Huntsville, AL

http://www.huntsvillebeer.com/

 

Straight to Ale taproom and the Nook are the two biggies. There is also Blue Pants Brewery and Yellowhammer Brewery. I don't stay up that way so can't give you hotel info but definitely check out those places I listed.

 

Blue Pants also has tap room.
Wish You Were Beer should be opening up very soon (https://www.facebook.com/wishyouwerebeerllc)

 

As for places to stay, if you want zero driving the best bet is the Homewood Suites or Spring Hill Suites at Providence Main. The Mellow Mushroom there always has a good craft selection with a good sampling of the local brews. There a couple of other restaurants that will have some craft beers too.

The Embassy Suites and some other new chain hotel I can't remember are close to downtown with several bars and a brewpub. Maybe a little long walking distance for some but it's doable.

Anywhere else you'll need to account for having to drive. Huntsville isn't a pedestrian friendly town. Any of the places on Madison Blvd. in the city of Madison will be relatively close to Blue Pants and the Stem and Stein, two of my favorites in the area.

 

STA (open 3-10) and Blue Pants (hours vary) tap rooms; they usually have food trucks hanging around.

The Nook is out of my price range and the food is basic, but they do have a larger selection than any bar in the area. Drake's has a tap takeover most Wednesdays and you can occasionally find something special. Below the Radar brews their own stuff (which I haven't tried) and has a bigger craft selection than Drake's, but they're also a little pricey for me. Mellow Mushroom and Sam & Greg's (both pizza places) have local brews.

Liquor Express looks sketchy as shit from the outside and is a pretty small building, but they've got the best selection of any retailer here. For the past few months they've been updating their tap list, new inventory, sales, etc. regularly on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Liquor-Express/109794525718106?fref=ts. Earth Fare also has a decent selection and is a good place to grab some food.

 

Liquor Express is the best package retailer in Huntsville. The Nook and Drake's are great bars. I seem to believe if you can get it directly from the brewery go there. Straight to Ale, Blue Pants have tasting rooms. Also Yellowhammer just opened there's and is a must that you hit up. Enjoy the brews and lets us know what you thought.

 

I think you can scratch off Wish You Were Beer for those dates. I just walked by there and I doubt they'll be up and running then.

The Nook is the place to go if you can only pick one.

 

I just visited Huntsville for the first time last weekend for a Westbrook tap takeover at Below the Radar and was really impressed with the draught and bottle list there, and with the growler fill options and bottle selection at Liquor Express. Get some Blue Pants Bourbon BA Wee Heavy and STA Unobtanium if you can, but I hear it's hard to come by up that way. There is plenty in Birmingham if you travel a little further!

 

First rule of Huntsville Beer Club is you do not pass up Unobtanium
Second rule of Huntsville Beer Club is you do not pass up Unobtanium

 

Uno is gone here. I bought the last 2 bottles I saw. BP wee heavy is still around though.

 

Go to straight to ale for sure. Then drive down to Birmingham later this week for Good People, Cahaba, Avondale and hit up Hop City. It's worth the hour and a half-two hour drive.

 

Glad to hear you enjoyed the trip. Huntsville really is a diamond in the rough and the beer culture is only getting better. I like to think of it as a growing Asheville.

 

Where's the best place to stay for walking distance to most places in the aforementioned posts?

 

Nothing is really walkable. I moved before Below the Radar, but you are really going to need to rent a car and watch yourself or just call for cabs (which can be easier said than done).