Big Roadtrip; Where Should I stop?

If you are in Illinois...cross the bridge to St. Louis...a dozen very good breweries right beyond the Gate Way to the West.

 

The only brewery in Charleston WV is the Charleston Brewing Company. Also, in August there is a Rails and Ales Festival in Huntington; usually a lot of craft beer vendors show up. Other than that you'll need luck to find much in WV.

 

That's a very ambitious plan!

Are you planning on visiting breweries, or just looking for the best beer from these states?

 

If you make it to DC, try to stop by Church Key (bar) and/or Blue Jacket (brewery run by same people).

For South Carolina, might want to consider Westbrook.

 

Wow, you're probably going to need a U-Haul for all the beer you'll be bringing back.

New Glarus is a must for Wisconsin. The brewery is beautiful, the beer garden's great, the gift shop's awesome, and the beer is consistently awesome. Their fruit beers are the best you'll find anywhere, too.

Three Floyds is a must for Indiana. I'd try and go on a Wednesday, or Thursday. Usually those days Zombie Dust and Gumball Head become available. The food's incredible, the beer's insane, I loved the atmosphere, and on a weekday you don't have to listen to insanely loud metal the entire time. The waitress' were all gorgeous, too (at least on my visit).

 

Stop the trip! That trip is over 10,000 miles, I'm sorry, over 16093.44 kilometers. Oh, hell, enjoy the ride, as the song says.

 

La Cumbre is a true gem that doesn't yet get the pub it deserves. Plan a night in ABQ - I bet you a nickel it'll be the best beer experience you have.

 

Here's a few recommendations from my neck of the woods.

Chicago - Go to Lincoln Square and have lunch at either Bad Apple or Northdown Tap Room or maybe Logan Square for Revolution brew pub. All great food and beer programs. Then you are right by the Half Acre taproom for some fresh Daisy Cutter. Grab some Pipeworks and Solemn Oath bombers before you leave town.

Indiana - you obviously won't want to miss the 3 Floyds brewpub. Highlight of your trip potentially if you get 2 cases of zombie dust for your cooler.

Michigan - wasn't on your list, but about an hour north of FFF is the Greenbush brewery. There is nothing between FFF and Ohio, so maybe you could head up there, then go west and hit some of these on your way to Ohio: New Holland, Bell's, Founder's, Short's etc.

Ohio - Fat Head's, Brew Kettle.

West Virginia - Avoid at all costs.

Drive safely!

 

But we have so much....haha just kidding. Charleston brewing in charleston, however they sold they're restaurant space to a burrito joint. North end tavern in parkersburg and morgantown brewing in morgantown plus a few more (we do have bridge brew) that aren't really open to the public or are just starting up.

 

LOL from Alberta = hard core. I'd head to the nearest big beer city. I'd head to Ca or Chicago, I'd love to go to Alpine, great beer hear it's a great place. Chicago, great food and beer too. That's a lot of miles, but I'd probably opt for more diversity and hit Chicago, might save some gas too.

 

South Carolina: Westbrook and COAST
North Carolina: Wicked Weed, Green Man and Burial

 

Louisiana: Avenue Pub, NOLA Brewing, Parish Brewing if you get to that part of the state
Mississippi: Southern Prohibition, Lazy Magnolia
Orlando/Florida: Cigar City, Cigar City...Swamp Head, Due South
Alabama: Straight to Ale, Good People

I could continue, but I think you're going to have tons of options and fun, enjoy!

 

I found a wife in WV.

I wish I had this advice.

 

In Cali I'd hit Firestone Walker Barrelworks in Buellton and Stone in San Diego for sure...There are obviously many, many more but I think these two have great brews and great locations to offer.

 

Texas - Austin - BYOB - Must do: http://www.saltlickbbq.com/pages/Driftwood.html

 

I just want to say that you'd get much better results posting a different thread in each region you plan on visiting. Also this trip seems quite ambitious. Pace yourself with your purchasing. I've done much shorter trips and bought a lot in the beginning and couldn't buy as much as I wanted at later stops.

 

Some sad stuff about WV in this thread. Unfortunately it's not all that far off.

True that Charleston Brewing leased out their brewery front to Black Sheep Burrito, a place with similar good beer advocacy out of nearby Huntington, but I believe you will still find many CBC beers available there, as they are made just on the other side of the wall. They have gone to a strictly production mode but their beers are quite solid. Probably the best in the state.

Bridge is possibly the oldest operating brewery in WV. They sell in large format bottles through the state and do not offer tours, but you can try a nice selection of theirs (and some friggin' awesome pizza and wings) if you stop in Pies and Pints in Fayetteville.

Doubtful that your route will take you this way (very few do) but if you get the chance, try the brand spanking new Big Timber Brewing out of Elkins (eastern mountains). The brewer there is a friend and certainly knows how to make some good beer.

Avoid Mountain State. Nasty stuff.

 

Firestone Walker is definitely a must-hit.

In New Mexico, you should hit Marble, La Cumbre and Duel for sure, Il Vicino, Bosque, Second Street, Nexus, and Santa Fe Brewing if time permits.