So you’re sick of Busch Light and PBR? Looking for a more enjoyable, satisfying beer? Guess what – you’re not alone. More and more young people are ditching the national heavyweights for lesser known, but better tasting, craft brews.

    Lucky for us, we don’t have to look hard for a better beer. Thousands of microbreweries are popping up across the nation and, chances are, there’s one in your own backyard just waiting for you to explore.  Leaving that beer-flavored water behind can be a little intimidating at first, even saddening, saying goodbye to those incoherent dorm days. But fear not - there’s an endless array of awesomeness that awaits you on the other side, and you won’t regret your decision.   
   
Like you, we were thirsty for something different. We knew there had to be more than the flavorless concoctions that fuel colleges across the country. So we hit the road in search of a higher being – a brew we could take home to meet the parents, if you will. Driven by our affinity for adventure and the inherent need for good beer, we traveled far and wide to find the best pint this country has to offer. Not to mention some awesome gear from Coleman to stay comfortable along the way.

    It’s been a crazy adventure that’s brought us through about thirty breweries in thirty states, and although we’ve come out tired and broke, we’ve gained some invaluable insights that should help us all next time we’re walking down the beer aisle.   
   
Lesson from the road #1: people are great, and most will offer tidbits to roadtrippers that you should take to heart. Play your traveling cards right and you’ll inevitably meet some amazing people with great insights on the local scene. 
Lesson from the road #2: there’s good beer no matter where you find yourself. Just hit the bars with a touch of curiosity and openness, break the chains of the big beer oligarchs, and enjoy the local microbrew on tap. There are infinite varieties and you won’t know what you like until you try it. But consider yourself warned: once you start, you won’t stop.

    To make things a little easier for you, we’ve done the hard work (sampling over two hundred micros) and compiled a list of not only the best brews in the country, but also the best breweries to include in your own tour next summer. Now we are by no means beer specialists; rather, two twenty-one year olds who love good beer, and have been interested for far too long. At the very least, we can recognize a tasty brew when we find one and can hopefully convey to you why it’s worth drinking.

Week three brought us to the official halfway point of this crazy adventure, and although it’s a sad realization, we’re stoked to have eluded cops this far. After twelve hours on the road we’ve finally made it to California, where the beach, brews, and friends welcomed us with open arms. If there’s one thing to be said from this past week of travels, it’s got to be “Who knew Kansas could be so much fun?”

After a whole week without visiting a brewery, Dan at the River City Brewery in Wichita, KS reminded us exactly why we’re doing what we’re doing. A master craftsman of quality micros, Dan not only introduced us to the six staples of River City, but also brought us into the basement where he whipped out some tasty concoctions from his secret stash. Unfortunately you can’t find these at the local liquor store, but tell Dan you’re from out of town and he’ll go out of his way to make you feel welcome at this popular brewpub. The house beers were respectable enough, especially considering the current hops shortage, and the ever so short end of the stick that brewpubs such as River City are given.  Even more impressive, though, was Dan’s list of over 30 seasonal brews, showcasing his skills and creativity as a brewer. “If a seasonal brew sticks around for more than two weeks, we don’t brew it again,” he mentioned. Our visit easily surpassed expectations and it’d be a shame to leave River City out of your next visit to Wichita - just plan on sleeping it off in the parking lot!

Colorado also showed us a good time, both in Boulder and Fort Collins, where we visited the Mountain Sun Brewery and the New Belgium Brewing Co., respectively. The Mountain Sun was packed with both beer-drinkers and dinner-goers when we got there, so special thanks go to Jessica for hooking us up at such a busy time. We were lucky enough to try all 16 of their beers on tap (truly a beautiful sight), representing only about half of their arsenal. With such an extensive variety, some brews naturally came up short while others prevailed. However, we can confidently say that everyone can find something to sip on at this warm and cozy brewpub. Some of our favorites were also their best-selling staples, such as the F.Y.I.P.A and the Pearl St. Porter.

 What can we say about week two? Well, two things, really: New Orleans and Bonnaroo. The first half of the week we spent in the Big Easy, sampling beer and listening to great music, among other things.  We began our adventure with a tasting at the Abita Brewing Company, just outside of the city in Abita Springs. Their newly renovated tasting room was well furnished and equipped with 8 different self-serve taps, including most of their flagships and seasonals. We were very impressed across the board, learning that Abita’s secret ingredient is the well-drawn water that forms the base of the multiple lagers on tap. While most microbreweries favor ales, Abita uses lagers that blend brilliantly with the fruity flavors of the south.  The famous “Purple Haze” was as good as a fruit beer can get, and their strawberry lager blew us away. You’d be a fool to pass up this gem if you’re ever in the south during spring or early summer. We also liked their “Andy Gator,” a doppelbock with upwards of 8% alcohol. Don’t be discouraged, however, this brew was so tasty that it tops the list of bocks we’ve come across. Quality ingredients help to avoid any sort of harsh bite that can accompany bocks and you’ll even notice a hint of fruitiness from the superb hops. Bottom line: drink Abita, it’s one of the south’s best brewers of quality beer.

The next day we ventured back to the French Quarter where we met Joel, head brewer at the Crescent City Brewhouse. We had low expectations going into this one, knowing that people flock to this city to get drunk fast, not to enjoy quality beer. However, Joel and the CCB took us by surprise, particularly with their Pilsner and Black Forest. The Pilsner, while appearing very light, was packed with a great hoppy (while not overwhelming) flavor, and could even be one of the best pilsners out there. The Black Forest, on the other hand, looked like nothing we wanted to drink in the 100-degree heat, but it went down so smooth and had such a nice body that we had to take one to go (gotta love no open-container laws!). On top of the great beers, we were treated to some of their local cuisine, which definitely completed the experience. Be sure to try the baked oysters if you ever stop by the brewhouse on lively Decatur Street. After a short rest and a hearty dinner, we went out in search of the great music that New Orleans is famous for and found it hidden on Frenchman Street.  Within one block on one night, we stumbled upon some of the best music we’ve ever heard, over and over again. From classic jazz, to jam, to Janis Joplin style rock, the music never ceased to impress, and we left New Orleans knowing a little more about the people, music, food, and beer that make this place so special.

 Wow, what a week! It took us a week to get here, but we’ve finally made it to the Big Easy, home of not only “Huge Ass Beers,” but more importantly, “Huge Ass Beers To Go.” We’ve ingested endless amounts of booze and fast food in each of our stops along the way, including NYC, Philadelphia, DC, Asheville, Atlanta, and none other than Montgomery, Alabama. We’ve toured both microbreweries and local brewpubs in search of the perfect pint, and boy, have we come close. The fast growing beer culture of the Mid-Atlantic states seems to have brought us closest. We were lucky enough to land a private tour of the Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, MD, brewers of a wide variety of premium micros. Their motto says what they do most simply: Good Beer. No Shit. And well, that’s just what we got there. Sampling beer directly out of their 150 barrel fermenting tanks, we can confidently say that we have sampled beer so fresh. And if that wasn’t enough, their hospitality was almost as good as their beer; let’s just say they made sure our cooler was stocked before we left. Keep your eyes out for these guys in our final review, for they’ve set the bar at this point.

 

Our wacky Wednesday in Maryland didn’t end there. We hopped back in Louie (our pimp ass Toyota Avalon) and jetted down to Arlington, VA, where Mike at the Capitol City Brewing Co. fulfilled every college kids’ dream: pints galore and steak dinners – on the house. This lively brewpub is one of three under Mike’s wing and really differentiated itself from the rest with its aggressive flavoring style, and creative recipe’s that put a twist on each of your microbrew staples. Hospitality aside, the beer held its own and CapCity definitely sets the bar for brewpubs across the country.  We also jetted around town a bit, saw some of the sites on our recently purchased Booze Cruise bikes and kept stuff together in Coleman's

As the seasons change and the mercury rises, we find ourselves emerging from our jackets, sweaters, and stouts. It’s summertime and that means it is time to break out the cooler and hit up the sun. So what beer will find its way into your icebox this summer? From seasonal ales we look all year for their release to anytime-favorites, here is a list of five beers that always have a place in our summer days.

Sam Adams - Summer Wheat
You know that slightly dressy, but mostly casual button up shirt you wear for those muggy summer night dinners out? Well in terms of beer, that’s where Sam’s Summer Wheat fits into our lives.  This American summer staple is brewed with malted wheat, lemon zest, and Grains of Paradise – a rare pepper from Africa first used as a brewing spice in the 13th Century that creates a crisp, spicy flavor and body. The unique taste creates a brew that holds a mass appeal, with the microbrew swagger.
 

Magic Hat - Circus Boy
Emerging from the Vermont-based brewery, Magic Hat’s Circus Boy has quickly taken the lead as a favorite of ours come summertime. Though available year-round, this seems to be one whose true flavors are unlocked as the temperature rises. Unfiltered and unfettered, this American style Hefeweizen has both an organic, home-brewed look and taste. Pour it in and watch the yeast-goodness explode in the glass with hints of lemon and apple. Best part of all is this low-impact, organic beer is environmentally friendly – so we recommend enjoying one outdoors.
 

Wachusett Brewing Co. - Blueberry

This is a local favorite of ours, so you’ll have to find yourself in the Northeast states to get your hands on this smooth and flavorful wheat ale. While Blueberry is available year-round, its light and fruity body makes it especially nice during those hazy dog days of summer. Starts nice and tingly, finishes fresh. The noticeable blueberry flavor forms a great complement to the wheat base and is perfect for both sexes and palates at the BBQ. Concocted by outdoor enthusiasts, the beer isn't as filling as most wheat beers making it perfect for end of the day relaxation.