Top 5 Brewery Visits of 2019

Well, we have reached the end of another year. At Great Beer Now, this is a time to reflect; a time to think back on the previous year and the many challenges and opportunities faced by the craft beer industry. It’s also a time to look forward to the year ahead and anticipate the many changes in store for craft beer while also thinking about where the new year will take me on my craft beer adventures.

Before I start booking beer- themed trips for 2020, let’s look back at the 2019 year. The year was marked by several stories that rocked and shocked the craft beer world. Dogfish Head Brewery, the Delaware based operation that made 60 and 90 minute increments a regular part of everyday IPA beer lingo, was purchased by craft beer heavyweight Boston Beer of Samuel Adams fame. Ballast Point Brewing, originally purchased by Constellation Brands for a billion greenbacks, was purchased by an unknown Chicago brewery known as Kings & Convicts for a fraction of the original sales price. These, and other stories like them, forever altered the state of craft beer and we can only expect these types of surprises to continue in the coming year.

Beer travel was still front and center here at Great Beer Now in 2019 and a quick check of the records shows that I visited 48 new breweries during the year. This was down from my record- setting 60 new brewery visits in 2018, but I didn’t really expect to match 2018’s frantic pace. Visiting 48 was more in- line with expectations and closer to the number of new breweries visited in 2016 and 2017.

With 2019’s brewery visits, there were certainly several noteworthy gems in the bunch and while all of them had interesting and memorable beers to offer, there were some that stood out for other reasons. And as I have often stated before, it is these standouts that make for a truly great brewery. With the thousands of breweries operating in the United States, finding great beer isn’t too difficult. But finding a brewery that offers something more, something that sets it apart from other craft breweries, is the true test of greatness.

So, which breweries achieved going above and beyond? Looking back at my 48 breweries visited and carefully evaluating each, I have narrowed down my visits to what I feel are the cream of the crop; the pick of the litter; the upper crust of craft breweries. Here are the Great Beer Now Top 5 Brewery Visits of 2019:

5. Show Me Brewing

Everyone knows about Missouri’s nickname as the Show Me state, but how many are aware that there is a brewery of the same name? Yes, Show Me Brewing is the place and it can be found in the heart of Springfield, Missouri. What makes this brewery unique is that it doubles as a homebrewing supply shop and a place where you can brew your own beer onsite and a place where you can drink and share the beer you brew with others. The experienced brewers at Show Me Brewing will even guide you through the brewing process, ensuring that your beer turns out fresh and delicious. Show Me Brewing produces its own beer, too, for consumption at the bar or for taking home by the growler. The beer is available and sold only here, at the brewery- you cannot get Show Me Brewing suds anyplace else in town. And since the taps are constantly rotating, there is always something new to try, every time you visit. It’s not too difficult to understand why locals love Show Me Brewing the way they do, and its unique concept and delicious beer is enough to earn it a spot in my Top 5  

4. Buffalo Bayou Brewing

Houston, Texas is a large city. We have all heard the common statement that “everything is bigger in Texas” and Buffalo Bayou Brewing is living proof. This brewery started out small, but in 2019 expanded to a gigantic new space complete with a full- service restaurant and three levels of craft beer nirvana certain to awaken the hedonist hiding inside each of us. The bottom level contains the brewery, the middle level the restaurant, and the top level the tasting area. Actually, all three levels contain a tasting area but the top level is where you will want to gravitate, since it features an open- air space complete with fire pits and an amazing view of the Houston skyline. To quote from the once popular sitcom the Jeffersons, Buffalo Bayou Brewing certainly “moved on up” in 2019 and the facility they have is one of the largest, tallest, and coolest of any brewery I’ve ever visited.   

3. Ass Clown Brewing

Some breweries get your attention for their beer. Others feature a cool atmosphere. Still others are memorable for their people- not just those behind the bar, but also those who are sitting around you, conversing about the beer and other ‘what happens here, stays here’ topics. Ass Clown Brewing hits the target on all three of these qualities and more. The interior, with the bottles on the walls, leafy plants, comfortable furniture, and dark colors make you feel like you’ve walked down the steps into a man cave at a friend’s house. Memorable beers such as Painter’s Pants, an Imperial Double New England IPA and Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Stout enhance the good vibes ever further and the cool company of unpretentious folks satisfies and soothes your soul. Ass Clown Brewing’s slogan is “Drink One, Don’t Be One” and its unique name and other attributes are enough to earn this Cornelius, North Carolina, brewery a place in my Top 5.

2. Salmon River Brewery

Idaho is a state with much to offer. You don’t hear many people talk about visiting Idaho for vacation and this is a tragic shame, as Idaho has all sorts of unique natural attractions like Craters of the Moon National Monument, Hagerman Fossil Beds, Shoshone Falls, and so much more. Oh, and Idaho also has beer- lots of beer, in fact, pouring forth from its many craft breweries. I visited several and my favorite one of all was Salmon River Brewery. Located in the small mountain resort town of McCall, Salmon River Brewery stands out in the pack not just for its beer, but also for the large facility, amazing views, stellar service, and sense of community Hang out in the main restaurant/tasting room for a meal and warm up flight of beer, then walk over to the adjacent building for a brewery tour before climbing to the taphouse rooftop deck for a final beer/snack and open views of the mountains and Payette Lake. Salmon River Brewery is one of those places that, once you enter, you just don’t want to leave, as it seems to get more and more enjoyable with each passing minute and each beer consumed. With so many great things to offer, fresh mountain air, and nearby skiing, Salmon River Brewery gets the number two spot on my 2019 countdown.

1. Brew Bus Brewing

Finishing at the top spot for 2019 is a brewery located in Tampa, Florida. It’s not just a brewery, but also a brewery tour service that takes guests on a continuous loop with stops at other breweries, beer bars, distilleries, and more. The brewery happens to be Brew Bus Brewing, one of the few breweries around that combines a fully- functional brewing operation with a brewery touring service. Guests can jump off the bus at the establishment of their choosing, sample a drink or two, and then jump back on the bus and make their way to the next stop. Brew Bus Brewing has a cool setup of its own, with a large tasting area inside and a large variety of beer. But it’s also cool to find a brewery that has no problem helping out competitors and, while doing so, spreading the good name of craft beer and good cheer far and wide. The uniqueness of Brew Bus Brewing and my own experience riding the bus from brewery to brewery was enough to convince me to rate this Tampa establishment as my top brewery visit of the year.

With any Top 5 listing, there will inevitably be several excellent choices that had to be left off. Looking back at my brewery visits for the past year and considering what each one had to offer, I compiled a list of five other breweries that came ever- so- close to making my Top 5. Here are my choices for the runners up in 2019:

• Cigar City Brewing, Tampa FL
• Angry Chair Brewing, Tampa FL
• Mothers Brewing, Springfield MO
• Southerleigh Brewing, San Antonio TX
• 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg FL

The above five breweries each had unique qualities and many great things to offer. Angry Chair deserves special mention because the quality of the beer was exceptional. I don’t think I have ever given away so many 5- star ratings for beer on a single brewery visit. I also think it deserves mention that the Tampa/St. Petersburg Florida area accounted for four out of the above ten top breweries of the year. This really says a lot about Tampa’s craft beer scene and if you haven’t been there and experienced it yourself, you need to do yourself a favor and book a trip as soon as you can.

The 2019 year is coming to a close and with it, we are also ending another decade. It was a great year for Great Beer Now and a great, although challenging year for the craft beer industry. I visited many special and memorable breweries during the 2019 year and Great Beer Now looks forward to the 2020 year ahead and many more craft beer memories to experience myself and share with my readers and fans. Be sure to make 2020 a memorable year for yourself as well, and add a few beercations to your travel plans.

Happy New Year and cheers to all of you from all of us at Great Beer Now!