Here you can find all of the tips and tricks that I use to find good craft beer regardless of where I am in the world. If you want to improve your ‘beer snob’ skills, then you’ve come to the right place! (Ok, I try not to condone being a hardcore ‘beer snob’, but I do want everyone to learn how to truly enjoy good beer.)
Picking a Craft Brewery To Visit
There are so many good craft breweries across the US and throughout the world, so you shouldn’t have any problem finding one (even if you randomly drive around town). I’m sure you don’t want to waste any time and get right to the drinking, so here’s my tried and true method of picking a watering hole.
The simplest, easiest way to find a brewery is to go to Google Maps, type in ‘brewery’, then look at the list that comes up! Then, take a look at the reviews and see which one sounds best. Most of the places that come up should* have honest reviews, so be a little cautious if a place has all 5 star reviews and they are all from a person that has made only 1 review. Another test is to go to the brewery’s website and check out their menu – they will try to be as honest as possible since there are is so much competition!
Many times this does not find all the breweries in town so you may have to work a little harder. Another good search is ‘craft beer’ which will give you even more options, as well as some good specialty beverage shops in the area.
Picking A Beer To Drink
Many people already have an idea of what kind of beer they like, so they tend to stick to that same style wherever they may be. However, I would encourage you to branch out and try new styles. I enjoy pretty much all kinds of beers, but your palate changes as you try more styles and learn to appreciate the different flavors.
There are really only two styles of beers, but they are altered using different kinds of yeast, malt, and hops. Rather than reinventing the wheel, head on over to Beeradvocate.com to get a good rundown of the various options of beer.
Still not sure what type of beer to order? Buy a flight! This is one of the best ways to sample the offerings at any brewery. This is my fallback if I can’t make up my mind! This is also a great way to sample the numerous offerings a brewery may have.
Now To Remember All The Beer You Had…
Love keeping track of what beers and breweries you have been to? Me too! I use a free app called Untappd to keep track of everything I have tried. Add me as a friend to find out what I’ve been drinking: WanderWhatsNext
Stop! Check Your Facts Before Drinking That Beer!
A word of caution: many breweries are chains or are owned by large corporations. I recommend supporting local craft breweries who share the same passion for quality in everything they do. This is not always easy, however. To ensure you are supporting the little guy and true craft beer, I highly recommend you use the free app Craft Check. This app has thousands of breweries in their database and tell you if they are independently operated or owned by one of the ‘big guys’ (like Anheuser Busch). Local, independent breweries share the same values and strict guidelines as I do when it comes to finding the good stuff.
