For me it's the following: Visit Jester King Visit New Glarus Visit Westvleteren Visit U Fleku That sums it up. I had other places in my bucket list but over the years I have lost interest (at least compared to how badly I wanted to go in the past).
The only way that I know is to generate your total list and then look at each place one at a time, or count on the word brewery in each name being accurate.
Although it wasn't ever on my proper bucket list, I felt this way about Stone Richmond. I definitely wanted to go, especially after they announced the change in ownership and "closure" of that brewery, but then I realized that I'd be visiting Abita and with Mitch now being a part of their team I really didn't see it as a necessity.
My experience: the place is gigantic (it was their E Coast brewing operation) but the time I went there was nothing super special or earth shattering available on draft. This was sandwiched in between Triple Crossing Fulton and Steam Bell as far as brewery visits (the latter also, now, out of business). I honestly enjoyed hitting Stone Liberty Station and Stone SD Airport more (beer for breakfast, yay) on my San Diego work trip.
I was afraid that might be the case. I've visited only 30 breweries, mostly in Ohio and Iowa, and the only one on my radar right now is New Glarus. I've been to all the states and I've had beers from them all, but I'm about done with specific beer goals now. I'm happy with just getting my Christmas lineup together.
Curiously, which one did you like most? I thought DIA (Denver) was pretty amazing. Nashville wasn't bad either. Nashville was pretty unique from a music standpoint too, with people playing live music everywhere.
This past time going there after the announcement of the sale was the first time that they really had much in the way of stuff that was draft only releases. They also never really got around to building the bistro, either.
3Floyds Cantillon Tree House Hill Farmstead Allagash Bell woods Loved BOYD Alchemist Anchorage Russian River Fremont Wicked Weed Guinness (when in Rome) Sierra Nevada I am going to Lost Abbey and Alesmith in a few weeks. Been to Toppling Goliath for Assassin Day, what an experience. Spent time at New Glarus, will return with a moving truck. I have been to The Bruery. I was fortunate enough to sit down at a Belgian bar in Barcelona, and I would love to do that again. By the way, I was fairly drunk and walked 4 miles back to my hotel because I did not think I was that tore up. Luckily, I made it. I will probably not try that again. Spent time at Jester King, what an awesome place. I have been fortunate to enjoy many beer experiences. GABF is on that list too.
Having been to Oktoberfest in Munich already, I’d really like to go to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. I understand it geared more towards brewers, than consumers, but I’d still like to go. I’d also like to visit Australia, I see lots of breweries when I pull it up on Google Maps. My wife reconnected with a family she was friends with in her childhood and used to babysit for on Facebook. They moved to the east coast of Australia and she’s had an open invitation to come visit for many years now. It’s just a matter of going! I’d also like to tour England and Scotland. I’ve been to London a couple of times but only ventured into the suburbs a little. I’d really like to see the whole country.
My top five aren't particularly complicated, as they center around some classics: 1.) Timothy Taylor products (preferably Landlord and Boltmaker) on cask in the UK 2.) Pilsner Urquell at the source 3.) Drink a bottle of Blind Pig (preferably fresh, as I've never had it) 4.) Drink a bottle of Alaskan Smoked Porter (preferably fresh, as I've never had it) 5.) Go to NERAX every year for the rest of my life
I shit my pants in Prague Castle and had to walk two miles back to my hotel in the summer heat. Only to find that the hotel had no water that afternoon. Cleaned myself up with some Clorox wipes and went to Únětický Pivovar. I was NOT missing out on going there. Going to the UK this summer, so I'll check number one off. Have done both two and three. Missed out on four...I think? Been to NERAX every year since 2008. Reading this thread makes me realize I've checked off A LOT of cool beer goals. After I hit London this summer I'll only have two left. Bamberg and Cologne/Dusseldorf.
