According to the Brewers Association, there are almost 10,000 breweries operating in the United States. I have been fortunate enough to visit nearly 1000 of them although I’ve lost track of the exact number, and that includes all of them in Indiana, as well as breweries from 14 other states. I like visiting breweries, and hope to visit maybe 100 more this summer if time allows. There are many reasons to visit breweries, and I’ve talked about them in other articles, but what I want to emphasize in this article is how each brewery is special in its own way, and worth visiting.
You could walk into a typical normal bar in United States, and get the same experience that you would in maybe 10,000 other bars. But I feel each and every brewery in the United States offers a unique experience when you visit them. No two breweries will offer the same beer, or food, or be decorated the same way with the same history. Each brewery has a staff that is special to that location, and as I travel, it’s those people I remember at those breweries which makes it even more memorable. And lastly, every brewery is in a location that has something to do with why it’s there, and that can make it special as well.
I was recently brewery hopping in Cincinnati with my friend Sam, and we stopped in four different breweries in an afternoon. Esoteric, Woodburn, Humble Monk, and Urban Artifact all served great beer,and were as different as you could imagine from beer style, to atmosphere, as well as all around charm. We made friends at the breweries, and while these are just a few of the breweries in Cincinnati, they are proof that that city has a vibrant beer culture.
I have found that no matter where I go from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to a city like Fort Wayne, the breweries are always fascinating. Fort Wayne has a dozen breweries who all offer something different. Fortlandia is the one I have visited the most, but 2Toms, Summit City, and all the rest are fun places to visit with lots of good food and atmosphere. While the beer is good at Mad Anthony and Trubble, their food is memorable as well, and I’d like to go back and see their staff too. My beer travels have created memories like this in many places and it’s one reason I love visiting breweries. It’s really nice to walk into a place hundreds of miles from your house and have the staff remember you.
I really started thinking about the differences in breweries when I did my project back in 2020 visiting every brewery in the state of Indiana. I was blown away by the differences in atmosphere in places like Evansville, as well as the difference of all the breweries in the region. From Elkhart county to the Indiana suburbs of Louisville, unique brewery experiences are everywhere. And it’s the same in the vast state of Pennsylvania where I have visited several dozen breweries, and still only seen a handful. Ohio is the same way as is Michigan, and just about everywhere else I’ve gotten to visit. I know one thing is true: I picked the right name for this blog!
So no matter where you live, visit your local breweries and find out what makes them special. Drink local beer where it was meant to be drank, and go for special releases, events, and take friends as you make the experience at a brewery memorable. Always remember, every brewery special on its own way. The brewery that is closest to me here in Indianapolis is Metazoa and I don’t have to tell you that it has its own quirks. It is dog friendly and animal themed and I enjoy drinking the beer because the atmosphere is always friendly and inviting. I have friends who work at Hoosier, and I like visiting them, biweekly for their special releases. I hope you have a similar experience wherever you live as well.
I write about beer so I will continue to visit breweries as long as they exist. I like how each brewery is different and I never know what’s going to happen when I go to visit one for a first time. That makes me want to keep traveling, because there are places like Kentucky, which has nearly 100 breweries that have never been seen by these eyes. So keep drinking good beer, and maybe I’ll see you out on the road to the breweries.
On a final note, I want to shout out to all my friends who I visited these breweries with, and didn’t mention. You know who you are, and you rock!
So Much Beer So Little Time 