Top 5 in the West
1. Full Sail Brewing Company: Hood River, Oregon
Try any of their top brews, including their Amber, IPA, Winter Ale, and Brewmaster Reserve...plus several others! Sit down, and sip on the flavor while overlooking Hood River, and the Columbia valley.
2. Breckenridge Brewery: Breckenridge, Colorado
This brewery was founded by a ski bum himself, who wanted to ski all day and drink beer all night. Keeping that in mind, he opened the brewery deep in the rocky mountains in Breckenridge. If you love bold flavors, you gotta go here! I personally love the Oatmeal Stout, and the Avalanche Ale.
3. Aspen Brewing Company: Aspen, Colorado
This of course is my favorite in the west, however I'll let you decide! Come take a tour here, and not only will you be meeting with the locals, but you may even rub elbows with fame! All these beers are brewed in house, and distributed by the two owners, and thats it. The beers are delicious! From the Brown Bear Ale, to the Conundrum Red Ale, you will find your favorite in their wide selection.
4. Moab Brewery: Moab, Utah
Moab is home to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and is unique in the world for its mountain biking scene. When visiting the Moab Brewery, check out the Dead Horse (named after the famous Canyonlands vista point) and Deraillieur Ales. Or go with a Scorpian Ale. With six different hop additions, you'll be sure to taste the sting!
5. Russian River Brewing Company: Santa Rosa, California
Can you imagine a beer with 10% content? You can find it here! This brewing company has a number of beers from Belgian style ales, to limited release brews! Brewmaster uses Lactobacillius, Pediococcus and Brettanomyces which are all bacteria, along with yeast in his brewing process.
Top 5 in the East
1. Lancaster Brewing Company: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
You may have thought to only head here to visit the Amish Land, however nestled deep in the middle of nowhere, Pennsylvania you can find Lancaster Brewing Company. My favorites are the Milk Stout, and the Strawberry Wheat. You can find some very interesting flavors here, along with a great lunch and dinner menu to pair.
2. Clipper City Brewing Company: Baltimore, Maryland
When you head here, go straight for the Mutiny Fleet beer selection. These are the most intense, aged flavors of beer. The double IPA is a triple hop, while the pumpkin ale is aged in bourbon barrels! However, a must have here is the Siren Noire or to you non-pirate folk: Imperial chocolate stout. Named for the Sirens who lured seafarers off course and ultimately to their demise...
3. Long Trail Brewing Company: Bridgewater Corners, Vermont
This brewery is full of ales, year-round, seasonal and brewmaster & limited edition. A must try here is the "Blackbeary" wheat. Full of flavor, and available year round you really can't go wrong! Warning: do not pair this with sweets!
4. Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales: Dexter, Michigan
One of the younger and smaller breweries on this list, Jolly Pumpkin ages all their beers in wine barrels to lovely effect and know their way around farmhouse ales and winter brews as well as any American brewer. They have set the standard for their beers as "French."
5. New Glarus Brewing Company: New Glarus, Wisconsin
This brewery was founded by a woman...so we know that the beer is going to be stellar! The raspberry tart is a must have! There is an extremely large amount of brews here, so be sure to have at least a day for a tour and tasting session!
