The Beer Thread!

Been meaning to add this info for awhile. Anyone in Southern California or just visiting the San Diego area, check out this brewery, Midnight Jack Brewing Co.

www.midnightjackbrewing.com/home/

www.facebook.com/MidnightJackBrewing/?fref=ts

I'm going on a big road trip later in the summer, and I'm hoping to bring back or otherwise drink some of the best beer in the states I'm visiting along the way. I want the best kept secrets of the beer scene, if possible

Massachusetts (home state, got this covered)
New York (via Ithaca)
Pennsylvania (I won't really be here long enough, plus I've been to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh)
Ohio (Cleveland)
Indiana (via South Bend?)
Illinois (Chicago, paging Alyssa)
Wisconsin (Madison, Eau Claire)
Minnesota (Twin Cities)
South Dakota (Rapid City, maybe Sioux Falls?)
Wyoming (Cheyenne)
Colorado (Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Pueblo)
Kansas (Topeka, Kansas City)
Missouri (Kansas City, St. Louis)
Kentycky (Louisville)
Tennessee (Nashville)
Georgia (Atlanta)
North Carolina (Asheville)
Virginia (driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, so anything near there)
Washington DC

Casey Brewing is pretty great in Colorado. They're based in Glenwood Springs, but I think some of the bottle shops in the front range get their beers too.

www.thrillist.com/drink/nashville/nashville-s-best-craft-breweries

Yazoo, Fat Bottom Brewery, and Tennessee Brew Works for sure.

How many do you want from Asheville? Also, consider Knoxville if you're heading straight from Asheville to Nashville. Also, thepeppers should have Asheville opinions too.

Illinois: Begyle and Half Acre are both close to each other and awesome. I know Revolution is getting big but they have a lot of beer on the tap room that's exclusive to Chicago, so does Lagunitas. I live in the North burbs now and there is a brewery called Tighthead in Mundelein which is awesome. I also am 3 miles from there which is also awesome 

Indiana: 3 Floyds of course. luva may have some recommendations for there also. 

WI: I highly recommend Lake Front Brewery. Sign up for their tour, even if you don't go on it they give you 3 beer tokens for like $7. It's right on the water and if it's a nice day it's very pretty. They also give you a punch card for free beers in the neighborhood the same day as you do the tour. New Glaris isn't no where as great as their beer, you can sample beer but can't buy a pint.  A lot of the well known places out there have weird rules. I went to Leinis once and you can't even buy a beer there. You can only tour and get 3 samples, only 1 of which can be a high ABV. I'm sure it's due to some sort of ordinance but still a bummer. MKE brewing is also great. They use to do $15 all you can drink for 3 hours. Not sure if it's still a thing. 

If you want to meet up let me know!

Those cities are in the order we're hitting them, so no Knoxville. As for Asheville, if everyone who has opinions wants to give like, a Top 3 or Top 5, I'll try to do the aggregate top 2

Looks like captaina152 beat me to it, but I can only 2nd him with the Wedge. It's quickly become my favorite spot in town. The original location is within walking distance to New Belgium east coast production facility, in which they have a pub inside for the public.

Also, I don't know how stuck you're on breweries but look into the Bywater while you're in Asheville. Have to hold membership to get in, but it cost like $3. Great spot right on the French Broad River that features multiple local beers. People come and go via kayaks regularly.

Understood. For a top, I'd do Burial, Wedge and Pisgah. The lady said Highland, Pisgah, Burial and One World.

The new beer store in town just opened and they have Burial cans. Any suggestions?

All the ones that sound good to you. They've never let me down.

My in-laws started renting out a cabin a few years ago outside of Afton and Wintergreen. Every year we go for a week to fish and catch up with a whole buncha people that I don't know and don't care about. That's not a horrible statement as my wife feels the same way. We go because we want the kids to know that side of the family (and they are the first to step up on the babysitting game). The first year I was there, I took a walk and discovered a Devils Backbone Brewery that was less than a mile away. It's been my getaway for a few years now.

It's not the best but it's not the worst either. I do love the view from the patio. It's a convenient stop for you, too. Note this is the outpost and not the actual brewery.

There's another up the road called Wild Wolf that I haven't tried. I'll look for that when I head to the store tomorrow.

While I've never been to the Chaos Mountain Brewery, I've had a few and I love it. It's on my list when I head to Roanoke in a few weeks. It's in Calloway (which is near the start/end of the BRP).

Side Note: You can see the house I grew up in from BRP. It's now my mothers and both my brothers have separate houses on the land. Not making promises but I'm pretty sure I can make a few phone calls and get you porch seating if you want.

It's kinda telling when the first thing I think about the view vs. the beer.

Not sure how you feel about sweets but French Broad Chocolate in Asheville is the fucking truth.

Also, I just wanna say I didn't leave Wicked Weed off the list because of any bitter feelings about them selling. I don't really care about that. That place tends to be busy as fuck all the time which drags down the enjoyment for me. If you're big into sours, check out their offshoot The Funkatorium. It's usually busy too, but Rothric can attest to their sour game being on point.