Beer-cation ideas needed

Nothing too worthwhile, but a quick stop to try something new can't hurt.

 

PS Agreed- 75 degrees in November is difficult to cope with and that Cigar County Brewery... or something of that nature is totally overrated. You're best served by exploring the rare finds at Sierra Nevada's tasting room or possibly having tea and crumpets in Rhode Island.

 

Given the time frame ME and VT. Some really great beers no clue about tours though.

 

Went to VT in late September - it was awesome, and not just because of the beer. Great food, hardly any chain stores of any kind, and the scenery is wonderful. So far as the beer... The Alchemist pretty much wants you to buy your taste, case, and any merch and get out. Works great so long as you want a case, but get there at 11:30 or before so you can get parking. Hill Farmstead has great beer but is crazy slow--no joke, waited in line for close to 3 hours on a Wednesday in 50 degrees and overcast. Plus it is really on a farm, at the end of a gravel road--can't imagine how that would be in December snow. Got lucky with Lawson's -- we were driving through the mountains, stopped at the Warren Store and got a few bottles just before a couple showed up and emptied them out of Kiwi (each bought their 4 bottle limit). All things considered, you may want to do California. My 40th is next year and my wife suggested flying into San Diego and driving up the coast visiting breweries... I said "honey, that's a great idea!"

 

For a three day weekend, i think your basic idea of heading to Portland for the weekend is your best plan. There's enough stuff other than beer to do, and there's enough beer to keep ya from getting thirsty.

 

Southwest Michigan

 

Thirded

 

Oh my holy hell, after I read the thread title I was trying to figure out how beer could have a positive net charge.

*sets down chem book*


Oh yeah, and a lot of breweries distribute to Florida, so that's fun.

 

Everyone knows beer is an anion...hit the books.

 

I've lost touch with that part of the country....honest question...what makes Asheville, NC a great beer town?

 

Yes. There's a ton of things to do in San Diego.

 

Didn't mean to make you mad.

 

Where to start
Highlands--pioneer of craft in the south for over 20 years
Green Man
Wicked Weed
French Broad Brewing
Burial, Wedge, Highwire
I am sure there are more plus nanos and brew pubs I can't keep up with.

Oscar Blues (Brevard--20mins south)
Building a Sierra Nevada and New Belgium

Although there have been a lot of recent additions, like everywhere, there is an awesome culture there.
Oscar Blues has and SN and NB are locating there for a reason. Highland should be given credit for being the pioneer.

Asheville is a great place to visit. Everyone should visit the Biltmore house once--then go to hit the Breweries.

 

Bed and Brew package at The Inn at Cooperstown. Been there multiple times. Great weekend with plenty of beer, great restaurants and both beer and non-beer related things to do...

 

Portland Me is great then head to Vt. and visit Hill Farmstead, The Alchemist and many others near by. Lots of great restaurants in Waterbury,Vt (near the Alchemist)great food and beer selections

 

I say go to san fran any day. Or Portland. Depends on what you want to see and do. Unless its a true beer trip?
I love to drink the beer, not spend all my time in a tasting room. Not to mention your young and in love right?
One can always drink in bed, I say.

anywhere? well hopefully its not on a holiday, go to Belgium if you like their beers. Still wrong time of the year for me. Though xmas in Europe is fun, but frigging cold.

 

As someone who just did a beer tour throughout New England, I'd suggest flying to Portland Oregon. Spend a couple nights there and hit Cascade (if you like sours), Hair of the Dog, Deschutes, Breakside, Laurelwood, Horse Brass, or any of the other numerous stellar options.
Then drive down to Bend. Visit Crux, schedule an appointment at Ale Apothecary (again, if you enjoy sours, but even if don't the experience is unlike any brewery tour you've likely experienced before), stop at Boneyard, check out Goodlife, and visit Deschutes again if the mood strikes you.


Next drive a few hours and stay a night or two in Hood River. Double Mountain, pFriem, and Logsdon are all here and all make fantastic beer. Plus, you can drive across the bridge into White Salmon WA and hit up Everybody's Brewing. Then you can drive back to Portland and fly home.


In my opinion, this would provide a much more memorable experience. There are also a ton more places that I didn't mention.

 

Make sure to check out Oxbow Brewing. Been to many breweries but it is definately different. Small, in the middle of no where and laid back. Busy with people coming and going but it is quiet and low key.

 

Ha ha ha, well said. I thought similar actually, "If I had free time with my wife the last people I'd want to be around is a bunch of fat bearded guys pontificating about attenuation." Grab some growlers and disappear to a cabin somewhere off the grid, that's my plan!

 

Just go to Colorado and think me later. There are so many breweries out there that they are starting to open breweries inside of breweries.