8 Unique Breweries to Visit in the US
The United States has had a long love affair with beer. Supposedly, Native Americans had their own recipe to brew beer. And the first brewery in America opened in 1632 on the island of Manhattan at the Dutch West India Company. As of last year, there are some 7,000 breweries in the US. Here are a few unique ones that you can visit - and enjoy a beverage at.
Pelican Brewing Company, Pacific City, Oregon
Pelican Brewing Company brews beer "Born at the Beach" Started in 1996 in Pacific City, Oregon, Pelican now has 3 locations along the coast of Oregon. The original location, often found on "Best Breweries" lists, is right on the beach and you can enjoy sipping your beer with your toes in the sand looking at a haystack rock. I think it ranks right up there with one of my favorite all-time breweries I've visited. You just can't beat that view.
Yuengling, Pottsville, Pennsylvania
D.G. Yuengling and Son is America's Oldest Brewery. It has been continuously family owned and operated since 1829. You can visit either of their locations - Pottsville, PA or Tampa, Fl - and tours are free for all ages. The tours last about an hour and you may receive, with proof of age, a free sample in their Yuengling pub. On the tour you will learn the history of the brewery including how they survived Prohibition and see some of the bottling operations.
Brew Dog - Dog Tap, Columbus, Ohio
Brew Dog Brewing was started in 2007 in Northeast Scotland and now includes breweries and beer pubs worldwide including Australia,England and the US. This Columbus, Ohio location (Canal Winchester, Ohio actually) is the world's first craft beer hotel, where you can wake up inside a brewery. (I know, I know - a dream come true for some) From your room you can "see, hear and smell" beer being made. And your room has it's very own BrewDog tap. Not only that, but there is a shower beer fridge, locally made craft beer soaps and some rooms are dog friendly! (And there is a dog park on property for your fur pal to get some exercise) So if that is your dream come true, then book now and get thee to Columbus.
Ska Brewing, Durango, Colorado
Ska Brewing is one of five breweries in the Durango area but what makes it unique is that you can drink beer in a shipping container with framed views of the San Juan Mountains. It's a "modern day tasting room experience with a casual food truck culture." Not all breweries have restaurants but this one does and it's beer and food receive high marks.
Fredericksburg Brewing Company, Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg Brewing Company, located in the small town it's named after, includes the unique qualification of being a "Bed and Brew". Located above the brewing company and restaurant are 11 rooms with private baths and central air. You can park for your entire stay while enjoying Main Street and the brewery.Then when you're ready to turn in for the night, just walk upstairs. No driving necessary. And each guest receives one pint of beer per stay - hence the "Beer and Brew" moniker.
Skagway Brewing Company, Skagway, Alaska
Skagway Brewing, "the little Alaskan Brewery & Restaurant with the big green heart" is located in that far north state, Alaska. It's open year-round which is unique enough, but it's open in the winter in a town of only about 1000 residents. So it's there to serve locals and tourists. It prides itself on it's sustainability - their boiler runs on bio-diesel fuel that they converted themselves from used vegetable oil which heats their building and their water - and being around since the Stampede Days of 1898. I personally spent an incredibly rainy afternoon perched on a stool here and can attest to the friendliness of the staff - and locals.
Hunter-Gatherer Hangar, Columbia, South Carolina
In 1929 the Curtiss-Wright Flying Service built an airplane hangar at Owens Field, a municipal airport 3 miles from the city (at the time) The airport was dedicated in 1930 with an airshow with some 15,000 spectators. Today the Columbia airport is located elsewhere but small planes still use Owens Field. And that airport hangar is now half of the Hunter-Gatherer Brewery (the other half is located downtown) You can enjoy beer, a small menu of pizza and apps while sitting in the hangar or sit on the rooftop deck to watch planes take off.
New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, Colorado
New Belgium, located in Ft. Collins, Colorado and Asheville, North Carolina, was started by Jeff Lebesch after a stint riding his fat tire bike around Belgium visiting various breweries in 1988. Upon his return to the States, he married Kim Jordan and they collaborated in creating Fat Tire and New Belgium Brewing. It's quite the success story. Ownership in the company is now awarded after one year of employment - and you get a brand new fat tire bike, too. You can tour New Belgium by appointment - it usually fills up weeks in advance - with beers that you taste picked by your tour guide. The tours last 90 minutes and you can slide down the twisty slide from the second floor to the first and learn about their "minister of fun" position. If you'd like to try their seasonal ales, sours or the classic Fat Tire, there is a bar if you don't want to take the tour. Be sure you find the postcards to mail to your loved ones at home for free in the lobby
And a bonus brewery.... Grumpy Old Men Brewing, Blue Ridge, Georgia
I'm including this brewery just because I love the name. Grumpy Old Men is a micr0-brewery in Blue Ridge, Georgia started by - you got it - two retired beer enthusiasts who first brewed in an outdoor shower. Moving on to an actual brewery, they then decided it was too much work and sold to "a grumpy old man and his crabby old lady." It's located in an old gas station and includes outdoor space with giant jenga and other games. Dog friendly.
How about you? What's the most interesting brewery you've been to?
Linking up with: My Corner of the World at Photographing New Zealand and The Weekend Wanderlust Weekend Travel Blog Party!
Pelican Brewing Company, Pacific City, Oregon
Pelican Brewing Company brews beer "Born at the Beach" Started in 1996 in Pacific City, Oregon, Pelican now has 3 locations along the coast of Oregon. The original location, often found on "Best Breweries" lists, is right on the beach and you can enjoy sipping your beer with your toes in the sand looking at a haystack rock. I think it ranks right up there with one of my favorite all-time breweries I've visited. You just can't beat that view.
Yuengling, Pottsville, Pennsylvania
D.G. Yuengling and Son is America's Oldest Brewery. It has been continuously family owned and operated since 1829. You can visit either of their locations - Pottsville, PA or Tampa, Fl - and tours are free for all ages. The tours last about an hour and you may receive, with proof of age, a free sample in their Yuengling pub. On the tour you will learn the history of the brewery including how they survived Prohibition and see some of the bottling operations.
Brew Dog - Dog Tap, Columbus, Ohio
Brew Dog Brewing was started in 2007 in Northeast Scotland and now includes breweries and beer pubs worldwide including Australia,England and the US. This Columbus, Ohio location (Canal Winchester, Ohio actually) is the world's first craft beer hotel, where you can wake up inside a brewery. (I know, I know - a dream come true for some) From your room you can "see, hear and smell" beer being made. And your room has it's very own BrewDog tap. Not only that, but there is a shower beer fridge, locally made craft beer soaps and some rooms are dog friendly! (And there is a dog park on property for your fur pal to get some exercise) So if that is your dream come true, then book now and get thee to Columbus.
Ska Brewing, Durango, Colorado
Ska Brewing is one of five breweries in the Durango area but what makes it unique is that you can drink beer in a shipping container with framed views of the San Juan Mountains. It's a "modern day tasting room experience with a casual food truck culture." Not all breweries have restaurants but this one does and it's beer and food receive high marks.
Fredericksburg Brewing Company, Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg Brewing Company, located in the small town it's named after, includes the unique qualification of being a "Bed and Brew". Located above the brewing company and restaurant are 11 rooms with private baths and central air. You can park for your entire stay while enjoying Main Street and the brewery.Then when you're ready to turn in for the night, just walk upstairs. No driving necessary. And each guest receives one pint of beer per stay - hence the "Beer and Brew" moniker.
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Skagway Brewing Company, Skagway, Alaska
Skagway Brewing, "the little Alaskan Brewery & Restaurant with the big green heart" is located in that far north state, Alaska. It's open year-round which is unique enough, but it's open in the winter in a town of only about 1000 residents. So it's there to serve locals and tourists. It prides itself on it's sustainability - their boiler runs on bio-diesel fuel that they converted themselves from used vegetable oil which heats their building and their water - and being around since the Stampede Days of 1898. I personally spent an incredibly rainy afternoon perched on a stool here and can attest to the friendliness of the staff - and locals.
Hunter-Gatherer Hangar, Columbia, South Carolina
In 1929 the Curtiss-Wright Flying Service built an airplane hangar at Owens Field, a municipal airport 3 miles from the city (at the time) The airport was dedicated in 1930 with an airshow with some 15,000 spectators. Today the Columbia airport is located elsewhere but small planes still use Owens Field. And that airport hangar is now half of the Hunter-Gatherer Brewery (the other half is located downtown) You can enjoy beer, a small menu of pizza and apps while sitting in the hangar or sit on the rooftop deck to watch planes take off.
New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, Colorado
New Belgium, located in Ft. Collins, Colorado and Asheville, North Carolina, was started by Jeff Lebesch after a stint riding his fat tire bike around Belgium visiting various breweries in 1988. Upon his return to the States, he married Kim Jordan and they collaborated in creating Fat Tire and New Belgium Brewing. It's quite the success story. Ownership in the company is now awarded after one year of employment - and you get a brand new fat tire bike, too. You can tour New Belgium by appointment - it usually fills up weeks in advance - with beers that you taste picked by your tour guide. The tours last 90 minutes and you can slide down the twisty slide from the second floor to the first and learn about their "minister of fun" position. If you'd like to try their seasonal ales, sours or the classic Fat Tire, there is a bar if you don't want to take the tour. Be sure you find the postcards to mail to your loved ones at home for free in the lobby
And a bonus brewery.... Grumpy Old Men Brewing, Blue Ridge, Georgia
I'm including this brewery just because I love the name. Grumpy Old Men is a micr0-brewery in Blue Ridge, Georgia started by - you got it - two retired beer enthusiasts who first brewed in an outdoor shower. Moving on to an actual brewery, they then decided it was too much work and sold to "a grumpy old man and his crabby old lady." It's located in an old gas station and includes outdoor space with giant jenga and other games. Dog friendly.
How about you? What's the most interesting brewery you've been to?
Linking up with: My Corner of the World at Photographing New Zealand and The Weekend Wanderlust Weekend Travel Blog Party!
Wow! These all sound like a lot of fun! The grumpy old men brewery intrigues me! For someone that really loves beer, the Bed and Brew sounds so perfect :) Thanks so much for linking up at My Corner of the World!
ReplyDeleteI definitely enjoyed visiting all of these - especially the quirkiest ones! Thanks for visiting, Betty - and for the link up!
DeleteI love that historic Curtiss-Wright hangar in North Carolina. I would visit that with or without beer!
ReplyDeleteIt's only been open for a few years but I'm lucky enough that it's in my town so I can get there within 30 minutes anytime they're open. Thanks for visiting, Sharon!
DeleteI am not a beer drinker, but my husband is sold on beer. I think we should visit some of these breweries. Especially the one in Oregon, where our son lives. I'm sure I'll find something to drink while my husband tastes some beer, lol!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a beer drinker, either, but as you say "my husband is sold on it, too". I like the way you put that! Sometimes I'll try a beer if it has enough fruit taste added to it, which I am told is an absolute no-no. I do like finding the unique breweries though, especially if there is an outside patio to enjoy. Thanks for stopping by, Anda!
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