Discover the passion behind the craft-beer pint at these craft beer destinations.
Small breweries are popping up across the United States like wildflowers after a spring rain.
The Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, talks about the craft brewery renaissance.
Bart Watson, chief economist for the association, said craft beer’s fundamental value proposition is beer lovers are willing to pay a little more for a beverage that has something more: more flavor, more variety and more local appeal.
Grand Rapids
Michigan
Founders Brewing Company bar, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Photo: Experience Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second largest city, has become a national center for craft beer.
In fact, Grand Rapids was voted BeerCity USA in 2012 and 2013 in a nonscientific online poll.
“Grand Rapids is proud of its multiple recognitions as BeerCity USA and our local craft beer scene with over two-dozen craft breweries,” said Janet Korn, senior vice president of Experience Grand Rapids. “Groups can customize a craft beer experience that matches the interests of their group. A part of that experience could be visiting several breweries, exploring their unique spaces and taprooms, learning how beer is brewed, discovering unique beer ingredients and styles, and even touring a local hop farm.”
According to ratebeer.com, Founders Brewing Company in downtown Grand Rapids is the third best brewery in the world and HopCat is the best brewpub in the United States.
Grand Rapids Brewing Company is Michigan’s first certified organic brewery, while Brewery Vivant, modeled after Belgian brewing monasteries, is the first LEED-certified microbrewery in the U.S.
Brew Ridge Trail
Central Virginia
Brews, Devils Backbone Brewing Company and Restaurant, Roseland, Va.
Photo: Sarah Hauser/Virginia Tourism Corporation
In central Virginia, the Brew Ridge Trail calls itself the home of the Virginia Craft Beer Revolution.
The trail — a homage to the Blue Ridge Mountains — celebrates the craft beer industry in Nelson and Albemarle counties.
On the trail are Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton; Blue Mountain Barrel House in Arrington; Devils Backbone Brewing Company in Roseland; South Street Brewery in Charlottsville; Starr Hill Brewery in Crozet; and Wild Wolf Brewing Company in Nellysford.
Visitors are welcomed in causal comfort, often with live music and simple but creative kitchen fare to complement the art, science and inventive spirit of central Virginia’s master brewers.
The craft breweries are connected by country roads that can handle small to mid-size coaches.
Steve and Cheryl Everidge of Staunton, Virginia-based Shenandoah Tours, have successfully taken small groups to experience the Brew Ridge Trail and similar trails in Virginia.
Arizona Brewery Tours
Phoenix area
“Taste is what is driving the craft beer movement,” said Cooper Sepulveda, brewer at Blasted Barley Beer Company, which opened in December 2014 in downtown Tempe, Arizona.
Strawberry Bottle Rocket, which uses 6 pounds of strawberries in each keg, is Blasted Barley’s most popular beer.
The easiest way to explore the craft beer scene in the Phoenix area (38 craft breweries and counting) is by taking a tour with Phoenix-based Arizona Brewery Tours.
The company uses its own mini-coaches, but also can put together tours using a group’s motorcoach, said John Alvarado, owner and chief flight officer.
A typical tour visits three Arizona breweries in about five hours and includes tastings, a behind-the-scenes tour and a meal.
“We have the brewer or owner come and talk to the group,” Alvarado said. “We really like our guests to get a sense of the true passion that ends up in their pint. People really get it and walk away with a new appreciation of local craft beer.”
A private brewery tour allows a group to be transported from a specific location at a specific time, as opposed to a public tour, where the pick-up and drop-off locations and times are set.
The Maine Brew Bus
Portland, Maine
Buses, The Maine Brew Bus, Portland, Maine
Photo: Bowman Productions
Zach and Allison Poole use the slogan, “Driving You to Drink Local,” for their 3-year-old business, The Maine Brew Bus.
The drivers of the bright lime green school buses bring guests to three to five established and up-and-coming alcohol producers.
The company also puts on Progressive Beer Dinners.
Don Littlefield, assistant principal, explained a brewery works with four area restaurants. The guests enjoy a course and a pairing at one restaurant, and then board the bus to do the same for a different course at a new restaurant.
“We premiered the event during the 2013 Portland Beer Week, and we have run several Progressive Beer Dinners with different area breweries,” he said. “This exposes our business to the thriving restaurant world of Portland. It’s also really interesting to see how the chefs choose to pair their food with the presented beers. This allows the brewers to sometimes see their beer recipes in new ways, which is really exciting.”
Brewery Ommegang
Cooperstown, New York
Façade of Brewery Omegang, Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, N.Y.
Photo: Brewery Ommegang
Beer and baseball is the perfect pair, and visitors can get both in Cooperstown, New York, home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and Brewery Ommegang.
Brewery Ommegang offers tours, so visitors can get an up-close look at how hops turn into beer.
“The tour is about 30 minutes long and visitors see the brewhouse and the bottling hall, as well as the brewery grounds,” said Allison Capozza, publicity manager at Brewery Ommegang. “Visitors learn about the brewery’s history, the beers we brew, special projects we’re involved in and local hop history.”
After the tour, tastings of six different beers are offered. Visitors can try Brewery Ommegang’s and HBO’s Game of Thrones collaboration beer.
Need something to go with that beer? Grab a seat at Café Ommegang and order some great food.
Tours are on a first-come, first-served basis. While half of the group goes on the tour, the others can enjoy a tasting. No more than 20 people are allowed on the tour at one time.
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