East Coast Beer Trip

If you're traveling around the Lancaster or Harrisburg, PA areas (which you will be if you're going to Troegs), you might want to check out Federal Taphouse. There's one in Lancaster, and one in Harrisburg. They both have 100 beers on tap. I've only been to the Lancaster location. The selection is usually pretty good. Prices can be hit or miss. Some seem reasonable to me, and others seem a little on the high side.

 

If you do end up going to Dogfish, you have to reserve a spot as far in advance as possible for the tour. If you don't then i would pass. they don't sell beer at there tasting room, they just give you a couple of samples.

 

Hit up Jack's Abby in Framingham MA, Night Shift in Everett MA and Trillium in Boston. Also, the Boston Harpoon and Sam Adams are a good time for larger scale craft breweries. If you have time of course.

 

Might want to clarify that they do sell beer to go, but not for on site consumption.

Booking a tour in advance is a good idea, though two of my friends and I just showed up and got on one on a Friday afternoon.

 

Tired Hands, just outside of Philly. Definitely a brewery on the rise. (Sorry if someone already posted this).

 

when going through mass hi wormtown, Jack's abby , Spencer brewery. In Vermont while in Waterbury you must stop by the prohibition pig. Great food and have amazing brews. Have a good selection of alchemist.

jacks Abby and wormtown in mass while up in Vermont go to the prohibition pig. Great food and amazing tap menu. Got heady topper and other alchemists brews. Its in Waterbury

 

Smartmouth and O'Connors in Norfolk VA if you roll through here, both are solid and have a great atmosphere. Smartmouth is a bit more refined, but you can have fun at either, and hell, they're right down the street from each other if you got time for both. Devils Backbone a bit north if you can swing it as well, they're pretty well known by now and have some great beers. St. George brewing in Hampton VA ain't bad either. If you take a more westerly route and hit Charlottesville, Starr Hill isn't a bad place to hit. You already said you're hitting Alewerks which is a good choice. If you're anywhere near Richmond, grab something from Legend. Good brews there. Hardywood has already got a mention or two, but I'll throw another one for them. And way, way west is Blue Mountain, which has an awesome brewpub with a great view and some awesome beer. It all depends what route you take through VA.

If you're hitting Alewerks in Williamsburg, check out some of the nearby wineries as well. You can get some really great wines around that area. Same with Charlottesville, who also have really great hard cider mills. Enjoy the trip!

 

I wouldn't really waste my time at Warhorse/3brothers, seeing as how it's literally a bar with 6 taps. They get business mostly from kitschy marketing and not the greatest product, which would make it a waste of time on such a long trip and put you way off your original path.

I second the Ithaca criticism. Things just aren't the same. Avoid middle ages too. not the greatest experience. definitely hit up Peeksill and captain Lawrence. those are much closer to the i-84 corridor. if you're going to take a huge detour, aim for ommegang. it's not an amazing tour, but the staff is great and the baseball hof is 15 mins away.

 

Booking in advance for a tour is a good idea, but unless not selling beer for consumption is new, they did sell drinks for about $6 when we were there in October. For more options and their recent experimental beer, you have to hit their brewpub, anyhow, which is also usually crowded.

 

if you pass in new jersey can't miss kane brewing 1750 bloomsbury ave ocean township,nj 07712
carton brewing 6East washington ave atlantic highlands nj 07716

 

I can attest to their awesome tap list. Went to Vermont this summer and visited this place. They had both KBS AND BCBCS on tap!

 

Wow a lot of great advice in this thread. You should be able to plan an amazing east coast trip with all this info.

Damn I'm on the east coast and this thread is inspiring me to make a brewery road trip.

 

It's inspired me as well! I'm planning one as we speak for this summer!

 

Shoot me a message if you wind up hitting up Carton. I live 5 minutes away and go there regularly. I'll bring a few bottles to open while you're there.

 

Maybe selling beer for consumption is new. It's been about 2.5 years since I was there. I know they didn't when I was there.

 

I'm not sure what their overall focus is, but I had a nice IPA from their brewery the other day, so they do some American styles at least.

 

Tired Hands def. specializes in Saisons, done traditionally, and with great modern twists of every kind imaginable. Their hoppy stuff is off the charts good as well, and they will definitely have some things to please any palate.