TRAVELING thousands of miles to sample the same alcoholic beverage isn’t a hobby reserved to wine enthusiasts anymore. With the massive rise of craft breweries in the United States, foodies and casual drinkers are setting their sights on cities that offer a new type of fermented brew.
The U.S. beer market reached a milestone last year, counting more than 4,000 active breweries in its ranks and approaching the historical high of 4,131 breweries recorded in 1873. It’s impossible to hit all of these establishments in one lifetime, but smart vacationers are picking cities with a host of breweries so they can cross off a handful during a few days of imbibing and entertainment.
While there are many, many cities in the U.S. that boast outstanding brewery scenes, there are two cities that offer a plethora of libations and natural scenery to boot. Denver and Portland are some of the best cities for anyone—beer geek or novice drinker alike—looking to fill their vacation with a little fun and suds.
DENVER
Host of the annual Great American Beer Festival, Denver has earned its reputation as one of the top beer cities in America with both its number of breweries —and political leanings.
Colorado governor John Hickenlooper was first and foremost a businessman in Denver, opening the Wynkoop Brewing Company in 1988. During his time at the helm of Wynkoop and later as mayor of Denver, he spearheaded a redevelopment of the Denver downtown that is still attracting millennials to its trenches today.
Wynkoop stands in the LoDo neighborhood, surrounded by bustling spots like the newly refurbished Union Station and Coors Field baseball stadium—home to Blue Moon Brewing Co. The area is especially rowdy during Rockies home games, when fans crowd the local bars -and Coors Field’s new Rooftop section- to drink and (occasionally) watch the game.
Serious craft brew seekers only need to wander a couple of blocks northwest of LoDo to find a cluster of breweries and bars in RiNo, an up-and-coming warehouse district that draws hipsters and young families alike.
While there are many exceptional places in RiNo, three breweries stand out for their unique approach to the art. Our Mutual Friend takes a local slant in crafting its beer, with a rotating draft list that varies based on the seasons. Black Shirt Brewing specializes in red ales and boasts a “music-centric” ambience, sporting a turntable in one of the dark corners of its bar. Located in the indoor food market, The Source, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project offers some more unique tastes, specializing in sour beers that may contain a hint of cherry or ginger. Last, but certainly not least, is the Great Divide Brewing Company’s Barrel Bar, a new operation that opened when the company outgrew its original location. Tours are offered daily, and afterwards visitors can sample some of the results of the brewery’s hard work. A beer garden and restaurant are also in the works.
If this all seems like a bit much to figure out on your own, there are many tour groups in Denver that guide visitors from brewery to brewery. The Denver Microbrew Tour (http://www.Denvermicrobrewtour.Com/) offers two separate excursions, one in LoDo and one in RiNo. Both tours run for about two hours, providing participants with ample samples, Denver trivia and beer knowledge at each stop.
While some visitors might try to limit their Colorado breweries and consumption to Denver, there are plenty of other locations to visit in what is lovingly called the “Denver Beer Triangle,” falling within the boundaries of Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins.
Catch spectacular views of the flatirons and stroll along the picture-perfect Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, located just 30 minutes outside of Denver. It is also home to Boulder Beer Company, Upslope Brewing Company, Twisted Pine Brewing Company, and many others. While walking between breweries might seem like a trek, visitors can rent bikes from the city’s bike share program, Bcycle, so they can zip around town, brewery to brewery—granted they’re drinking responsibly, of course.
PORTLAND
Rivaling Colorado’s natural beauty, Portland is also home to more than 65 breweries— the most of any city in the world. While this may be overwhelming to some visitors, the Travel Portland website (http://www.Travelportland.com/collection/beer/) breaks Portland’s breweries into manageable categories, highlighting kid-friendly establishments, dog-friendly patios and cideries for when the hoppy beverages are too much.
The first stop for many will be the classic breweries credited with building Portland’s reputation as a beer mecca. These include Hair of the Dog, made famous by its Dave brew, a beer aged for 19 years that catches up to $2,000 for one bottle. Cascade Brewing Barrel House is also a mainstay in Portland, producing barrel-aged sour beers that won brewer Ron Gansberg gold and silver medals at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival. Founded in 1996, Lompoc Brewing has also cultivated a following with its seven year-round beers and seasonals.
Once visitors cross these classics off their lists they can head to a number of new operations popping up around the city. Ex Novo Brewing Company focuses on the classic lager, elevating the flavors with quality malt and a Mexican lager yeast strain. Serious Eats calls Baerlic Brewing Co. One of the “coziest places to drink” in Portland, praising both its tree-lined patio and wooden beamed ceiling, while Thrillist focuses more on its solid flagship beers like the oatmeal stout or cream ale. Lastly, Culmination Brewery is new on the scene with a digital brewing system that allows it to experiment more freely with styles. The brewery also hosts multiple events per week, entertaining drinkers with live music, trivia and a highly-recommended dining menu that includes brisket tacos and candy bacon.
Like Denver, Portland also has many breweries outside of its city limits that are worth renting a car to explore. Travel Portland (http://www.travelportland.com/) recommends driving to breweries in the surrounding Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, all located just 60 miles from Portland. McMenamins offers a variety of entertainment on its 74 acres, including a brewery, golf course, hotel and outdoor concert venue. Located near Hood River, Full Sail Brewery was the first craft brewery in Oregon to bottle its beers, and Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom is a newer local that offers aged ales. While traveling to these destinations, visitors will be treated to dramatic views including waterfalls and soaring cliffs.
Both Portland and Denver offer a variety of natural beauty and plenty of breweries to entertain—giving wine country some true competition.