beer travel

Living a Stout Life

Guides to Craft Beer Travel & Adventure

Finding Culture and Community through Wine Lovers Travel

Winter Park’s Best Breweries: A Quick Sip Series

The SoulFire Project: A Guitar and a Full Tank of Gas

Quick Sips: Best Breweries in Nashville

BEER & BREWERIES

> more craft beer & breweries.

Winter Park is more than just a ski town, it’s a craft beer town! Check out some of the best breweries in Winter Park, Colorado.

Nashville’s craft breweries are as good as its music. But if you’ve only got time for one, we’ve got a few of Nashville’s best breweries for you!

Quick Sips: Best Breweries in Phoenix

When you have limited time in Phoenix and can only visit one or two breweries, we’ve got the best breweries in Phoenix for you right here.

The Ultimate Guide to Gluten-Free Breweries

If you ever find yourself in need or want of a gluten-free beer, we’ve got the ultimate gluten-free brewery guide for you.

> More Podcasts

The wine (and beer) might be what intrigues you, but it’s the people that you’ll remember. Meet Gail. Traveling for wine will never be the same.

Meet Cooper, the Instigator behind The SoulFire Project, a nomadic music experience. We talk travel, music and dreams coming to fruition.

Getting Lost is the Best Way to Find Yourself: Gatherings for Travelers

Meet Josiah Roe, co-founder of The Journal of Lost Time and van-life event planner extraordinaire. Take a listen; he’ll inspire and intrigue you!

Drink Like a Girl: A Story of Community, Collabs, and Pink Boots

Meet Sam of Third Space Brewing. Brewing Like a Girl, this is her story and more as we celebrate International Women’s Day and Pink Boots Society.

> More Travel

How to Stay Fit on a Diet of Craft Beer and Travel

Staying fit while traveling and drinking beer can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out tips and tricks to stay fit on the road.

2023 Year in Review: Top 5 Craft Breweries and Adventures

We’re sharing our top 5 2023 craft breweries and more. We did the research for you in 2023. Now you know where to go in 2024!

How Do I Safely Get to Rocky Point, Mexico? 🇲🇽

Want to go to Rocky Point? Turns out tourism is still quite essential for Mexico. And the U.S., for that matter. We’ve got all the how-to’s for you.

Medellín, Colombia: What to Know Before You Go

Digital nomad or tourist, you should consider spending time in Medellín, Colombia where you’ll find great people, great beer, & great places.

> More Adventure

What is Slab City Really Like? Is It Truly the Last Lawless City?

Slab City isn’t a town but people live there. What is this free community really like where people live without the normal rules of society?

Ultimate Guide to Overnight Camping at Ski Resorts and Where to Drink Beer Afterwards

Overnight camping at ski resorts is a great way to live slopeside, even if only for a night or two. We’ll tell you where to park overnight and where to drink the beer afterwards.

Bikin’ Bits: Short Bits on Where to MTB

Welcome to Bikin’ Bits – a bit about bikin’ – Podcast bonus episodes where we summarize the trails and tell you exactly where to MTB.

A Tour of Sedona’s Mountain Biking Trails and Breweries

Join us on a tour of Sedona and Verde Valley in Arizona where we’ll take you to the breweries, the trails, and all the adventure that surrounds it.

BREWERY & MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAIL FINDER

The Beer Travel Guide Post-Quarantine Update

June 22, 2020

Since America is opening back up, we figure it’s time to re-open The Beer Travel Guide as well! Welcome back to our old friends, and hello to our new visitors. Coronavirus continues to put stress upon small businesses everywhere in the world right now– so for beer lovers, perhaps more than ever, it’s important to show support for your local craft breweries. These businesses rely on continued customer support for survival, so if you have disposable income and you’re able to afford re-investing that income into local businesses, we urge you to put some of it into the hands of the makers of your favorite local craft beer.

We didn’t update our site during the coronavirus quarantine– for what we think are fairly obvious reasons– so please be patient with us as we start logging updates and writing new content. Some things to note as you start planning new beer travels and as you use our site as the resource it was designed to be:

1. PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH OUT-OF-DATE INFORMATION. Nearly every craft brewery that remained open for can sales during the shutdown changed their public hours of operation, and many who are re-opening their taprooms now will also be operating on a different schedule than they had in place pre-quarantine. We will be updating our site as quickly as we can, but it’s very possible that the information on our brewery lists regarding dates, times, and food availability is no longer accurate. Before heading to any brewery, please check the brewery’s social media to determine their hours of operation.

2. PLEASE CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. Though we are all happy that the country is opening back up and many people can return to work, there is still no coronavirus vaccine, so it is very possible the disease could return with a devastating surge at any time. We want our readers to support local craft beer, but we also want our readers, brewers, and brewery employees to remain safe. Please continue to use social distancing, frequent hand washing, and masks whenever possible– scientists agree that a combination of these three things is the best way to make sure you don’t catch the disease or inadvertently spread it to others. Behave the way you’d like people to behave around you. These are scary times, and the best way we’ll get through them is being considerate of the health, needs, and worries of others. The only way we can ensure that our favorite breweries remain open is by doing our part to prevent coronavirus from spreading.

3. PLEASE CONSIDER BUYING BEER TO DRINK AT HOME. Coronavirus concerns will likely continue to be prevalent until a vaccine is available, and we have no timeline on its availability. Fortunately, the craft beer industry is continuing to adapt and evolve in order to keep employees at work and keep beer drinkers satisfied. Don’t feel safe going to a taproom? Most breweries offer to-go cans and crowlers, so you can drink delicious craft beer from the safety of your own home. Can’t travel to your favorite brewery without risk of exposure? More breweries now than ever are offering delivery directly to your doorstep– several will ship anywhere in the state, and some even ship outside the state. We all want to support or favorite craft breweries, and most craft breweries will be going above and beyond to ensure they remain as safe and sanitized as possible– but it’s important to remember, regardless of your level of concern about coronavirus, the easiest way to support and stay safe simultaneously is by purchasing beer to drink at home.

4. PLEASE EXPLORE BEER FESTIVAL ALTERNATIVES. Odds are high your favorite beer festival is cancelled or will be cancelled in 2020. It would be exceedingly difficult to manage crowds and cleanliness at a beer festival– as anyone who’s been to a beer festival knows. We *love* beer fests, and we’re incredibly bummed that we’re unlikely to attend any this year. That said, many outlets are offering “virtual beer festivals,” where cans of beer will be sent to your door for your at-home consumption. Many of these also offer Zoom discussions with brewers or beer experts so you can learn about your beer as you drink it. While our festival calendar is obviously going to be a serious work-in-progress in 2020, we will try to update with information about virtual beer festivals, so that those who love the variety one can enjoy at a beer festival may have the opportunity to do so from the safety of their homes.

At our house, we’ll continue to buy cans from our favorite local spots and bottle shops, we’ll continue to do virtual happy hours with friends, we’ll attend virtual beer festivals whenever possible, and we’ll enjoy the occasional pint at local taprooms, using all precautionary safety measures at our disposal, in order to stay safe while having fun. This problem isn’t going away any time soon, but if we all collectively do our part, we can minimize the spread of the disease. If we do that, we’ll minimize the odds of another quarantine and we’ll help ensure that our favorite local craft breweries remain open for business.

Keep drinking local, keep safe, and if you need advice on where to do your drinking, keep coming back to The Beer Travel Guide. We’re all in this together.

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If you’d like to support our website, please consider buying some of our awesome merchandise !

Welcome to The Beer Travel Guide! People often ask us where to drink craft beer when they visit various cities, so we decided to make a site that could hopefully help everyone looking for local craft when they travel.

You’ll find our detailed brewery hop recommendations for various American cities here. You’ll also find lists of breweries for a number of cities, lists which include valuable research like whether they serve food and what their hours of operation are. That way, you can make your own hop! If you don’t see the city you want to explore on there, contact us and let us know!

We also have pieces about beer festivals we’ve attended, wrapping up the experience and shouting out our favorite beers that were served. You can read our coverage of festivals we’ve covered in the past two years, including the Firestone Walker Invitational , Great American Beer Fest , Carnival of Caffeination , Sour Friends Fest , Extreme Beer Fest , and many more!

We’ve recently launched a TikTok account, posting daily funny and/or informative videos about craft beer. Please give us a follow there.

We have a list of every beer we’ve tried this year– we’ve already crossed 650 beers for the year, so see what we’ve had and what we recommend!

We’ll also post occasional blog entries, news stories, and more! Please check out our FAQ , and if you think our site is missing something or contains inaccurate information, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Closures and hour changes are happening rapidly, so before assuming our information is fully accurate, always be sure to double check on the breweries’ social media accounts.

Finally, please sign up for the newsletter below– we haven’t been updating as much during the pandemic for obvious reasons, but when regular updates begin again (and they will soon), signing up for the newsletter is the best way to make sure you don’t miss out.

Thanks so much for visiting– we hope you come back soon, and we hope beer travels return to normal as soon as the world will allow. Cheers!

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Beer Tours of Belgium

Welcome to Beer Paradise!

Breathtaking

Discover the Ardennes Mountains

Astonishing

Why BBM! Tours?

See the Sites.

RESPLENDENT

And that's just the 

Belgium Tours

Beer Travel is More Fun with

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Perfect for

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Welcome to Belgian Beer Me! (BBM!) Beer Tours

Home of the trappist tour, featuring multiple departures for 2024 & 2025 • beer travel made easy with more options . view tours by calendar..

“ Belgian Beer Me! specializes in fun, smart and affordable beer tours of Belgium for people from all around the world with more than ten innovative and exciting departures annually. That more than 30% of our travelers are returning customers speaks volumes. Join us and you’ll see why! ”

Welcome to Beer Paradise

BBM! Founder Stu Stuart enjoying a Belgian beer in front of the proud Flemish Lion. Santé! (To your health!).

“My tours are pure escapism from the normal humdrum and often dull routine of everyday life. Why are BBM! travelers so faithful and often return on other tours? Because I’m one of them. I seem to reflect this desire to travel, enjoy life and discover good beer. My lifestyle revolves around work and play. I just got out and did the things they wished they could and was lucky enough to make a career out of it. It takes quite a bit of effort. It’s like running a concert tour with lots of moving pieces: People, vehicles, places.... The only way I can share my years of experience is to offer and lead these authentic and very personal beer tours. My job is to provide pleasure, to let people forget about their problems for a week or so. If I can do that, I’m doing my job. We’re all growing older together. Fun is important in this world. Let’s have fun together.” - - Stu Stuart, April., 2024.

The video above was shot and produced by London-based videographer Yoel Kamara, who along with Jeff Bradford from Drink Destinations were on the Christmas Beer Festival & Markets Tour. They did a nice job of capturing the essence and spirit of me while I led the tour. The camera doesn’t miss anything!

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to travel with BBM! and get your personal backstage pass to the Belgian beer world. Tours for 2024 & 2025 are now posted. Let our large imagery and engaging video transport you to majestic Belgium now!  You can almost smell the sweet aroma of the beer and feel a gentle Ardennes Mountain breeze on your face as you click around the site.  In fact, why not pour yourself a Belgian beer now while you do it so you can really smell and taste it?  

You can view all the tours by theme, below, or by calendar. Viewing Tours by Calendar , you’ll quickly see many tours are back-to-back so you can combine them and create the ultimate beer tour of your dreams with just one flight across the pond. This site is exciting, responsive to personal devices, intuitive and makes signing up and submitting a deposit online easier than ever. No need to send anything through the U.S. Mail.

Most of these images were taken by me. Others are used with permission from brewers and freelance photographers, all friends of BBM! 

We also take this opportunity to introduce you to the beer city of Bamberg, Germany, another one of the last bastions of Old World beer culture and a place that should be on every beer enthusiast’s list of places to visit. Let us show you this city and region and you will ask yourself, “What took me so long to get here?”   Bamberg: There’s No Place Like It! For 2024, we will offer four tours to Germany: The Summer Bierkeller Tour of Bamberg , two departures of the Oktoberfest & Bamberg: Best of Bavaria Tour , and the Fall Bock Beer Tour of Bamberg . Bamberg and the Franconia region of Germany will delight any beer lover.

In 2025, look for the new Beer Tour of Croatia . This tour is confirmed and close to selling out.

I hope these images and our easy-to-use site will inspire you to visit the magic of Belgium. Put our more than 15 years of experience and passion to work for you. Show up, relax and enjoy the beer tour of a lifetime. I invite you to join us as we meet the fascinating and friendly people who make these eventful beers, share in their cuisine, enjoy their scenic settings, experience history and most of all enjoy the pure pleasure of these fine beers right at the source!

Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and France are now open to the world and the U.S. has abolished inbound C-19 testing! Hooray! Visit COVID-19 FAQ & Tour Updates to learn more about our proactive approach to the post pandemic as it relates to upcoming tours, and safeguarding you and your travel dreams to Europe.

“ People often ask me, “Do you ever get tired of going to Belgium?,” and I say, “No, I get tired of leaving Belgium.” ”

As heard on Rick Steves....

Travel with Rick Steves  radio and podcast interview with Stu Stuart. "Hear how the beer in Belgium is so good, it's worth a special trip."   Find out more...

Join Our Newsletter!

Join our email newsletter to find out new and current information about BBM! Tours, pro tips, special discounts, Stu's Beer Santa Blog and anything else that we think you might want to know.  

Take a listen to BBM! Founder Stu Stuart on the Award-Winning Belgian Smaak Podcast with Breandán Kearney as they talk about how the history of Belgium, and particularly stories of war, from the country’s world renown beer culture. Both are inextricably linked and each offers an insight into the other. Also take a listen to the Stu on the Lambic Round Table recorded livestream event from Brewery Boon and presented by HORAL, April, 2022. Sit back, listen, and enjoy Stu Stuart of Belgian Beer Me! Beer Tours.

OUR most popular TOURS

Select one by theme, below, or view tours by calendar....

Lonely Monks Trappist Beer Tour of Belgium & the Netherlands

Beer is one of the few indulgences monks are permitted and thus one of the reasons they know how to brew special beers so incredibly well. On this very special tour we will visit seven Trappist abbeys that brew beer (five in Belgium and two just across the border in the Netherlands) and sample their beers. Read more...

Ardennes Mountain beer tour of Belgium  

Arguably one of the most beautiful regions in Belgium, the Ardennes Mountains are rich with beer culture, scenery, gourmet cuisine (ham, trout, etc.), enchanting towns and history (Battle of the Bulge & Waterloo). On this tour we plan to visit the breweries of Achouffe, Caracole, Fantome, Minne, Val Dieu, Ter Dolen and Orval.  Read more...

BEST DAMN FARMHOUSE ALE BEER TOUR of Belgium & France

Venture into the elusive and obscure world of saisons and biére de gardes, whose roots can be traced to rustic ales once brewed on farms in this wide area once known as the Kingdom of Flanders.  We’ll visit some small independent breweries still located on working farms and some large, modern ones, all situated in scenic countryside locations, where we’ll experience these satisfying ales.   Read more...

OUR most distinguished TOURS

Christmas BEER Festival & Markets Tour of Belgium

Tis the season to be jolly! This is a very, very special and merry festival featuring many delightful seasonal Belgian brews, which are only available in Essen and in limited quantities.  Read more...

Beer Tour of Croatia, yes croatia!

New for 2025! You’ve been thinking about travel to Croatia and here’s your chance, all while enjoying this emerging beer scene along the way. The tour starts in on of Europe’s most beautiful capitals, Zagreb, then moves to the islands in the Adriatic Sea, then to Dubrovnik. You’ll wonder what took you so long to decide to come here. Come for the scenery, stay for the beer! Read more...

OUR FAMOUS TOURS OF BAMBERg, germany & OKTOBERFEST

Summer Bierkeller TOUR OF BAMBERG

In Bamberg and the Franconia region, they call beer gardens beer kellers because many of these forested hillside beer gardens traditionally were (and are) on top the underground cellars where they lagered the beer. Sometimes people will refer to going “on” the beer keller, rather than “to” the beer keller, which when you know the backstory makes sense. Read more...

Oktoberfest & Bamberg: Best of bavaria Beer Tour

Just mention Bavaria and images of beer, Dirndl dresses and Lederhosen come to mind, yet the beer cultures of the north and south are unique in their own rights.  To fully appreciate, enjoy and know Bavaria, you have to experience both Munich and Bamberg. Read more...  

Fall Bock Beer Tour of Bamberg

The Germans call it Bockbierzeit, loosely translated to bock beer time.  Each fall the breweries of this region release their delicious bock beers for the winter, which may be different than ones you’ve had in the past. They have a wide range of flavors and can be malty, sweet, deceptively strong and even pale in color.  Read more...

“ “...We both want to thank you again for doing such a good job putting this tour together and leading it. Insuring that everything runs smoothly and looks effortless takes a tremendous amount of work and a diverse skill set and you did an extraordinary job putting everything together. In the past Anne and I have always put our own trips together, and we were a little nervous about what it would be like to do a group tour. However, our fears turned out to be completely unfounded and we both agree that there is no way we could have come close to duplicating your tour on our own. We are already talking about what our next tour should be.” ”

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“The trip was well organized, the pacing was quite good, and we tried countless fantastic beers. And the beer ‘education’ part varied from place to place more than I expected, so it didn't get repetitive.”

—Kyle R; Durham, NC

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Travel | Head for South Lake Tahoe for beer, brunch and…

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Travel | head for south lake tahoe for beer, brunch and an irresistible laid-back vibe.

There are plenty of spots that boast delicious scrambles, Benedicts and other brunchy fare. But head for the Artemis Lakefront Café , and you can enjoy a Mediterranean-inspired menu lakeside. Take in the water views while sipping mimosas and espresso drinks by the giant outdoor fire pit or on the patio. The Greek Breakfast ($17) offers gyro slices sautéed with peppers and onions, topped with feta and served alongside eggs, herb roasted potatoes and pita bread. They’re open for lunch and dinner, too.

Heidi’s Pancake House and its bright yellow chalet are a South Lake Tahoe institution — it opened in 1964 — and a great place to start any pancakes-to-pilsners itinerary. Order a Heidi’s Short Stack ($11.49) with four buttermilk or buckwheat pancakes or indulge in a Bacon Stack ($15), six pancakes with bits of crispy bacon cooked right into the batter.

Meanwhile, the Driftwood Café puts you right in the middle of the Heavenly Village action. Their breakfast burrito ($14) holds a special place in our hearts (and bellies) with its plentiful filling of scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage (or avocado), hash browns, cheese and housemade salsa. And the lineup of “primo pancakes and wacky waffles” includes a loaded waffle ($14) topped with bananas, granola and yogurt.

And the casual, counter-service Sprouts Natural Café blends fresh smoothies ($7.50 to $8.25) to order, with a morning menu that includes Breakfast Bowls ($12.75), with brown rice, beans, steamed cage-free eggs, melted jack and avocado, and Huevos Verduras Rancheros ($13.50) that pile on the veggies.

Then hit the trails and enjoy the summery outdoor scene. When you’re ready, we’ll be waiting with some craft beer destination suggestions and — oh hello, here you are!

South Lake Tahoe has plenty of bars and restaurants, but if we’re focusing on what’s brewed here, head for South Lake Brewing Company. You can choose the local’s option and head for the brewery, where a taproom, beer garden with picnic tables and ski lift seating (yes, really) and rotating food trucks await. Or opt for the company’s Libation Lodge across the street from Heavenly Village and enjoy beer (and food).

We’re smitten with South Lake Brewing ‘s “shot ski” style serves — no, no, not the high-alcohol, quick-consumption shots you find at some bars. The brewery uses skis for its beer tasting flights. Most people opt for the five-taste option which uses a pint-sized ski to serve two-ounce pours of five brews on tap. If you’ve brought a group and want to taste the entire line-up, there’s a 16 taster, full-ski option.

South of North Brewing Co. is a sweet little outdoor space that offers terrific Tahoe ambience and an impressive collection of beers brewed on-site in a converted hotel room. (Yes, really, and if the brewer is around, you can catch a peek.)

If I had to pick just one of their brews to drink all day, the Explorer Cream Ale comes top of mind. It’s described as a California Cream Ale, but the style is largely European and offers a milky mouthfeel with a touch of vanilla. The Front Porch Pilsner is a great pick too, an easy drinker that’s light on the palate. There’s a large line-up of IPAs and even a double IPA, but as a small-batch brewery, everything is on seasonal rotation and kegs occasionally run out.

Plan to hang out awhile so you can enjoy the outdoor area with its picnic tables and giant fire pits surrounded by Adirondack chairs and cafe lights, or head inside to catch a game in the bar. Keep an eye on the brewery calendar, if you’re interested in trivia nights.

Finish your day at Cold Water Brewery and Grill , a full-service pub in the Swiss Chalet Village, where you can grab dinner with your beer flight. You’ll find brews that echo the laidback lake style with names such as Feel Good IPA, Lake it Easy Pilsner and It’s All Pine by Me IPA. If you like darker brews, the Stillwater Stout is a delicious combination of coffee, caramel and chocolate flavors. The crowd-pleasing Mr. Toad’s Wild Rye is a malt-forward amber with a hint of grass and spice.

Or, if you want games along with your drinks, The Hangar is a great outdoor option. This taproom and bottle shop sits on an acre near the Tahoe forest and works with other breweries to curate their list of offerings. There’s space to picnic, food trucks and an adults-only play zone that offers bocce, corn hole and other lawn games. And for the indoor crowd, there’s the Flatstick Pub which offers mini golf, a full bar with beer on tap, and adult-only and family-friendly hours so you can choose your own experience as you…

Lake it Easy.

Artemis Lakefront Café: Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at 900 Ski Run Blvd., Suite 111, South Lake Tahoe; http://artemislakefrontcafe.com/ .

Heidi’s Pancake House: Open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily at 3485 Lake Tahoe Blvd.; www.heidislaketahoe.com .

Driftwood Café: Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at 1001 Heavenly Village Way; www.driftwoodtahoe.com .

Sprouts Café: Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 3123 Harrison Ave.; www.sproutscafetahoe.com .

South Lake Brewing Company: The Libation Lodge is open from noon to 9 p.m. at 4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite 26. The brewery taproom and beer garden are open from 2 to 8:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and noon to 9 p.m. Thursday-Sunday at 1920 Lake Tahoe Blvd.; www.southlakebeer.com .

South of North Brewing Co.: Open from 2 to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday at 932B Stateline Ave.; www.southofnorthbeer.com .

Cold Water Brewery and Grill: Open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and until 8:30 p.m. on Friday-Saturday at 2544 Lake Tahoe Blvd; https://tahoecoldwaterbrewery.com/

The Hangar: Open from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and until 10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday at 2401B Lake Tahoe Blvd.; www.thehangarlaketahoe.com.

Flatstick Pub: Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. or later daily at 4101 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite #101; https://flatstickpubtahoe.com/ .

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From brewing beer to brewing culture: one can be as intoxicating as the other. In 1985, Kingway Beer was born. Shenzhen ’s first homegrown beer hit shelves five years later, thanks to its large factory site in the city’s Luohu District. As the city grew, welcoming millions of migrants from across the Chinese Mainland, the beer grew alongside it. The catchy jingle said it all: “Come to Shenzhen, drink Kingway.”

And while you can still get a can of Kingway anywhere in the city, the brewing of the beer itself moved from Luohu in the mid-2010s. But a different fate was in store for the one-time factory site. Over the course of a decade, the former Kingway brewery was upgraded and transformed into a cultural and creative landmark – one which puts preservation and history first. In 2022, the revamped brewery – now known as GDH City Jinpi Fang – was unveiled at the ninth edition of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/ Architecture. Like the beer before it, the project has become a hit – and proof positive of the power of sensitive urban renewal.

Credit: Hym Chu

A haven in the hustle

The success of the project and its enduring popularity are more than beer froth. The revamp was led by Shenzhen-based architecture firm Urbanus, which had previously transformed the city’s OCT-Loft creative culture park and Nantou Old Town. Their approach was to preserve the memories through the transformation of these industrial remnants. “We proposed the concept of Made on Site,” says Meng Yan, principal architect at Urbanus. “The aim was to retain the brewery’s architectural aesthetic value , as well as the memories and characteristics of its original era – in turn becoming a showcase of the city’s spirit.”

Zhang Haijun, who managed the project at Urbanus, guides me through the 11,000sqm site. It feels like a sanctuary amid the chaos of Shenzhen life . Metal roofs cast kaleidoscopic shadows; a three-storey coffee shop juts out overhead like the Loch Ness Monster; a giant maze formed of industrial barrels offers up a surreal journey in the heart of the city.

The site features a subterranean walkway, a tunnel back through time that divides the area into four main spaces: A, a water tower converted into a viewing platform; B, an exhibition space built on top of a waste water station; C, a one-time aeration tank turned into a large-scale installation artwork; and D, a lecture and event space created from former fermentation tanks. “We reorganised the base to serve as a cultural space and a stage to display the industrial architecture,” explains Zhang. “On top is an outdoor exhibition area connecting the buildings, while the interior combines underground spaces to create a spatial narrative, guiding people through these diverse cultural activities.”

Renewal and remembrance

Above ground, the sun is intense, but the underground courtyards offer a cool breeze. Surrounded by remnants of the past – winding metal pipes, instrument panels, switches and massive brewing equipment – there’s a distinctly steampunk vibe, with a touch of Star Wars too. Climbing up to the A tower, we take in a panoramic view from the terrace of what’s now a Starbucks . It feels as though we’re in an ancient space station: the huge windows in front of us could turn at any moment into a universe of stars. But instead of cold steel, warm red terracotta is the dominant note throughout the site, radiating rugged industrial beauty. 

The central buildings B and C, carved from beer sedimentation tanks, offer leisure spaces, including Tiao Hai bar, a barbeque bar and Kuddo Coffee shop. A circular path leads from underground to the ground level, connecting to two square exhibition spaces: one hosts the work of young Chinese artists ; the other is crowned with a roof of interlocking aluminium rods – a giant sculpture that plays with light and shadow like a beer in a spotlight.

In the D building, Old Masters Fresh Brew is part- restaurant, part-beer museum, in which visitors can explore the brewery’s golden days while savouring  a cold brew surrounded by the aroma of fresh hops and malt. The walls retain the brewery’s old mantra, framed against white and accented with red bricks: “Brewing the People’s Favourite Beer”.

As you wander, you’ll notice the brewery’s lighting, exposed pipes on the walls, raw concrete components, white tiled walls and stainless steel barrels – industrial architectural elements that have been largely preserved. It’s an approach that artfully bridges the old and the new. Take a moment to appreciate the specially commissioned terrazzo floor tiles underfoot, which intriguingly incorporate shards of old beer bottles, lending them a distinctive sparkle. Moreover, the walls’ patchy and damaged white tiles have been restored using the Japanese kintsugi technique, transforming them into streams of flowing gold.  

At the end of the area, 29 neatly arranged fermentation tanks create a maze-like pathway for visitors to explore, with a space in the centre cleared to form the Barrel Warehouse Forest Theater. It’s a sci-fi-esque setting for artistic creations and exhibitions alike. “Industrial relics should not merely become consumer goods of the post-industrial era,” Zhang tells me. “The concentrated urban memories they embody should be unearthed, developed and amplified, continually sparking new creativity.

“In creating endless new possibilities, they are reborn.”

Getting there

Take Shenzhen Metro Line 7 to Tai’an Station. GDH City Jinpi Fang is a 400-metre walk from Exit E.

US Belgian Beer Importers announce the 8th Annual Belgian Beer Week, June 1-8

The celebration begins in Chicago, with events scheduled at notable venues including The Publican , Hopleaf Bar , Monks Pub , Map Room , Beer Temple and Sleeping Village . The festivities will continue through the week across the Midwest, East Coast and Southern regions, culminating in grand finale events at The Phoenix and Wurstküche in Los Angeles on June 7 and 8.

Throughout the week, enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enjoy tastings and promotions revolving around an array of authentic Belgian beers at both on-premises and off-premises locations, supported by engaging presentations with point-of-sale materials. Highlighting the week, key representatives and top brewers from celebrated Belgian breweries will attend various events. Esteemed guests include:

• Henry Gentenaar , CEO of Cornelissen Brewery ( www.cornelissen.com )
• Benoit Stroobants , Export Manager of John Martin Breweries (Brasserie Timmermans & Bourgogne des Flandres) ( www.anthony-martin.be )
• Charlotte De Cock , Owner/Director of VBDCK brewery (KEREL) ( www.vbdck.be )
• Karl Vanquaethem , Brewer at L. Huyghe ( www.delirium.be )
• Rudi Ghequire , Brewmaster at Brauerei Rodenbach ( www.rodenbach.be )
• Marco Passarella , Sales Manager at St Bernardus Brewery ( www.sintbernardus.be )
• Stijn Destatsbader , Export Manager at Brasserie St. Feuillien ( www.st-feuillien.com )
• Xavier Vanhonsebrouck, CEO Kasteel Brouwerij Vanhonsebrouck (www. vanhonsebrouck .be)
• Michel Clyncke, Co-CEO Kasteel Brouwerij Vanhonsebrouck ( www.vanhonsebrouck.be )
• Bruce Wright , COO Kasteel USA ( www.vanhonsebrouck.de )
• Pierre Mottet , Export Manager at Abbaye du Val Dieu ( www.val-dieu.com )
• Amaury Kervyn , Export Manager at Brouwerij Verhaeghe Vichte ( www.duchesse-de-bourgogne.be )

“We are excited for another edition of Belgian Beer Week USA. It’s a moment for beer-lovers in the States to enjoy some world-class beer and connect with American and Belgian representatives of these prestigious breweries,” said Brian Walsh, Marketing Director of Better Beverage Leaders. “The history, culture, and variety of beer styles can be highlighted and shared in an elevated and authentic way. This week feels special as an importer. Within the industry a big team comes together to bring a slice of Belgium to America.’ 

Retailers and venues interested in hosting Belgian Beer Week events are encouraged to contact these importers today to learn more about how they can participate in this vibrant celebration.

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beer conversation at the Light House

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• Sat May 25 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM (GMT)
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The World’s Top 10 Beer Destinations for 2018

words: Cat Wolinski

Yes, there are obvious American beer travel destinations, like Denver , Portland , and even Asheville . And there are bucket-list beercations abroad, like Belgium and Germany.

But for the beer lover looking to delve a little deeper into craft beer culture, an array of less obvious cities are becoming prime destinations for beer travel. From a burgeoning gypsy brewing scene in a South American metropolis, to underground beer cultures in Asian megacities, to sparkling new taprooms in small American cities, these destinations are ripe for discovery. To add to their appeal, a spate of new attractions make 2018 the perfect time to book your flight or hit the road.

Pack your bags. Here are VinePair’s top 10 beercation destinations for 2018.

10. Boise, Idaho

A city with historic roots is sprouting a revitalized, locally focused beer scene.

Boise Brewing made quite an entrance onto the beer scene in 2014 when it opened as a Community Supported Brewery (CSB) and became a fast favorite among locals for everything from super-hopped-up IPAs to stouts . Payette Brewing has been increasing in popularity as well, evidenced by the Garden City-based brewery opening its second location in downtown Boise. The new facility will have a production capacity of 100,000 barrels.

Woodland Empire , a collaborative, experimental brewery that draws inspiration from Idaho , is another one worth checking out. Montana-based White Dog Brewing recently opened a location in Boise, too.

Along with new flight options to Boise (American Airlines launched new nonstop service from Chicago O’Hare, and Southwest now runs a nonstop flight from San Diego), Boise is experiencing an influx of hospitality draws, like the Inn at 500. Overlooking the capitol, the inn is complete with a restaurant helmed by James Beard Award-nominated chef Richard Langston.

9. Louisville, Kentucky

So much more than bourbon and the derby, louisville is home to a burgeoning beer culture.

Ten years ago, Louisville, Kentucky had no beer tourism. Today, there are 40 craft breweries in the state, with 15 craft breweries in the city of Louisville alone. Kentucky Guild of Brewers president Derek Selznick says Kentucky brewers increased production by 20 percent in 2017, and the city anticipates 12 new breweries this year.

Already attracting attention from the East is Against the Grain , lauded for its tongue-in-cheek, oft-offensive beer names and can designs (Citra Ass Down IPA , Brown Note Brown Ale ). The inventive brewpub is connected to Louisville Slugger Field, making it a top target for beer tourists. But for a deeper dive into Louisville, spend time in NuLu, short for “New Louisville,” a newly cool neighborhood known for its art galleries, antique shops, and our favorite thing to travel for: food and drink.

Part of the NuLu revolution is its many restaurants, along with breweries like Goodwood , credited with  bringing back the Kentucky Common (a.k.a.  cream ale ), and Akasha Brewing Co. In March, the neighborhood hosts the NuLu Bock Beer Festival , celebrating with German-style bock and goat races.

A quick yet comprehensive glimpse of the Louisville craft beer scene can be achieved by attending the Kentucky Craft Bash in June.

For a unique lodging option, check in at 21c Museum Hotel Louisville , a boutique hotel and contemporary art museum that’s home to acclaimed restaurant Proof on Main.

8. St. Louis, Missouri

Small and independent breweries and bars stand up against anheuser-busch in this tried-and-true beer city.

The Gateway Arch Park Foundation recently unveiled final plans for St. Louis’s Gateway Arch Park, a $380 million renovation project that includes biking and running trails, concert and event venues, and a facelifted museum, all set to debut July 3, 2018. The grand opening festivities will kick off on the third, and continue through the weekend until July 7.

As for the beer, St. Louis is now home to craft breweries like Perennial Artisan Ales , a farmhouse-focused project that is always growing with good reason. 4 Hands Brewing , a two-story brewery with a taproom and snack bar downstairs, and arcade games and endless seating upstairs, is a fine place to spend an afternoon. Saint Louis Brewery’s Schlafly , which has served as a community hub and beer leader since 1991, continues to churn out year-rounds, seasonals, and limited releases.

Sour lovers will want to venture to the one-year-old Side Project Brewing , the “side project” of Cory King, formerly of Perennial, and Karen King, formerly of Perennial, Goose Island , and Deschutes , which specializes in oak barrel-aged saisons , wild ales, and spirit-barrel brews. Side Project Cellar, the brewery’s Belgian-inspired taproom, features beer , whiskey , and wine .

If you’re lucky, you might find a Cantillon or two on tap at 21st Street Brewers Bar, and if not, the selection is stellar anyway; pair with the pizzas served fresh next door.

Also, fun fact: There is a Tums factory located near the St. Louis arch downtown; you can catch the aroma all the way down the street.

7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Head here for a brazilian beer fest in september, or an energized gypsy brewing scene.

Rolling out in January 2018, the Brazilian Foreign Affairs Ministry is issuing electronic visas for U.S., Canadian, and Japanese citizens. Delta , meanwhile, offers daily, non-stop service to Rio de Janeiro from its hub in Atlanta, as well as seasonal non-stop service five times a week between Rio and JFK. So, flying south may sound exotic, but it’s totally doable.

Brewing is not yet legal in the city of Rio de Janeiro itself, so many modern brewers are “gypsies,” or contract brewers. Brazilian beer drinkers are more prone to throw back light lagers at a boteco or botequim than chase the latest IPA . However, craft beer is very much in vogue here, and, big surprise, it’s inspired by North American trends (one pair of bars, Pub Escondido, CA and Birreria Escondido, CA, are even named for the home of Stone Brewing and Pizza Port Brewing ).

Look out for IPAs , pale ales , and other trendy styles from new brewers like Hocus Pocus , 3Cariocas, and Three Monkeys . If you’re traveling in the fall, try to time your trip for Mondial de la Biere Rio , an international beer festival that originated in Montréal more than 20 years ago (and also has a branch in Paris in late June-early July). Mondial Rio will have its sixth annual run this year. Tack it onto your Christ the Redeemer visit or Copacabana Beach day, or vice versa.

6. Seoul, South Korea

Women are driving craft beer culture in this city, now home to its own “craft beer alley”.

Delta-Korean Air is now operating out of Incheon Terminal 2 , and new high-speed trains are taking travelers from Incheon to popular tourist destinations, so now is a great time to do some Seoul searching.

You might be surprised that craft beer is all over Seoul, and that the trend is largely driven by women who seek more thoughtful consumption of alcohol than the traditional Korean bender. Travelers will want to head to “ craft beer alley ” in Gyeongnidan, where street drinking is the norm in summer. Popular picks there are Craftworks , a craft beer-pioneering beer bar and restaurant; Magpie Brewing Co. ; and Made in Pongdang.

5. Beijing, China

Seek out emerging craft brewery taprooms among the ancient hutongs.

Despite China being the creator of four of the world’s top selling beers (Snow, Tsingtao, Yanjing, and Harbin), it is seldom acknowledged in the beer community as a destination for beer travel. But as China emerges as a world power in everything from economics to film to mobile bikes, its craft brewing scene has swiftly stepped into the spotlight. This is nowhere more apparent than in Beijing, the capital, where a series of hidden gems have emerged the past few years.

Arrow Factory Brewing specializes in American-style brews like a session IPA , RyePA, saisons, and stouts . Peiping Machine brings a distinctly Chinese edge to the craft brewing scene, as one of the only fully Chinese-owned breweries here. Great Leap Brewing , another expat-founded brewery, has three brewpubs in Beijing. And Jing-A Brewing Co ., perhaps the one showing up most in Westerners’ radar as of late, is also worth a try.

Prefer guidance and groups? Lost Plate is offering a new-and-improved Beijing brewery tour by tuktuk among its other food and drink tours.

If you need more incentive to toss yourself across the globe to this ancient city with modern marvels, United Airlines is offering two free checked bags to/from China and Hong Kong from all routes departing North America, so you’ll have more room for a beer haul back home.

4. Madison, Wisconsin

No longer overshadowed by milwaukee, this small city boasts a beer scene of its own.

Madison is having a moment. New breweries are giving beer travelers compelling reasons to visit, and with United offering new flights between Madison and San Francisco, it’s easier now more than ever for Californians to hit up this pretty Midwestern city.

Ale Asylum co-founder Otto Dilba recommends getting acquainted with Madison’s bar scene to truly experience the city. Classic Wisconsin taverns are a must, like Laurel Tavern , the longest continuously running bar in Madison; or the Old Fashioned , which is “quite possibly the most Wisconsin establishment in the world,” he says, carrying beer from every brewery in the state.

Another can’t-miss is State Street Brats : “You almost can’t say you’ve been to Madison if you haven’t checked out this popular campus hangout,” Dilba says. “Two floors of pure Bucky Badger bliss, over 40 taps. If you’ve ever watched a Badger game on TV — football, basketball, whatever — and they show scenes from Madison during commercial breaks, you’ve more than likely seen this place. Stroll down state street and swing in here for a beer or two to get the real Madison experience.”

On the gastropub front, Dilba recommends Weary Traveler Freehouse , Alchemy , and Coopers Tavern . As far as breweries, others to check out are the relatively new Rock Hound Brewpub , One Barrel Brewery , and Great Dane , established in 1994.

In August, the annual Great Taste of the Midwest will return to Olin Park, overlooking Lake Monona. The event, sponsored by the Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild and now in its 32nd year, features nearly 200 of the Midwest’s craft brewers. If you’re able to venture out, New Glarus is a 45-minute drive you won’t regret.

3. Chicago, Illinois

New openings complement chicago’s exciting lineup of experimental brews.

Hop on the new American Airlines shuttle to Chi town. Why? It truly has something for everyone.

Forbidden Root , opened in 2016, truly brought something new to the Chicago craft beer scene (or rather, something very, very old). The botanical-obsessed, ancient recipe-inspired brewers use things like foraged flowers, herbs, and roots in their beers, and the results are delicate, delicious, and thought-provoking (and served alongside seasonal dishes that play off the beer recipes).

After hitting your checklist of breweries like Pipeworks , Half Acre , Off Color, and Local Option , look for Lyft’s beer collaboration with Baderbräu Brewing for a discounted ride back to your hotel.

In the Loop “ star chef ” Austin Fausett, known for his creative American cuisine at Washington, D.C.’s Trummer’s on Main, is opening a new Belgian-inspired beer and mussels bar called Fisk & Co.

Ballast Point also announced it will open a brewery in Chicago soon, too; but if you’re going to pick a new Ballast Point location, maybe go for Disneyland .

2. New York, New York

A nascent beer scene now exploded, nyc is becoming even more of a beer destination this year.

There are so many reasons to travel to New York and, until recently, beer wasn’t one of them. But that’s all changed now that some of the nation’s best breweries, from Other Half to SingleCut to Sixpoint to Transmitter to the now-ubiquitous Brooklyn Brewery, are based here. The scene is ramping up so fast, you’ll miss it if you don’t visit soon.

Cult favorite Grimm Artisanal Ales will open its first brick-and-mortar location in Brooklyn’s East Williamsburg neighborhood this spring, so get ready for that to pop off in the already popping Williamsburg beer scene. Transmitter Brewing , a Queens favorite specializing in Belgian-style, bottle- conditioned ales, will be moving to a bigger space in the Brooklyn Navy Yard this year. Following in those footsteps in the near future, hopefully, will be world-renowned Evil Twin Brewing in Ridgewood, Queens and cool kid classic, Stillwater in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  Here’s a guide to NYC’s beer scene to get you started.

American Airlines recently announced a new shuttle service between Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and New York LaGuardia (LGA) kicking off April 4, 2018, so you can jump between the two cities with an option of 15 flights per day (and there’s free beer and wine !).

If you can make it here, you better make it really damn good.

1. Richmond, Virginia

From one craft brewery to 22 in less than 10 years, rva is officially on the map.

Beer has blossomed in Richmond, and it’s time we all take notice. As the recently revamped Richmond Beer Trail will tell you, this Southern city is now rich with breweries. First there was Legend ; then there was Hardywood ; and now, more than 20 breweries have opened in the city itself, and 32 are in the area.

An Bui’s Mekong and adjoining brewpub, The Answer, are top spots for all sorts of craft beers and Vietnamese fare. (Pho and hazy IPAs may not sound like they go together, but trust us, they do.)

Hot brewers are The Veil , best known for its hazy, hoppy imperial IPAs (and one seriously gorgeous gose); Ardent Craft Ales , which paved the way for the brewing scene in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood and excels in every style; and Triple Crossing, whose grassy, fruity session IPAs should not be missed. For something truly unique, head to Carytown’s  Garden Grove Brewing and Urban Winery , which creates constantly changing, genre-bending styles, like a beer-wine hybrid and a sparkling honey wine with fruits and flowers that mimics rosé wine.

Asian art and history buffs will be amped to hear that the stunning Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China exhibit is at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) until March. And even if you’re not into history, you can feel educated by staying in recently opened boutique hotel, Graduate Richmond .

New flights to know about: United Airlines launched a daily flight to and from Denver, and OneJet now provides a direct flight to and from Pittsburgh, connecting Richmond to the West and immediate North as never before.

Published: January 29, 2018

• The World’s Top 10 Beer Destinations for 2018 | VinePair
• https://vinepair.com/articles/best-beer-travel-destinations-2018/
• wbs_cat Beer, wbs_type Belgian Ale, wbs_type Imperial IPA, wbs_type IPA, wbs_type Sour Beer, wbs_brand 3Cariocas, wbs_brand Against the Grain, wbs_brand Ale Asylum, wbs_brand Arrow Factory Brewing, wbs_brand Boise Brewing, wbs_brand Garden Grove Brewing and Urban Winery, wbs_brand Grimm Artisanal Ales, wbs_brand Half Acre Brewing Company, wbs_brand Off Color Brewing, wbs_brand Perennial Artisan Ales, wbs_brand Pipeworks Brewing, wbs_brand Transmitter Brewing, beer, beer culture, Travel
• Celebrate National Moscato Day With Moscato d’Asti DOCG | VinePair
• https://vinepair.com/articles/celebrate-national-moscato-day-with-moscato-dasti-docg/
• Margot Bigg
• wbs_cat Wine, wbs_type Moscato, wbs_type Moscato d\'Asti, wbs_type Sparkling Wine, wbs_brand Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Asti, docg, moscato, National moscato day

2024 NCAA Tournament Beer Guide: The perfect round for (almost) every round

The NCAA Tournament is upon us in all its perfection. It is, quite simply, an event that does not need to be changed or expanded.

But we can do both and keep you refreshed all the while.

Behold: The Athletic ’s fourth annual NCAA Tournament Beer Guide.

In previous years , we’ve assigned a brewery and a recommendation to each team in the men’s tournament. This time, we’re focusing on the host sites and the fans traveling to them, identifying the best spot to watch the games and grab a quality beverage. And for the first time we’re including the regional sites and Final Four for the women’s tournament, too.

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(Given the variability in hosts for the first weekend of the women’s event, we decided to start with the Sweet 16. If your team is a home team, feel free to help out your fellow imbibers in the comment section.)

A couple notes: The breweries chose the beer. THE BREWERIES CHOSE THE BEER. This is important. And when we couldn’t reach someone for a rec, we took our best stab at the pick. (Those ones you can blame us for.)

Let’s toast to the Madness …

• Follow live coverage of South Carolina, NC State and Iowa, UConn in women’s Final Four today

Men’s First Four

The brewery: Branch & Bone

The beer: Spectral Alphabet

Branch & Bone brews a wide variety of rotating beers, but Spectral Alphabet is the only mainstay. This New England IPA was one of the earliest options when the brewery opened in 2018 and quickly became a fan favorite.

“Since pretty early on, this one has been a regular for us,” says co-owner John Joyce . “A couple months back we basically just made it a permanent option.”

Brewed from Citra and Mosaic hops and with 7 percent ABV, it’s a classic hazy IPA that’s juicy and tropical, available on tap and in cans. Stop by before and after the First Four in Dayton’s historic South Park district, just north of the university’s campus and only a five-minute drive from the arena. Branch & Bone doesn’t serve food, but you’re welcome to carry in or order whatever you want, unless you prefer to stick with the liquid diet. — Justin Williams

Men’s first- and second-round sites

The brewery: Wild East Brewing Co.

The beer: Patience & Fortitude

About a 10-minute walk from Barclays Center is a stretch of blocks in Brooklyn’s Gowanus neighborhood in which breweries are plentiful. In late 2019, Wild East launched and settled into the area, seeking to do something a little different from the acclaimed East Coast establishments around them. Tyler March, one of its three co-founders, says that Wild East has drawn acclaim for its varied tap list: “You won’t find a more diverse and rounded tap list from any breweries nearby.” Co-founder Brett Taylor adds that “having the nuance of the different ingredients really helps us stand out.”

Wild East relies largely on ingredients and processes native to the beer they are making. Patience & Fortitude, for instance, is a Czech-style pilsner, brewed using authentic Czech Saaz hops in a traditional Czech method. Wild East serves English-style brown ales, Italian-style and German-style pilsners, West Coast IPAs, Czech dark lagers, foeder-aged farmhouse ales … the list, and processes, go on and on. And the literal fermenters used are fully visible to customers, towering behind a clear glass wall. “Being able to see the brewery was very important to us,” March says. “You want to be immersed by the idea that the beer you’re drinking is coming from 20 to 30 feet away.” (This sampler/ writer can confirm that he was struck by not only the varied offerings he tasted but also the towering barrels in-site.)

Wild East also stands out because the majority of their offerings are low in ABV. Food pop-ups are present pretty much every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And although Wild East has to turn on its projector to air sporting events of the moment, the beer offerings are worthwhile even if it means a visitor is forced to use a personal device to stream multiple games at once. — Ben Pickman

The brewery: Wooden Robot

The beer: Good Morning Vietnam Coffee Vanilla Blonde Ale

First brewed in 2015, Good Morning Vietnam quickly became “by far one of our most popular beers,” says marketing and communications director Jacki Keating — and after one sip, you understand why. Locally roasted Ethiopian coffee from nearby Enderly Coffee Roasters combines with rich Madagascar vanilla beans to form one of Charlotte’s best, most unique flavors. (Which is really saying something, in a region with more than 75 breweries.) “An epicurean awakening,” Keating adds, “leaving our guests coming back for more.” Like the 1987 Robin Williams film of the same name, Good Morning Vietnam goes down incredibly easy — almost too easy for its 5.0 percent ABV. And while neither of the brewery’s locations are in Uptown, near Spectrum Center — the site of this year’s NCAA Tournament games — it’s well worth the short drive (or light rail ride) to visit. And if you’re not a coffee fan? Try either the Overachiever Pale Ale (5.3 percent ABV) or really kick things up a notch with the What He’s Having IPA, which hits perfectly for a 6.5 percent ABV with juicy citrus hops.

Plus, not to ruin a fun vibe, but the brewery could use some support right now. Co-founder and head brewer Dan Wade unfortunately passed away in February after an accident at Wooden Robot’s South End location. Good Morning Vietnam, and all of Wooden Robot’s delicious offerings, are part of Wade’s lasting legacy in the Charlotte community. — Brendan Marks

Indianapolis

The brewery: Taxman

The beer: Deduction

Everyone here agrees this is the best time of year. As college basketball writers and enthusiasts, we center our calendars around March Madness, jet-setting around the country from conference tournaments in early and mid-March to weeks on the road for the NCAA Tournament and, finally, to the Final Four. Then we return to our homes, do inordinate amounts of laundry and check back in with reality. It’s at that moment we all have the same realization.

“Oh, s—, I have to do my taxes.”

For that, we raise a glass to Taxman Brewing Company, a Belgian-style brewery based out of Bargersville, Ind., just outside Indianapolis, but easily snagged while downtown.

The go-to choice is Deduction (get it?), a true Belgian Dubbel that hits you right in the feels — sweet, warm, a little peppery, a little malty. The profile is perfect for this time of year (kind of cold, kind of not, kind of wet, kind of nice) and the 8.0 percent ABV eases the pain of having to give the government so much of your hard-earned money. You can find Taxman in establishments in Indy or, even better, use the day between games to head down to the brewery’s farmhouse facility 20 miles south of town. — Brendan Quinn

The brewery: Wiseacre Brewing Co.

The beer: Tiny Bomb

Brothers Kellan and Davin Bartosch opened Memphis’ first taproom in 2013, and their first beer, a 4.5 percent ABV American Pilsner called Tiny Bomb, won a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival just a few months later. Now, Kellan says, it is the best-selling Tennessee-made craft beer and No. 4 craft pilsner in the country. The honey-spiked pale lager made with German pilsner malt got its name because “it’s tiny alcohol but a flavor bomb,” Kellan explains. And it’s only 129 calories, which essentially makes it a craft light beer.

“When my brother was brewing in Chicago, he talked to a lot of customers about what they liked and didn’t, and so many would say they loved the way craft beers tasted but just couldn’t drink more than one or two,” Kellan says. “He just saw that as a problem he could solve by making a great-tasting light beer.”

The secret ingredient? Apparently, it is the incredibly soft water that flows from the Memphis Sand Aquifer, an underground source of pure, ancient water. “Pilsen, Czech Republic (from which the pilsner style was born) has the softest water in the world,” Kellan says, “and we have the softest water in this country, so that’s definitely like a little cheat code. But you can have great ingredients and still make terrible food. You still need a great recipe, great equipment and a great cook. So we’re very proud of Tiny Bomb.”

Not only is this craft beer incredibly crushable — drink ’em through an entire day of games — but Wiseacre’s downtown location houses Little Bettie pizza (recently featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”) and is easily walkable from FedEx Forum, where Tiny Bomb is also sold. — Kyle Tucker

The brewery: Kros Strain

The beer: Fairy Nectar IPA

This is no typical IPA. The signature brew at Kros Strain, canning beers and emptying taps since June 2017, Fairy Nectar is “approachable,” says Kros Strain general manager Doug Verskerna, with heavy mango and grapefruit hops brewed in a hazy, New England style. “The hops shine through,” Veskerna said. It is “Nebraska’s IPA” and the top craft beer in the state, Veskerna says. Kros Strain keeps 10 beers consistently available and showcased about 75 at its tap rooms last year. Fairy Nectar has always rated as a favorite. “People just gravitate to it,” Veskerna says.

In 2021, the brewery added a location at Millwork Commons, a short walk to the north from the CHI Health Center, set to host games Thursday and Saturday. At the Millwork location, Kros Strain caters to baseball fans annually during the College World Series, played directly across 10th Street from the basketball venue. It will expand its space for the basketball tournament and aim to serve large and small groups.

Fairy Nectar is widely available. It’s served in 16 ounces of goodness, freshly canned, at the arena and at many hotels, eateries and bars nearby. And it’s a perfectly suitable brew to enjoy at a steakhouse, a dive bar and while watching hoops. — Mitch Sherman

The brewery: 11th Hour

The beer: New Cult IPA

You know what’s not overly easy? Finding a Pittsburgh brewery with a pretty good television setup for this exercise. Maybe we need to spend more time scouting the Steel City scene. Feel free to offer up suggestions in the comments for, uh, journalism. But 11th Hour comes recommended by our Pittsburgh sources for having good beer, a solid rotation of food trucks from Thursday through Sunday, a couple of televisions visible from more or less anywhere inside the taproom, outdoor seating for those needing fresh air and board games for members of your group who somehow do not care about the NCAA Tournament. (As a follow-up: If you are friends with such people … why?)

You can run the beer gamut here: pilsners, a Kolsch, a coffee milk stout called Nocturnal Rainbow that can keep you going, in every sense, at 5.6 percent ABV. But owner Keana McMahon’s recommendation is the New Cult IPA, a New England/hazy concoction that’s a “reimagined take” on the first hazy the place ever brewed. “A pillowy soft mouthfeel with almost no bitterness” certainly is enticing, and the 7 percent ABV isn’t too overwhelming. —  Brian Hamilton

Salt Lake City

The brewery: Level Crossing

The beer: Suss It Out Rye IPA

There is no shortage of bars within walking distance of the Delta Center in downtown Salt Lake City, but Level Crossing’s new secondary location is only a 15-minute walk from the arena for those who want a beer break between sessions in the first and second rounds.

“Suss It Out is the perfect beer for March Madness,” says Level Crossing head brewer Chris Detrick. “This double rye IPA has a modest 6.9 percent ABV, allowing you to enjoy copious pints as you watch your teams cruise through the first few rounds. Brewed with the holy trinity of hops: Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe, Suss is not your ordinary IPA. It’s a delicious Rye IPA. The only thing Suss about this situation is your buddy’s bracket.”

Suss It Out has also won a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival. — Christopher Kamrani

The brewery: Brick West

The beer: Brick West pilsner

After doing some in-person scouting of this city during the regular season, we’re pained to choose just one spot. (So we won’t. More on that in a bit.) Brick West, though, checks the boxes: Good beer. Multiple big-screen TVs. And if the weather cooperates? A massive patio for grabbing fresh air and halftime sips. We had a Brick x Brick IPA on-site, and it might be one of the best West Coast versions we’ve sampled. But the pilsner is one of the more popular pulls and, at 5.1 percent ABV, might be better suited for hours of game-watching. It showcases German malt and noble hops and — if Brick West does say so itself — it is “the epitome of balance, simplicity, and flavor.”

But Brick West doesn’t have to be your only stop. Lumberbeard has a large, crisp space and beer and food menus deep enough to satisfy a group — just be warned that there’s one TV, which may make prime viewing real estate hard to come by. Iron Goat is a very short walk from Brick West; we didn’t see any TVs inside, but the Sheep Go To Heaven IPA is a good starter before settling in elsewhere for games and lighter offerings. — Hamilton

Women’s regionals

The brewery: Fort Orange Brewing

The beer: Fort Orange IPA

In October 2017, John Westcott, and his friends Jim Eaton and Craig Johnson, took a leap and opened a brewery in Albany. For years, the home brewers would gather and try out different flavors and styles. In their business, they sought to bring out the best characteristics of other places they had visited, of other beers they had sampled. Westcott says that Fort Orange Brewing utilizes their taproom space — around 2,500 square feet — to create a family-friendly environment. They regularly host community events — birthdays, retirement parties, even a weekly cornhole league — and have food trucks present a few times per week. They also produce a varied beer list. “Any given week people could go and try something new they haven’t tried before,” Westcott says.

Still, Westcott recommends its flagship beer — the Fort Orange IPA — which is a staple, featuring balanced notes of citrus and a little bit of pine. It’s a classic. But Fort Orange additionally offers a flight of its 10 beers on tap. By going that route, one can get a sense for all its offerings; consider it the equivalent of streaming multiple NCAA Tournament games at one time before narrowing down on one to select. “That,” Westcott says, “has become pretty popular for folks on their first time coming in.” — Pickman

The brewery: Breakside

The beer: Breakside IPA

You’ll have no trouble finding amazing beer in Portland, a compact town that at last count was home to over 70 breweries. And while just about every style is represented in the Rose City, you might as well drink what the region is truly famous for: wildly fresh IPAs. And there’s none better than Breakside’s flagship offering, a Citra and Chinook blend that has been honored three times in the American IPA category at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival (gold in 2014, bronze in 2018 and silver in 2023).

“We try to focus on the full constellation of hop flavors,” says brewmaster Ben Edmunds, who introduced Breakside IPA in 2010. “The balance between sweet citrus, those pine, evergreen notes and tropical fruit is essential. A lot of other IPAs, including some of ours, can get a little bit more angular, more pointed in their flavor. They’re heavy on tropical, heavy on those dank, diesel notes. Breakside IPA covers those three bases really well.”

Freshness is key, as Breakside doesn’t distribute outside of the Pacific Northwest, much to the chagrin of this former Oregon resident. Portland breweries are notorious for their lack of TV options, but Breakside’s Slabtown location, conveniently located less than three miles from Moda Center, has three large screens where you can pair hoops and hops. And while you can always snag a can to go, there are few better experiences than tasting this legendary beauty poured straight from the tap. — Brian Bennett

Men’s regionals

The brewery: Trillium Brewing

The beer: Congress Street IPA

We’ve only personally visited Trillium’s Fort Point location, but well-placed Boston spies confirm there are now multiple sites for adult beverage enthusiasts to enjoy. (We’d still recommend Fort Point, for what it’s worth. Parking isn’t great, but the atmosphere is — and on what should be a busy hoops weekend in Beantown, it’s a bit removed from the fuss of downtown proper.) At this point, over a decade into its existence, Trillium might be more than just the best brewery in Boston; we’d hear arguments that it’s the best in the entire state. There are, oh, more than a dozen offerings at each watering hole, but the Congress Street IPA with galaxy hops is Trillium’s flagship. (And at 7.2 percent ABV, it packs a healthy punch.) Personally, we’d also recommend whatever Daily Serving is on tap. The Daily Serving, basically, is where Trillium takes its baseline Berliner Weisse and brews it with whatever seasonal fruits are available. The result? Some of our favorite sours, especially those of the berry inclination. But really, Trillium has something for everyone. We’re hoping to do some on-site scouting in a few weeks — especially at their Fenway location, conveniently situated next to Time Out Market, a bougie food hall of sorts. — Marks

The brewery: Peticolas

The beer: Irish Goodbye red ale

Don’t fret over the field trip a few minutes outside of downtown Dallas and to what seems like an innocuous industrial area — it culminates in an ideal situation for this exercise. Whether it’s on the first level with board games and multiple big screens or the second floor with ping-pong tables and some foosball — plus more TVs — Peticolas provides an ideal environment for multiple hours of hoops and other distractions.

What to drink while on site? Founder and owner Michael Peticolas understands the debate. “Which beer is best to drink during this time of year?” he says. “Which one can you crush in multiples throughout the day? Which name has the most application to the tournament itself?” That brings Peticolas to the Irish Goodbye red ale. Having sampled the product itself — we’re just doing our job as serious journalists, people — the 6.5 percent ABV pour is absolutely repeatable over a long day of madness.

Other quality options abound. But we also appreciate that an afternoon of the Sit Down Or I’ll Sit You Down imperial IPA — which is terrifyingly drinkable at 10 percent ABV — might lead to some challenging day-afters. So if a red ale isn’t your speed, we’d suggest the Golden Opportunity Kolsch. It’s one of the better iterations of that style we’ve encountered. — Hamilton

The brewery: Brewery Faisan

The beer: Fog on the Barrow-Downs

This is for my people, those who believe the hazy revolution has jumped the shark and just want a perfect, delicious IPA. Fog on the Barrow-Downs is, in my opinion, the best IPA brewed in a city loaded with wonderful brewery options. A classic, full-bodied, West Coast-style double IPA. Save room in the luggage for a four-pack.

I was told on a recent visit that the name, Fog on the Barrow-Downs, is a nod to a chapter in one of the volumes of “Lord of the Rings.” That’s great, if you’re into such things. I am very dumb and thought it sounded like a Tom Waits album. Mule Variations, Nighthawks at the Diner, Fog on the Barrow-Downs.

You’ll go a bit off the beaten path to visit Brewery Faisan, but it’s only three miles from Little Caesars Arena and absolutely worth a trip. A good place with good people. It’s dog-friendly and relaxed. (My pup Aurora might’ve accidentally run behind the bar not too long ago. Sorry again, guys!) After hitting the brewery, head to Eastern Market for a bite to eat, some shopping and another pint or two. — Quinn

Los Angeles

The brewery: LA Ale Works

The beer: Bengal Brew coffee Kolsch (A.M. games) and El Lay Pale Ale (P.M. games)

It’s not exactly walking distance … but at the risk of playing into the worst stereotypes, nothing is really walking distance from anything in Los Angeles. Which makes LA Ale Works as good a choice as any, with multiple venues to choose from. If we had to pick between the Culver City or Hawthorne locations, we’d likely go with the latter for the large outdoor beer garden and 25 rotating taps that will suit any taste. But as managing partner Andrew Fowler points out, the Culver City location is a short light-rail ride away from Crypto.com Arena and downtown. (And has just as many tap options.)

The setup for games? Can’t miss either way. Hawthorne has six indoor televisions with a large projector, and another three TVs on the patio. Culver City has four TVs visible inside or outside. As for the libations? Depends what time you get there. “We’re mighty proud of the fact that we are L.A.’s sports brewery,” Fowler says, “and will of course be opening early for the games.” If you’re in the door in the morning, it’s the Bengal Brew, a 5 percent ABV Kolsch collab with Equator Coffees. “It’s light-bodied, coffee-forward, fully caffeinated and perfect for a 9:15 a.m. tipoff,” Fowler says. For the rest of the day (and night?) go with the El Lay, another 5 percent offering with “a restrained bitterness and hoppy notes of lime zest and tropical fruit,” per Fowler.

Also, we should note that Lunar Kitten West Coast IPA has been … vetted. Personally. If that style is your particular cup of suds, have at it. — Hamilton

Men’s Final Four

The brewery: Pedal Haus

The beer: Day Drinker light lager

Sprawl is a buzzword during any major event held in the greater Phoenix area. If you’re downtown? You’re still more than 16 miles from State Farm Stadium and the games. Stay in Scottsdale, and the trek is closer to 30 miles. And these are all reasonable places to camp out as the men’s college basketball season reaches its crescendo. But it’s simply not the hyper-centralized Final Four host city that, say, San Antonio or Indianapolis are.

So the ideal brewery serves disparate crowds. Enter Pedal Haus. The Arizona brewery of the year in 2023 — per the Arizona Craft Beer Awards — has three locations: Phoenix, Tempe and Chandler. There should be roughly a dozen in-house options on tap at each spot, ranging from a hard seltzer to double IPAs to an imperial stout. Pedal Haus suggests the Day Drinker light lager for the long haul, which maybe makes sense for at least semifinal Saturday; with an ABV of 3.6 percent and an IBU of 12, it’s what the brewery calls “extremely crushable, low-carb, low-cal and gluten-reduced.” To be fair, we’d probably start with a Kush IPA or the White Rabbit hazy wheat IPA before dialing it back, but to each their own.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Greenwood Brewing and its downtown Phoenix taproom as worthy of a visit, if for no other reason than Greenwood beer is very, very good beer. SanTan Brewing Company and Four Peaks Brewing Co. are more ubiquitous within state lines — these are the Arizona beers you can pick up just about anywhere, basically — and they also have taprooms set up nicely for game-watching. — Hamilton

Women’s Final Four

The brewery: Masthead Brewing Co.

The beer: Lean West

The hopheads at Masthead take a trip to the Pacific Northwest every autumn to meet with local hop growers, share ideas and bring some of the harvest back home to Cleveland. Those trips were the inspiration for the Lean West double IPA, brewed in the West Coast-style with that distinctive, hoppy pungency and notes of stone fruit, orange and mango. Available on-tap and in cans, Lean West is also the latest brew Masthead has added to its permanent lineup, clocking in at a hearty 8 percent ABV.

The brewery, opened in 2017, is housed in a former 1920s car dealership right downtown, offering Neapolitan-style pizza and an outdoor patio. It’s just a half-mile walk from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, which should be tolerable by early April, even in Cleveland. — Williams

Dandy dozen: The 12 teams that can win the men's NCAA Tournament

(Illustration by Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic)

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