixth, Ethereal, and Blue Stallion.
Visiting somewhere not on our list, and still want to get a decent brew? Ask the locals. Your waiter, the campground host, even the guy at the gas station may have a few ideas! What better way to get to know the local cultures than by asking the locals?
Need a way to get to these brewing nirvanas? Hey! How about renting an RV for the trip?
