THE FORBES LIST – 10 AMERICAN CRAFT BREWERIES THEY THINK YOU SHOULD VISIT

This comes to us from Forbes.com. They picked 10 breweries they thought to be worthy travel destinations. This is their take on places where the beer’s good and the tours are better than most . . . Some of our friends made this list and many of our favorites didn’t . . . And since Forbes is a player in the world of travel guides, so we thought you might be interested in their choices!

So, here goes . . .

 

1. Samuel Adams (Boston, MA)

Boston Beer Company gives a lot of brewery tours. These hour long tours take place every 45 minutes, Monday through Saturday. After the tour, guests can sample some of the company’s 30 styles of beer.

 

2. Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales (Milton, DE)

This Mid-Atlantic brewery is well known to craft beer lovers everywhere. Dogfish Head’s “off-centered tours” detail their distinctive beers, and it’s near the beach too! Reservations are recommended for tours of the Milton, Delaware brewery.

 

3. Brooklyn Brewery (New York, NY)

Brooklyn Brewery is housed in a former matzo ball factory and located in Brooklyn’s hip Williamsburg neighborhood. Small reservation-only tours are hosted on weeknights and feature a guided tasting of four of their beers. Forbes notes that their Tasting Room is a great weekend hang and that “they have free no-reservations tours on Saturdays.”

 

4. Stone Brewing Company (Escondido, CA)

Stone Brewing gives free daily tours. They’re given by their “Indoctrination Specialists,” who detail Stone’s brewing process and feature a guided tasting. Forbes suggests that you don’t leave without visiting Stone’s World Bistro after your tour (and we definately agree!). The bistro features local and organic produce and looks out onto their beautiful gardens.

 

5. Deschutes Brewery (Bend, OR)

Deschutes Brewery, located in the scenic mountain town of Bend, is known for its adventuresome brews. Brewery tours are offered daily. Visitors can also pick-up bottles of their favorites in the brewery gift shop or try the brews on tap at their nearby pub.

 

6. Rogue Ales Brewery (Newport, OR)

To see where it all happens, Forbes directs you to visit the “Brewer’s On the Bay” pub inside the Rogue Ales Brewery on weekday afternoons. You can tell the bartender that you’ve come for a tour, and he’ll set you up. Plus, you’ll be able to tip back a cold one from one of their 40 taps while you wait.

 

7. New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO)

New Belgium Brewing Company offers a 90 minute tour at their Fort Collins headquarters where visitors can learn about their beers, as well as their ongoing environmental efforts. New Belgium’s operation is the first wind-powered brewery in the United States.

 

8. Road Dog’s Brewery Tour (Seattle, WA)

Since Seattle has so many craft and microbreweries in and around the city, Forbes Travel Guide suggests that you sign up for one of Road Dog Brewery’s tours, noting that every tour stops at three different award winning locations.

 

9. Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, ME)

Allagash Brewing Company is known for brewing Belgium style beer. The brewery’s popular tours are open to all ages with samples for those over 21 – but don’t forget to bring some identification, because everybody gets carded!

 

10. Live Oak Brewing Company (Austin, TX)

Live Oak Brewing Company was Forbes final addition to their list, and they go on to state that “Live Oak Brewing Company is a must-visit (and we totally agree) . . . for anyone interested in the Old World method (and results) of Central European brewing.” The tours take place only twice a month and must be pre-booked.