Beer Vacation Write Ups

To further expound, I have an aunt that lives outside of Asheville. I have never visited because I got great breweries, restaurants, dumb hippies, and Appalachia at home (or at least nearby).

Meanwhile, I'll still go visit friends in Philly, because there are things in Philly you can't get elsewhere, like the art museum, the flower show, or the best Italian food in north America. And they also have a zoo.

 

Why a problem ? You travel a lot domestic /international.I’ve seen wine and beer posts From you and stories with your wife . How about interest to others on BA about the towns and restaurant's you have tried and breweries /stores you saw while in town ..always helpful to us . We might like to see/read about your adventures Pictures of all are the best..

 

Gottcha,' now it makes more sense. Thanks.

 

I have only one experience driving through/around Atlanta and it was less than pleasant. Coming back from a road trip to visit family and friends in Texas we were traveling in the Atlanta area just before rush hour, like 3:00 - 3:30 but perhaps, but perhaps this is when rush hour(s) begin there? The cell phone travel app got us changing routes many times and each re-route had heavy traffic.

Just one 'data point' but I don't think your friend to too far off with his "giant parking lot" comment.

Cheers!

 

Sources have informed me that Atlanta's rush hour starts at 4am and lasts until 3am.

Heard the most horror stories about Atlanta than any other city in my OTR days, even though I never went. Would much rather drive the DC beltway than Atlanta.

 

Brewhaha can be fun if they have the right staff on hand. Elkton is doing good work

 

Worked with a dude in DC that had previously lived in Chicago and Atlanta, and he said DC traffic was the worst, because at least in Chicago and Atlanta there seemed to be a reason for it.

 

Seems like a solid idea.

 

So, I find that sometimes vacation writeups help me formulate my own plans... but more so seeing other people's planning threads. If you look at my history I ask a ton of questions, and while yes i want the primary hand help, I do hope maybe others can use that info for second hand gains as I've used others.

I do my own "free scouting" via google maps but that can only go so far.

 

I voted yes. I've done numerous reports here on BA. The majority of them were about Portland, Maine. I would include everything about the trip, especially food highlights (people seemed to enjoy reading about the large volume of food I'd consume in a weekend trip).

I used to keep an update to date word document that people would request mapping out all the best spots in Portland, not just beer related.

Someone in the beer industry actually caught wind of it and I got connected with them and we became friends.

There's also a cool photo from one of my trips in which I was the very first customer at a new Portland brewery. I believe its me, the owner, and English Bitter I ordered.

 

Ha, funny I could care less about all of this when I travel. My wife drags me to those and then I drag her to breweries.

Luckily we're both huge fans of food and plan things around food as well.

When I travel I'm looking for food, drink, and observing the local culture. Love talking to locals, seeing what they enjoy doing and where to go. Talking to bartenders or waitstaff to learn more about the area.

A museum to me...is just a museum. A statue...just a statue. I appreciate seeing these with my wife, but if I was alone not sure I'd go out of my way for site seeing. I find a lot of locals may never do those things either. I have a couple buddies who grew up right outside NYC. They've never been to the Statue of Liberty. I've lived in the Boston area all my life and have never done the Freedom Trail.

Now, if it's something truly amazing, I'm in. When we visit Rome this summer I'm absolutely seeing the Colosseum.

Ironically, I do inadvertently see a lot of things though just due to the huge volume of walking I do on trips. As you said, have to break up eating and drinking at some point...

 

I like hitting the small, local museums. Learn some local history.

 

Greater Boston has become brutal. I live 16 miles from work. Many days it can take me an hour to get home.

 

I like the idea. A good beer vacation write up can be a fun read, especially when it gives a real sense of the beer, food, city, and overall experience.

I will admit, this is probably why I rarely do full write ups myself. If I ever wrote one, it would likely turn into a travel log with tasting notes, walking routes, brewery context, food stops, service impressions, and enough detail to make people wonder if I was submitting evidence.

So yes, I would read them. I just admire the folks who can keep them tighter than I probably would.

 

And therein lies the problem. It's such a PITA uploading photos on this site that I've given up. I voted 'yes' but feel like this would only be a success if you could upload pics more easily

Your sources are correct. The only time I've gone through Atlanta and not hit traffic was at 3am

Have also driven in all those places except LA. For me DC is tied with ATL

 

Please be seated before continuing. What follows is less a normal beer vacation write up and more a dramatized Cape May County beverage campaign written with deep affection, mild exaggeration, and absolutely no apology for enjoying the act of creation itself.

Friday, we left Collingswood New Jersey and rode toward oblivion, knowing not what trials Cape May County had prepared for us. We pushed onward into the unknown, seeking beer, food, rest, and whatever strange glory the weekend would provide. First stop was COHO Brewing Company before checking in. A proper opening beer, a brief moment of calm before the campaign began, and then on to the Airbnb. That evening, we celebrated and rejoiced in our sojourn, raised our glasses, and ate heartily at The Ebbitt Room.

Saturday, with the weight of the prior day pressing down but the will to continue still intact, we went to Nauti Spirits. I was running low on food by then, tested by poor planning and mortal weakness, but the food truck appeared like salvation. After that, we returned to the Airbnb, took a nap, reset ourselves, and then Cape May confronted us once again, this time in the form of Gusto Brewing Company. Gusto was the standout beer stop for me. The service felt almost like a triumphant signal to our conquering up to that point, as if the gods of barley and foam had briefly looked upon us with favor.

Sunday, once again bent, tested, and moving forward by wit and willpower, we stopped at Slack Tide Brewing Company before going to Cape May Distilling. Slack Tide did not land as strongly, as enemies seemed to challenge our willpower, but we stopped, gathered our strength, and still found room to honor the sacred barley beverage. Cape May Distilling became the final peak of this descent into madness, where we were greeted and hailed as victors of the weekend. New friends seemed to cheer in a cacophony of victory, power, and spirit, while rum, tequila, and vodka flowed in full display. It was the most victorious point of the journey.

And so concluded our compact Cape May County campaign: beer, food, rest, sacred barley, strong pours, and enough movement through the land to make the whole journey feel connected. It was not a massive beer pilgrimage. It was a smaller conquest, but a worthy one. If others bring forth their own beer vacation chronicles, I will read them with honor.

 

Gotta tell you, I do most of my brewery tour updates on FB as its way easier to post pics there. But I'll come back and describe all accomplishments hitting up my rando VA breweries.

 

The chronicler neglected one vital inscription: this sacred Cape May County campaign occurred in July 2021.

 

I visited Gusto once (a number of years ago) and while I enjoyed the beers there...What are your thoughts about a brewery located in a strip mall?

Cheers!