Seven of the Best Craft Beer Towns in the US

Autumn is craft beer season, and here we bring you seven stunning towns to take in the changing of the leaves with a delightful brew.

A lot of craft breweries will offer a summer tipple for when the weather gets warmer, but we all know that there’s no better time for a specialty beer than when the leaves are changing colour and there’s a renewed crisp breeze in the air.

With over 4,000 craft breweries springing up across the States, fans won’t be spoiled for choice in terms of grabbing some suds and finding a spot to enjoy it in.

However, though that choice is plentiful, not all cities are equal when it comes to a backdrop, and on the following pages we endeavour to highlight the seven most breathtaking in the home of the brave.

Burlington, Vermont

Vermont is a fantastic state to be in during the autumn, and if you’re lucky enough to be there then a trip up to Burlington in the northeast is a must. The town may not be a household name, but its beers are certainly helping to change that with the likes of Magic Hat Brewing (home of the best craft beer in the state) and Switchback Brewing putting it on the map.

Portland, Maine

Portland is one of the nation’s best cities for craft beer, playing host to 17 microbreweries – that’s one for every 4,000 residents, making it the city with the highest percentage of breweries per capita in the country. Futhermore, it’s a stunningly beautiful part of the world and you can take it all in following a visit to one of the city’s best known craft-makers, Allagash Brewing Company, who introduced the city to the Belgian style brewing method that is now proving so popular on the American scene.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Situated in the heart of the great Smokey Mountains, Knoxville is surrounded by some truly beautiful foliage. And luckily for craft fans, there’s a way that you will be able to combine both in one go, with the Knoxville Ale Trail, where you can get a taste of beers from Alliance Brewing Company and Balter Beerworks.

Seattle, Washington

Craft fans would be best advised to head straight for the Georgetown area of the city, where they will stumble across a number of microbreweries, with the most recognisable being Manny’s Pale Ale. The Fremont Brewing Company’s beer garden is located just a short walk from “The Center of the Universe” and the surrounding areas are capable of displaying some real beauty.

Afton, Virginia

Afton is not a popular tourist destination typically. In fact, there probably aren’t that many people that could locate it on a map, but craft beer lovers will ignore it to their detriment. A small community, Afton is located at the edge of the Blue Mountains, and is home to some stunning views. But more than that, it’s also the home of Blue Mountain Brewery, who grow their own hops and have a seating area located on the premises, which is tailor made for watching the leaves change.

Portland, Oregon

Portland (not that one) is widely regarded as the microbrewery capital of the US as it houses a grand total of 68 brewery’s and brewpubs, which is a number that continues to grow every year. The most famous Portland-based craft brewery may be Widmer Brothers Brewing, though Dechutes Brewing (which is actually based in Bend) is making itself known with a range of fine beers.

By Steven Green, TheDrinksBusiness.com