Road trip ME to FL

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by adamsns6696, Aug 12, 2015.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. adamsns6696

    adamsns6696 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2013 Maine

    Hey everyone! I am going to be leaving ME and going to Pensacola, FL. I am in the military and am going to school there. I will have 5 days to get there and want to stop at some breweries on the way down and hopefully get my hands on some pretty good stuff. Does anyone have any input on must visit breweries that would be on my way? I already plan to stop at Wicked Weed and possibly westbrook and dogfish head. I am not too familiar with east coast breweries outside of New England. Anything south of MA really. Any help is appreciated! Thank you!
     
  2. Hesscabob

    Hesscabob Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2014 Illinois

    Sounds like an epic trip you have ahead of yourself. I'd recommend if you are going inland to head to Charlotte - NoDa Brewing and Birdsong. About 2 hours East of Wicked Weed. If you're planning to head to the coast after that, Westbrook is 3 hours from Charlotte with some awesome scenery along the way.
     
    adamsns6696 likes this.
  3. WillQC4Beer

    WillQC4Beer Initiate (0) May 1, 2014 Vermont

    Tired Hands. Plan a long stop.
     
    mpalestino and Ken_P like this.
  4. rgordon

    rgordon Pooh-Bah (2,701) Apr 26, 2012 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    If your route is as flexible as it sounds, hit the Pa and Delaware spots, head to Richmond for Hardywood and Mekong. Then take I-64 West to Charlottesville, some nice new breweries and a great place to visit (Monticello and UVA). Hit I-81 South and meander out towards the big remote mountains and find a cool route into Asheville- I would suggest The Blue Ridge Parkway if you have the time. Asheville is worth the time, trust me. Florida is south of there and damned easy to find. On the way out of Asheville head south on I-24 and stop at Sierra Nevada's awesome new facility at Mills River just south of town. I-24 is a direct feed into South Carolina and points beyond. Have a good journey!
     
    #4 rgordon, Aug 12, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2015
    adamsns6696 likes this.
  5. alex_delany

    alex_delany Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2015 New York

    Tired Hands is a must hit in Ardmore, PA. Stop for lunch at The Fermentaria. Not far off of 95, which I assume you'll be traveling heavily.
     
    adamsns6696 likes this.
  6. mctizzz

    mctizzz Initiate (0) Dec 23, 2010 California

    If I were doing the trip I would want to hit: Maine Brewing, Ox Bow, Allagash, Hill Farmsead, Alchemist, pick up some Lawson's, Trillium, Jacks Abbey, Treehouse, Voodoo, Kane, Max's Taphouse, Tired Hands, Hardywood, Wicked Weed, Olde Hickory, Westbrook, 7venth Sun, Cycle, Rapp, Cigar City, and Funky Buddha. Though that is ridiculously ambitious and some I'm not sure that all are open to the public.
     
  7. Gsulliv2

    Gsulliv2 Crusader (491) Dec 9, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    I think most people above nailed it but depending on route (and if you need something in between long stretches) I'd say throw in Pizza Boy. I recently moved to Boston from Atlanta with stops in Asheville and then a quick night at Pizza Boy in PA.

    Also, I'd look into proof in Tallahassee (again only if the route works - I'd imagine this may be possible since its just of I-10) they have some nice beers, a nice location (railroad square location) and usually have some good Cigar City offerings.
     
    adamsns6696 likes this.
  8. mtvolkens

    mtvolkens Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2015 Florida

    I'm not able to answer your post in the way that you're seeking, and not sure about the route, but I would imagine hitting Terrapin in Georgia before entering FL.

    Once you're in FL however, Jacksonville has a bunch of great little craft breweries that are doing some awesome work, and Tampa is obviously worth your time to see CCB, Cycle Brewing ect.
     
  9. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Be sure to hit New England Brewing Company once you get into Connecticut. It's only a few miles off of I-95 (if you're taking I-95 at that point of the trip).
     
    adamsns6696 and connecticutpoet like this.
  10. Monktastic7

    Monktastic7 Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Tired Hands outside of Philly for sure....load up on growlers, you will not be disappointed.
     
    adamsns6696 likes this.
  11. The_Snow_Bird

    The_Snow_Bird Grand Pooh-Bah (3,557) May 7, 2015 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I would stay in ashville for a day
     
    rgordon and adamsns6696 like this.
  12. JDW4195

    JDW4195 Initiate (0) Sep 24, 2014 Florida

    Welcome to the Navy...I'm from Fort Walton Beach, just east of P'cola. You HAVE TO go to McGuire's Irish Pub. The original one is in P'Cola, but there's also one in Destin. They brew all there own beer, the right way, no chemical additive bs...and the food is off the charts. What's your rate going to be?
     
    adamsns6696 likes this.
  13. Harlan_Pepper

    Harlan_Pepper Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2014 Indiana

    Definitely stop somewhere in the Philly area where you can drink the Russian River brews.
     
    adamsns6696 likes this.
  14. NiceBeerCans

    NiceBeerCans Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2013 New York

    I love Pizza Boy but it's not close to I-95. I'd stick to Tired Hands in PA to drop by. Two locations walking distance to each other, the original Brewpub and the newer Fermentaria. Different taps and food.
     
  15. Gsulliv2

    Gsulliv2 Crusader (491) Dec 9, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader


    yep, just trying to give options while traveling. I look to avoid I-95 like the plague whenever driving from boston to ATL , florida, etc. (due to absurd CT, NYC, DC traffic etc.) if you look at a map of his route the fastest route may actually be through Harrisburg (pizza boy) not Philly. having said that it sounds like everyone suggests Tired Hands and that I may have to make a trip there soon!

    also (again to your point) sticking to 95 for a while would open up dogfish head and westbrook, though i think you'd probably have to do Asheville or Westbrook (depending on time) - I'd say Asheville

    P.S. I think its pretty clear that I am planning a trip vicariously through this thread
     
    #15 Gsulliv2, Aug 12, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2015
    adamsns6696 likes this.
  16. Gsulliv2

    Gsulliv2 Crusader (491) Dec 9, 2014 Massachusetts
    Trader

    you may also want to think about Good People Brewing in Birmingham if you end up going through birmingham, again you have a lot of route options.
     
  17. gatheredwaters

    gatheredwaters Pooh-Bah (1,807) May 1, 2014 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    I second a stop at NEBCO, even if it's out of your way. Five days is a serious amount of time to get to Florida, so you got wiggle room.
     
    adamsns6696 likes this.
  18. TheWolf

    TheWolf Initiate (0) May 26, 2015 Delaware
    Trader

    So many stops. Have you considered the cost of taking Uber for the entire trip to limit your need for sobriety? Monk's in Philly, while not a brewery, is not far off the I-95 route and will give you access to Russian River amongst other great brews. DFH will require you to deviate from I95 and take Rte 1 . But at the end of the day, you pick up 95 again and won't lose too much time.
     
    Harlan_Pepper and adamsns6696 like this.
  19. adamsns6696

    adamsns6696 Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2013 Maine

    Thanks everyone!, looks like tired hands and Asheville are a must. Will work them in for sure. I think I am going to have to skip dogfish head unfortunately.

    Going to be an AT. Converting from MM Subs.
     
  20. bostonwolf

    bostonwolf Zealot (656) Jan 20, 2015 Massachusetts

    If you go the eastern shore to Dogfish Head go to Burley Oak as well. Only 20 miles away or so and they make some great beer, and the taproom is an old cooperage (made barrells)

    Then you can hit Evolution brewpub in Salisbery MD before heading west. I'd stop in Raleigh if you're heading to Asheville. There are 20 breweries inside the city limits and a several more just outside.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.