My Top Beers in January 2021

Some people choose to do Dry-January, but personally that’s not something that I have ever or probably will ever choose to do.

First, my birthday is in January. Second, I like beer. Third, to me, forcing yourself to not do something is not a healthy option over moderation. Fourth, it’s a global pandemic, we celebrated a new President, and we faced an insurrection on our nation’s capitol.

In summary, I drank some beers in January! Here are my favorites, in no particular order:

CLIMB THE BALLMER PEAK FROM TRILLIUM BREWING IN BOston, MA and Equilibrium Brewery in MIDDLETOWN, NY

The second batch of this Triple IPA loaded with hand selected Citra hops. I love a good collab and EQ teaming up with Trillium was bound to be amazing! I brought this one up Stone Mountain, and although it wasn’t the Ballmer Peak it was a great peak to enjoy such a delicious beer. Check out all my favorite hikes near Charlotte here!

Even More Gummy Saurus from Evil Twin Brewing in New York, New York and Tripping Animals Brewing in Doral, FL

Even More Gummy Saurus is a Fruited Sour with coconut and marshmallow. I did not have high expectations for this beer because I am not a huge coconut fan and I generally like my Fruited Sours to be berry focused, but this one was stellar. Best paired with college basketball watching.

Marvoloso V7 from Commonwealth Brewing Company in Virginia Beach, VA

Wow. This one was an Imperial Chocolate Stout aged on Basil Hayden’s Bourbon and Woodford Reserve Rye barrels and conditioned on marshmallow, coconut, walnuts, cocoa nibs, Tahitian vanilla beans, and Ghirardelli dark chocolate. I enjoyed this adjunct-packed Stout at Carolina Beer Temple, we were lucky enough to visit when they were doing a Commonwealth tap takeover! Their outside patio area is great, I definitely recommend checking them out!

Hommage Bio Frambozen from Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen in Brussels, Belgium

Lambic Life! This is the Season 17|18 Blend Number 60 version Lambic with raspberries, cherries, and local honey. There is nothing that makes you feel quite as boojie as a Lambic basket. This was a special treat for my birthday from a good friend that we enjoyed at The Whale Beer Bar in Asheville. They’ve always got a killer tap list and can/bottle list as well!

Dessert Cart from Mountains Walking Brewery in Bozeman, MT and The Whale Beer Bar in Asheville, NC

Dessert Cart is a Pastry Stout brewed for The Whale's 3rd Anniversary using Mountains Walking’s thick and decadent Pastry Stout base conditioned on toasted coconut, toasted pecans, cocoa nibs and Tahitian vanilla bean. Creamy, thicc, flavorful, and delicious! We enjoyed this can at Salud Beer Shop, one of my favorite spots in Charlotte.

Second Hand Shanty from Vitamin Sea Brewing in Weymouth, MA and Resident Culture Brewing in Charlotte, NC

This is a Triple IPA Double Dry-Hopped with Mosaic, Strata and Michigan Copper. Vitamin Sea and Resident Culture both crush it in the IPA game so it was no surprise that this collaboration was great. I personally preferred Vitamin Sea’s version, but both were absolutely fantastic!

Tune in next month for my February favorites! Cheers -Alexis

My Top Beers in December 2020

December was a month of a lot of beers. We took a beer trip to Richmond, Virginia, we checked out some new local breweries, college basketball and football heated up, and of course the holidays meant less work and more celebrating!

In no particular order, here are the best beers I drank in December 2020:

Squeeze Play by Slowplay Brewing in Rock Hill, SC

We visited Slow Play just south of Charlotte for the first time in December thanks to a collaboration I did with Discover South Carolina. I was absolutely blown away with how delicious the beers were, how friendly the staff was, how great the spacious patio was, and how delicious the food was from the onsite food truck Cibi! Cibi! My favorite beer I had was Squeeze Play, a Hazy IPA with Amarillo, Citra, and Mosaic hops.

Starve Exhibit D from The Veil Brewing in Richmond, VA

We were incredibly lucky that Rebecca and Daniel from @WanderingHops shared this amazing Stout with us when we stayed with them on our beer trip to Richmond! Starve Exhibit D is an Imperial Stout aged 18 months in Bourbon and Brandy barrels with honey, vanilla, and marshmallows. It was thicc, Bourbon-y, and packed with flavor! If you’re not already following @wanderinghops on Instagram get on it! They drink delicious beers and take incredible trips!

Blackberry, Banana, Cream Cheese, French Toast JREAM from Burley Oak Brewing Company in Berlin, MD

This is a Fruited Sour with lactose conditioned on blackberry, banana, cream cheese, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar—it is absolutely phenomenal! This is by far the best JREAM I have had from Burley Oak and one of my top Sours I have had in a long time! I can’t wait to make it to their brewery someday, hopefully in 2021!

Everything at The Answer Brewpub in Richmond, VA

Okay okay this is cheating I know, but honestly everything I had at The Answer was SO good! My flight included the following beers, from left to right in the photo: Hoptone Galaxy Anniversary edition of the Hoptone IPA series featuring CY 2020 Galaxy Hops; Quadrupole Mother of Berries Joose with Boysenberries, Loganberries, Blackberries, and Raspberries; Quadruple Mother Pulka Joose with Red Raspberries, Redcurrant, Strawberries, toasted Marshmallow, and vanilla; Sleep Paralysis @smoothambler Barrel Imperial Stout with Peanut Butter and Oreos. Check out my Richmond recommendations here, but if you can only make one stop in RVA I would highly recommend The Answer!

Grandma’s Apple Pie Gose from Westbrook Brewing in Mt. Pleasant, SC

This is a Gose with apple puree, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt, coriander, and lactose. At just 4% ABV, it is the perfect dessert beer without being too heavy. It tastes just like apple pie and is super yummy!

Heavy Mettle Collab brew from The Veil Brewing in Richmond, VA and Trillium Brewing in Boston, MA

Heavy Mettle is an Imperial IPA with Galaxy and Amarillo hops from Trillium Brewing, but thanks to the Freaky Friday beer collab initiative going around The Veil brewed this version! It was super juicy and I absolutely loved it, which is no surprise given my love for Galaxy hops. We paired this brew with pretzels from Eastern Standard Provisions—I definitely recommend checking them out! I got a box at my doorstep courtesy of my mom filled with pretzels and mustards accompanied by easy to follow directions on how to heat them in the oven and they were super good!

Tune in next month to see what my first favorites of 2021 will be! Cheers! -Alexis

My Top Beers in 2020

2020 was one hell of a year filled with an abundance of beers at home. I don’t know about you, but I am hoping for more beers on tap and less crowlers in 2021!

In no particular order, here are the best beers I had in 2020:

I Learned It By Watching You collaboration brew from Burial Beer Co. in Asheville, North Carolina and Other Half Brewing in New York City. Double IPA with Citra, Riwaka, Motueka, and Citra Cryo hops.

Blueberry Cobbler from WeldWerks Brewing in Greeley, Colorado. Berliner Sour Wheat Ale with vanilla, milk sugar, graham cracker, and blueberry purée.

Sleeping On The Blacktop collaboration brew from Resident Culture Brewing in Charlotte, North Carolina and Other Half Brewing in New York City. Triple IPA with Citra, Simcoe and HBC 692 hops.

LAX 2 JFK in the Clouds collaboration brew from Other Half Brewing in New York City and Monkish Brewing in Torrance, California. Triple Imperial Oat Cream IPA with Simcoe, Motueka and Citra hops along with oats and milk sugar.

Balloonhead from Newgrass Brewing in Shelby, North Carolina. Berliner Weisse brewed with black currant, boysenberry, and raspberry.

Flora Pear from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, Vermont. Farmhouse Ale that is the wine barrel-aged version of Florence, a Farmstead Wheat Ale, aged atop organic pears.

Portal Beyond Nonexistence from Burial Beer Co. in Asheville, North Carolina. Imperial Stout aged on French Broad Chocolate cocoa nibs, Tahitian vanilla beans, Vietnamese cinnamon, and Maplewood Smoked Sea Salt.

Alpha Abstraction Vol. 11 from Wild Leap Brewing in LaGrange, Georgia. Double Dry Hopped Double IPA with Experimental Hop HBC 472.

Twice The Daily Serving from Trillium Brewing in Boston, Massachusetts. Berliner Weisse with blackberry and pomegranate.

Perception is Spoonfed collaboration brew from Divine Barrel Brewing in Charlotte, North Carolina and Vitamin Sea Brewing in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Dessert-style Berliner Weisse with key lime, coconut, lactose, vanilla, marshmallow, and graham cracker.

Double Dry Hopped Ghost in the Machine from Parish Brewing in Broussard, Louisiana. Double IPA with Citra hops.

Poppin’ Pastels from Transient Artisan Ales in Bridgman, Michigan. Fruited Sour Ale with blackberry, raspberry, lemon, vanilla, and lactose.

Scoring Discrepancies collaboration brew from Listermann Brewing in Cincinnati, Ohio and Bottle Logic Brewing in Anaheim, California. Imperial Pastry Stout with raspberries, peanut butter, and marshmallows.

Eclectic Potion Triple IPA from Cerebral Brewing in Denver, Colorado. TIPA with Citra, Idaho 7, and Nelson hops with added Gewürztraminer grape juice.

Quadrupole Mother of Berries Joose from The Answer in Richmond, Virginia. Fruited Sour with Boysenberries, Loganberries, Blackberries, and Raspberries.

Insert Hip Hop Reference There collaboration brew from Trillium Brewing in Boston, Massachusetts and Monkish Brewing in Torrance, California. Triple IPA with Citra hops.

What were your favorite beers of 2020? Let me know in the comments!

Charlotte Breweries with Heated Outdoor Patio Options

COVID-19 has certainly shifted the way that we’re able to enjoy breweries, but winter adds a whole new layer of complication. Now more than ever it is important to support your local breweries and to do so safely. Grab some cans or bottles to-go, buy gift cards for later, pick up some swag to represent them, or enjoy some beers outdoors!

Below is a list of Charlotte breweries with heated outdoor patio options so you can enjoy your favorite breweries while staying outdoors and warm during the cold months ahead:

• Divine Barrel: heaters

• Resident Culture: heaters

• Triple C: firepit

• Blue Blaze: firepit

• Birdsong: firepit

• Lenny Boy: firepit

• NoDa: firepit

• Petty Thieves: firepit

• Suffolk Punch: heaters on the patio, heated tent

• Wooden Robot: heaters on the patio at their South End location and fire pits at The Chamber in NoDa Thursday-Sunday

• Unknown: firepits and heaters

• Protagonist LoSo: firepits and heaters

• Salud: heaters

• Legion SouthPark: heaters

I will update this list as others add heated options or anything above changes!

Cheers to cozy beers outdoors,
Alexis

My Top 5 Beers in November 2020

I’ve found that posting my beers on Instagram doesn’t give me the ability to be reflective and really dig into which are truly exceptional, so welcome to my first roundup of favorites! Each month I will do a blog post on which beers were above and beyond the best. Most of the time I will pick 5, sometimes it might be less, sometimes more.

In no particular order, here were my favorite beers I drank in November 2020:

From Downtown by J. Wakefield Brewing in Miami, FL.

This is a Double Dry Hopped Double New England Style IPA with Motueka, Nelson Sauvin, Pacific Sunrise and Riwaka hops. We were lucky enough to get a four pack of this banger and thoroughly enjoyed each one! I visited J. Wakefield a couple of years ago and loved i! As I’ve tried more of their brews over time I continue to be more and more impressed.

Switchblade No. 21 at Workshop Brewing in Traverse City, MI.

This Hazy Double IPA is made with Kveik yeast and is dry hopped with experimental hop variety HBC-472. This was a truly delightful brew, the Kveik yeast made it not your typical Hazy IPA. I highly recommend a visit to Workshop if you are in Northern Michigan! Check out my Traverse City guide here!

Blueberry Cobbler Berliner from WeldWerks Brewing Co. at Forestry Camp in Asheville, NC.

This is a Sour Wheat Ale brewed with vanilla, milk sugar, graham cracker and nearly 1500lbs of blueberry puree. WeldWerks is based in Greely, Colorado and is most known for their IPAs, but this Sour was truly impeccable! Forestry Camp is from the team at Burial Beer Co. and is one of my favorite places ever, truly.

The Only Trail From Nowhere at Burial Beer Co. in Asheville, NC.

This Imperial Stout is made with pecan, peanut, cashew, hazelnut, banana, and coconut. Burial does no wrong, and this Stout is no exception. I had 8 different Burial beers this month so it was hard to choose a favorite but this one was just packed with flavor! I always love getting to visit Burial, check out my full guide to Asheville here!

Anna by Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT.

This is a Farmhouse Ale brewed with Vermont wildflower honey. This was my third time having a bottle of Anna and every time I do I love it a little more! Hill Farmstead always puts out incredible Farmhouse Ales and Saisons, this one is a little extra special with the honey addition.

Tune in next month to see what my favorites of December 2020 will be!

Project Watt-Ahh-Melon from Hardywood Park Brewery and Sheetz

A gas station beer you say? That’s right! Sheetz is releasing a brand new limited edition craft beer!

Project Watt-Ahh-Melon is a Watermelon Wheat Ale brewed in partnership with Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond, Virginia. This beer is only available for a limited time in Sheetz stores across Virginia and North Carolina. Check out the link here to find a store near you! 4-packs of 16oz beers are just $7.99!

Project Watt-Ahh-Melon is brewed with over 100 pounds of Sheetz watermelon gummy rings and comes in at 5.3% ABV. It is the perfect end of of summer beer! The watermelon rings were added during the whirlpool to ensure they melted and smoothly combined with the other ingredients. Project Watt-Ahh-Melon is light and refreshing but still packs a tart punch.

Hardywood Park Craft Brewing based in Richmond, Virginia. Hardywood opened in 2011 and now have two locations in downtown Richmond and West Creek. Hardywood’s motto is “brew with purpose” which they embody by using local ingredients and operating on 100% renewable energy.

Sheetz first beer release was named Project Coffee Hopz, a limited edition coffee bean IPA. They partnered with Rusty Rail Brewing in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania. This one released in May 2019 and was available in Sheetz stores across Pennsylvania.

Their second beer release was Project Brewberry Muffinz, a limited edition Blonde Ale with Sheetz blueberry muffins. This collaboration was brewed with Evil Genius Beer Company based in Philadelphia and it was released in August 2019.

Sheetz released Project Hop Dog in May 2020, a collaboration with Nashaminy Creek Brewing Co. out of Pennsylvania. Project Hop Dog was a Dry Hopped IPA brewed with Sheetz hot dogs. What a wild idea!

What ingredient should Sheetz add to their next special release beer?! Let us know in the comments!

2 Days in Asheville, NC

Asheville is one of my favorite places to visit! It can be overwhelming to plan a visit to Asheville because there are just so many breweries and parts of town to explore. Check out my blog on the best breweries in Asheville here!

I’ve put together this guide for a two day trip to hit the highlights of this adorable mountain town. If you’ve got more time to explore check out my full guide to Asheville here!

Asheville Day 1

For your first day you have to go all in and hop around the South Slope area of town:

Start your adventure at Vortex Doughnuts to fuel up for a day full of brewery hopping.

Walk 2 minutes to Burial Beer, arguably the best brewery in North Carolina. Get there early to avoid the masses of people who will inevitably want to visit this great spot.

Walk 7 minutes to Hi-Wire Brewing. Their South Slope location is small but their beers are delicious!

Walk 12 minutes to Dssolvr, a newer brewery in central downtown. They are absolutely crushing it and I highly recommend a visit.

From the downtown strip walk 8 minutes to Terra Nova Beer Co for a tasty side pull Lager and some pizza to soak up your beverages.

If you are ready for another beer, pop over to Green Man, a 5 minute walk from Terra Nova.

Asheville Day 2

Start your day at Taco Billy for delicious breakfast tacos! You can order online ahead of time as well to save time.

Hike part of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail from the Folk Art Center to the Haw River Overlook. The views are gorgeous at the lookout of this 5.5 out and back trail. Plus, it is just a 15 minute drive from town!

After your hike take some time to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway for more stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

On your way back into town, check out New Origin for tasty beers and pizza and then the secret brewery Cursus Keme next door

Head to the Biltmore Village area for a relaxing afternoon:

• Grab beers and lunch at Hillman Beer

• Sit on the rooftop patio and drink delicious beers at Forestry Camp by the team at Burial

If you’ve got more time in Asheville, here are my other recommendations!

What are your favorite Asheville stops? Let me know in the comments!

Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnatti is a fun sports city with Midwestern Vibes

Cincy Tips:

• This city takes their sports very seriously so if you’re visiting during one of the major seasons (i.e. MLB or NFL) make sure to check the game schedules so you don’t end up in insane traffic or mobs of people

• Located right on the river, Cincinnati basically spreads across the border into Covington, Kentucky as well which has a cute little downtown to explore.

Adventures & Ales Top Cincinatti Recommendations: ​

• Explore the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood: This area is full of restaurants, bars, and shops to bop around!

• Standard Beer: A cool beer bar with 16 taps and a huge to-go selection!

• Fabled Brew Works: A bit off the beaten path in Erlanger, Kentucky—this brewery has a book theme throughout and a good variety of beers. Their PB&J series in particular is quite tasty.

• North South Baking Co: Nice spot in Covington for baked goods!

• Devou Park: A beautiful overlook of the city—great for sunrise.

• Highgrain Brewing: A solid stop with a full food menu and friendly staff.

• MadTree Brewing: MadTree is absolutely massive. They have a huge indoor space and large outdoor patio in an old railroad production facility that is quite unique. They have a large tap list and a full food menu.

Other Things to do in the cincy area:​​

• Rhineghist Brewing: A popular brewery with a rooftop as well. Not my favorite spot personally.

• Northern Row Brewing: A solid spot for beers and eats near Rhineghist!

• Cappy’s Bottle Shop: Great to-go beer selection at their Norwood location!

• Gomez Salsa: A solid spot for Mexican eats with two locations in Cincy. Great prices!
  

Have you been to Cincy? What are your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments!

Hocking Hills, Ohio

Hocking Hills is a gorgeous area of Ohio with awesome hiking options and a quaint town to explore. It is a perfect weekend escape to relax in the forest and get away from the hustle and bustle of your daily life.

The park is nestled in the southeast corner of Ohio, near the West Virginia border. It is 6 hours from Charlotte, North Carolina, my home base. It is also just one hour southeast of Columbus, so if you are looking for a longer adventure you could visit the city as well. Check out my Columbus recommendations here!

I would definitely recommend renting a cabin for your time in Hocking Hills. There is nothing better than a day of hiking followed by a nice relaxing campfire! We stayed at an Airbnb in the forest and thoroughly enjoyed it. Get $35 off your first Airbnb stay using my link here!

Hocking Hills State Park

Hiking Hocking Hills

Hocking Hills State Park offers a lot of different hiking options depending on what you want to see and how far you want to go. We did a 7.5 mile loop trail to Old Man Cave, Whispering Cave, Cedar Falls, and Rose Lake that I would definitely recommend.

When we visited it was quite crowded at Old Man Cave and Cedar Falls because those are two areas that you can park near and just do a short hike to see. Outside of those popular spots we saw very few people along the trail which was really nice.

There are a few waterfalls in the park but expect them to be quite dry if you are visiting in the summer months. It looks like in the spring after the snow melts they are flowing at their full potential.

The first half of the hike varied in difficulty. It was mostly flat but there were areas that were quite rocky making it a little harder to traverse. After Cedar Falls, which is essentially the halfway point, there is a quick suspension bridge and then the ridge trail that leads you back to the parking lot is flat and easy along top of the cliff faces.

We really enjoyed the change of scenery throughout the hike. There were waterfalls, caves, rivers, cliffs, gorges, boulders, forests, and lakes all in the 7.5 miles we hiked.

Rose Lake

Hocking Hills Area things to do:

Brewery 33

The local brewery has a wide variety of beers on tap for you to enjoy in their beer garden or tap room. We enjoyed their light and refreshing beers after hiking in the sun all morning. The Fruity Tooty Gose was my personal favorite!

Brewery 33 doesn’t have any food besides some pretzels and snacks, but you can get food delivered from local restaurants. They are dog and kid friendly.

Wine Slushie at Hocking Hills Winery

Hocking Hills Winery

The local winery has a fantastic outdoor space surrounded by nature that was super nice to relax on.

Their wines were all tasty and you can sample 8 of them for just $10. I would also highly recommend the wine slushie option, especially if you’re visiting during the heat of summer!

The winery also has charcuterie boards to help you refuel after your hike or you can get a meal delivered from a local restaurant. The winery is dog and kid friendly.

Jackie O’s Brewery

Depending on where you are staying, Jackie O’s is around 30-45 minutes from the park and absolutely worth visiting. They are one of the top breweries in the country and definitely the best in Ohio. Their Stouts, Porters, and Wild Ales in particular are incredible and I would highly recommend checking them out!

They have a brewpub and a taproom in Athens, Ohio. Depending on where you are visiting Hocking Hills from, you potentially might drive through Athens given that it is one of the major cities nearby, so definitely check it out!

Brewery 33

Have you been to Hocking hills? What was your favorite part?! Let me know in the comments!

The Best Weekend Trips from Charlotte

Whether you are looking for a beach, mountain, or city getaway, there are some really great options within driving distance of Charlotte! These trips range from an hour and 45 minutes drive to four hours for a further escape:

Sierra Nevada Brewing

Asheville, NC

Asheville is a brewery mecca nestled in the mountains well worth visiting.

Start your day at Taco Billy for fantastic breakfast tacos!

Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway for stunning views.

Don’t miss Burial Beer Co. and Dssolvr, two of the best breweries in North Carolina! Hang out in the outdoor space at Sierra Nevada Brewing and be sure to order the pimento beer cheese.

Check out my full Asheville guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 2 hours

Rainbow Row Charleston

Charleston, SC

Charleston is a beautiful beach town with a plethora of history, restaurants, bars, and breweries.

Hit the beach! There are several options depending on what vibe you are looking for—Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, and Isle of Palms.

Be sure to grab beers at Westbrook Brewing and Edmund’s Oast Brewing! Get a cheese plate at Wine and Company and tacos and a frozen screwdriver at Taco Boy.

Check out my full Charleston guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 3 hours

Forsyth Park Savannah

Savannah, GA

Savannah is beautiful historic city oozing historic charm.

Two Tides Brewing is an absolute must visit, they make incredible beers in an adorable converted house.

Grab lunch at Bull Street Taco in between wandering the historic squares!

Check out my full Savannah guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 3 hours 45 minutes

Monday Night Brewing

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta is a huge city with a ton of places to explore and things to do.

Monday Night Brewing is the best brewery in the city in my opinion and they have two locations to check out! The Porter Beer Bar is another great option to grab beers at in the Little 5 Points neighborhood.

The Center for Civil and Human Rights is an amazing museum that is a must visit.

Check out my full Atlanta guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours

Pretentious Beer Co

Knoxville, TN

Knoxville has a booming downtown district and plenty of charm to keep you entertained.

Start your day at OliBea, a great little brunch spot with delicious food.

Get outside at Ijams Nature Center for hiking and family friendly options.

Check out Abridged Beer Company and Pretentious Beer Co. for fantastic beers!

Check out my full Knoxville guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours

Second Street Mural in Wilmington

Wilmington, NC

Wilmington is a relaxed beach town with several distinct areas to explore.

Start your day at Bespoke Coffee, a cute coffee shop right downtown.

Hit the beach! Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach are both great options.

Explore the breweries and don’t miss New Anthem Beer Project and Wilmington Brewing Company.

Check out my full Wilmington guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours

The Eighth State Brewing

Greenville, SC

Greenville is a charming little town in upstate South Carolina. Their downtown is perfect to wander around and there is hiking nearby as well!

Start your day at Swamp Rabbit Cafe for amazing sandwiches on stecca bread.

Grab beers at The Eighth State Brewing Company and Birds Fly South Ale Project! The Whale is a fantastic beer bar to check out as well.

Check out my full Greenville guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 45 minutes

Views from the Blue Ridge Parkway

blue ridge mountains, nc

Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway along the mountains and explore the small towns of Marion, Banner Elk, Boone, and more. There are cute little towns along along the Parkway in the mountains!

Check out my full guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: dependent on exact destination—Boone is 2 hours for example

Barrel Culture Brewing

The Triangle, NC

Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham make up the triangle area of North Carolina.

Start your day at The Morning Times, a fun cafe with a newspaper theme in downtown Raleigh.

Brewery hop the area and don’t miss Trophy Brewing and Pizza in Raleigh and Barrel Culture Brewing in Durham. State of Beer is a great beer bar as well.

Check out my recommendations for Raleigh and Chapel Hill here!

Time from central Charlotte: 2.5 hours

Another popular weekend getaway option is Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Check out my guide to Gatlinburg here, it was not my favorite destination so I didn’t want to include it as a recommendation on this list, but there is plenty to do and it is nestled right in the mountains!

What are your favorite weekend trips from Charlotte? Let me know in the comments!

The Best Weekend Trips from New Orleans

There are a ton of great places to check out for a couple of days within driving distance of New Orleans. These recommendations range anywhere from an hour drive to six hours for more of an escape!

For my New Orleans Guide, click here!

The North Shore, LA

Covington and Mandeville are the two main towns north of Lake Pontchartrain. I lived in Covington for six months and got to explore all the North Shore offers! Here are my top recommendations:

Visit Abita Brewing for small batch brews from Louisiana’s largest brewery. Also check out Old Rail Brewing Co, a brewery and restaurant with delicious food options. Chafunkta Brewing Company is a small brewery with tasty brews as well!

Opt outside: Explore Fontainebleau State Park—Camp, kayak, hike, or lounge at the lake shore. Bike the Tammany Trace! It spans 31 miles across the North Shore. Float the Bogue Chitto River—there are several companies that have setups for BYOB tubing. Just keep your eyes peeled for gators and snakes!

Barley Oak is a lakefront bar with a small food menu. A fun spot to hang out! The Chimes is a restaurant with a large tap list and delicious spinach and artichoke dip!

Lounge on the outdoor patio at Coffee Rani, which has delicious coffees and a small food menu. Another great spot to start your day is Liz’s Where Y’at Diner, which is a great spot for breakfast!

Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour

Bay St Louis, MS

Lounge at the beach! This is the closest beach getaway from New Orleans.

Grab food and drinks at The Blind Tiger, a fun spot right on the water!

Visit Lazy Magnolia Brewery, it is just north of Bay St Louis in Kiln and has fantastic dark beers!

Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour

Pensacola Beach

Pensacola, FL

Start your day at The Drowsy Poet Coffee Company. The view of the bay is fantastic!

Lounge at the beach—Pensacola has incredibly soft and white sand to relax on!

After the beach head to Pensacola Bay Brewery. They are located right downtown and have great beers!

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 3 hours

Lafayette, LA

The main reason to go is to visit Parish Brewing in neighboring Broussard, LA. They are one of the top breweries in the country and put out insanely good IPAs.

Another great spot to hang out at is The Wurst Biergarten!

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours 15 minutes

Southern Prohibition Brewing

Hattiesburg, MS

Hattiesburg is a small little Southern town. While in the area be sure to check out Laurel, MS as well!

Southern Prohibition Brewing is arguably the best brewery in Mississippi and located right downtown in Hattiesburg.

Hike in De Soto National Forest while in the area!

Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours

Baton Rouge, LA

Go up for an LSU game, concert, or just to hang!

Relax at Tin Roof Brewing. They have a wide array of delicious beers, outdoor seating, and frequent live music.

Check out my other tips here!

Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour 15 minutes

Great Raft Brewing

Shreveport, LA

Shreveport and Bossier are right next to each other and both have plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained.

Great Raft Brewing is the main attraction you want to be sure to check out. They make incredible IPAs and have a really fun atmosphere!

Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours

Natchez, MS

Natchez is a small historic and charming town!

Start your day at Steampunk Espresso Bar, it is cute and they make great coffee!

Check out the Antebellum mansions like Longwood and Stanton Hall.

Hang out on the river! Spend some time lounging by the water (hopefully with a beer in hand).

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 3 hours

Natchez, MS

Birmingham, AL

I am still surprised by how much I enjoy Birmingham. It is an up and coming city with plenty of things to do!

I highly recommend the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute!

There are several good breweries to check out, such as Trim Tab Brewing, Cahaba Brewing, and Avondale Brewing.

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours

Houston, TX

Houston is incredible massive so be sure to plan ahead for your visit!

There are a tonnnn of breweries in the Houston area—my top recommendations are Urban South, Buffalo Bayou, Saint Arnold, SpindleTap, and B-52.

Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours

Ocean Springs/Biloxi/Gulfport, MS

This stretch of Gulf Coast has pretty nice beaches and is conveniently close to New Orleans.

In Ocean Springs The Shed BBQ has live music and a fun atmosphere!

In Gulfport Chandeleur Island Brewing Company is located right in the heart of town with a variety of beers on tap.

Time from central New Orleans: 1.5 hours

The Center for Civil and Human Rights

Atlanta, GA

ATL is another massive city with a ton to see and do, be sure to plan ahead to make the most of your visit.

Monday Night Brewing is one of my favorite breweries in the US and has two locations in ATL!

The Vortex is a touristy restaurant but absolutely delicious! I prefer their location in the Little 5 Points neighborhood. The Porter Beer Bar is right around the block and has a wide variety of beers to choose from.

The Center for Civil and Human Rights allows you to explore the Civil Rights Movement and human rights movements around the world.

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 6.5 hours

Orange Beach, AL

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have the nicest beaches on the Gulf Coast aside from the Florida Panhandle, plan to spend most of your time on the sand!

Flora-Bama is a fun bar on the border of Florida and Alabama. It is very country style and can be a wild place so visit during the day if that’s not your scene.

Check out Fairhope Brewing on your way out of town.

Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours

Memphis, TN

Check out the Blues capital of the world! Memphis is more than just Beale Street so be sure to explore!

Wiseacre Brewing has great beers, be sure to check them out while you’re in town!

Check out my other tips here!

Time from central New Orleans: 6 hours

What are your favorite weekend trips from New Orleans? Let me know in the comments!

The Best Breweries I’ve Visited in the United States

I’ve been to over 575 breweries in 30 countries, so when people ask me what my favorite brewery is that is a tough question. This list encompasses my top 20 breweries I’ve visited in the United States. For breweries outside of the US, check out my favorite breweries abroad here!

This list is in no particular order, because that would be impossible for me to rank, they are all so good!

Courtyard Brewery: New Orleans, LA

Juicy IPAs, frequent food pop-ups, a super friendly staff, and amazing guest taps—what more do you need?! After living in New Orleans for almost 5 years I can firmly say that Courtyard is incredible!

Check out the rest of my New Orleans recommendations here!

Monday Night Brewing: Atlanta, GA

Monday Night was the first brewery I ever visited and I have loved it ever since that June day in 2014. They have evolved so much since that first visit, including their Garage location in ATL and a soon-to-open taproom in Birmingham. They brew a wide variety of beers that are all incredibly delicious!

Check out the rest of my Atlanta recommendations here!

Resident Culture Brewing: Charlotte, NC

Resident Culture’s Hazy IPAs are some of the best in the entire country in my opinion—specifically their Double and Triple IPAs are what really set them apart. Their taproom is a fun and welcoming environment, their staff is incredibly nice, and they truly are a community-based brewery.

Check out my guide to Plaza Midwood, Charlotte here!

Burial Beer: Asheville, NC

Burial has long been revered as one of the best breweries in the Southeast. They are good at making essentially every type of beer but their juicy IPAs and adjunct-loaded Stouts are my favorites! Their taproom can be packed on the weekends so visit on a weekday if possible. They have a small food menu if you’re hungry and great merch to bring home with you.

Check out my guide to Asheville here!

Our Mutual Friend Brewing: Denver, CO

When I visited OMF for the first time I was shocked at how many different IPAs they had available, and I loved it! They now have a much larger variety of beers available and Saisons are more so their specialty. Their atmosphere is extremely welcoming and the vibes are chill. They have a small patio to enjoy your beers on and are located right in heart of the RiNo neighborhood of Denver.

Check out the rest of my Denver recommendations here!

Two Tides Brewing: Savannah, GA

Located in an old renovated house, Two Tides is absolutely adorable. They have separate rooms with different vibes in each room, a balcony, and board games. Their Sours are my favorites but everything I have had from them has been delicious! If you’re visiting in the summer months they also do beer slushies.

Check out my Savannah guide here!

Parish Brewing: Broussard, LA

Parish’s location is small and intimate and located in a small town in Louisiana, but it’s worth venturing to. Their IPAs are absolutely incredible and their specialty releases are some of the best out there. If coffee beers are more of your thing, Reve is always a good choice!

Check out my recommendations for Lafayette here!

Other Half Brewing: Brooklyn, NYC

Another IPA mecca! Other Half cranks out juice bombs that are incredibly delicious. Their fruited sours and pastry stouts are also top notch, so don’t forget to give those a try. Their taproom is small for how popular they are but the intimate atmosphere adds to the experience. Try to visit on a weekday if at all possible as it will usually be standing room only during the weekends (pre-COVID, not sure how that will play out in our new reality). Their team is some of the best in the biz & incredibly nice!

Check out my NYC guide here!

Photo courtesy of Cellarmaker Brewing, I somehow failed to take any photos while visiting

Cellarmaker Brewing: San Francisco, CA

Cellarmaker’s modest taproom pumps out a huge variety of small batch experimental beers. They don’t have flagships like most breweries, they switch things up consistently and are always pushing themselves to try new things. They’ve also got a pizza restaurant with Detroit-style pies and its own distinct tap list!

Check out my San Fran recommendations here!

Modist Brewing: Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis has a ton of great beer, but Modist goes above and beyond. Their taproom has a welcoming environment and it is filled with local artwork and flair. They make unique and creative beers that are packed with flavor and surprise your taste buds with each sip! No matter what style of beer you are in the mood for, Modist does it well, but I recommend their IPAs the most.

Check out my guide to Minneapolis here!

The Eighth State Brewery: Greenville, SC

Eighth State is always doing something funky and I am here for it. Their sours pack a punch, their stouts are luxurious, and they are never afraid to throw something crazy into a beer. Kool Aid? Yes. Carrot Cake? Yes. The list goes on, but don’t worry their beers are delicious and well worth checking out! The taproom also has food from Swamp Rabbit Cafe which is incredible!

Check out my guide to Greenville here!

Vista Brewing: Driftwood, TX

Vista is a Farmhouse-style brewery that has an amazing outdoor space with 21 acres and a beautiful taproom. They brew a wide variety of beers, but their Wild Ales are particularly fantastic. They also have a full farm-to-table food menu that is incredibly delicious, so come hungry! Vista is located outside of Austin in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country.

Check out the rest of my recommendations for the Austin area here!

Crime and Punishment Brewing: Philadelphia, PA

It’s a brewery located in a neighborhood called Brewerytown, they were bound to be successful! Crime and Punishment has a small taproom and a small tap list, but their beers are worth standing up in a corner for. Their taproom also smells incredibly delicious thanks to their Russian-inspired food menu specializing in dumplings.

Check out my guide to Philly here!

Pretentious Barrel House: Columbus, OH

Pretentious Barrel House makes all Sour beers! Not everything is incredibly tart and makes you pucker, they have beers across the spectrum that are each barrel aged to cultivate a different flavor. This unique spot has a fun taproom with a few arcade games and frequent events.

Check out the rest of my Columbus recommendations here!

Speciation Artisan Ales: Grand Rapids, MI

Speciation specializes in Wild Ales using natural yeast and bacteria, making each of their beers uniquely delicious. They also make their own wines, ciders, and hard seltzers, so they have something for everyone! Their new taproom is on Wealthy Street in central Grand Rapids and will be opening soon.

Check out the rest of my Grand Rapids recommendations here!

Jackie O’s Brewery: Athens, OH

Jackie O’s flew under the radar for me for far too long, and I am so glad to have remedied that mistake. They have two taprooms and a restaurant in the college town of Athens, I recommend visiting the brewery and taproom on Campbell Street. Their Stouts are some of the best I have ever had.

Fonta Flora Whippoorwill Farm: Nebo, NC

A brewery on an old dairy farm ten minutes from Lake James State Park with a plethora of outdoor seating, a farm-to-table food truck onsite, and delicious beers. Fonta Flora makes a wide variety of beers but their Wild Ales and Lagers are my personal favorites. They use local ingredients to cultivate distinct flavors and support the community. Visiting their Whippoorwill location is an incredibly relaxing and joyful experience.

Maplewood Brewery and Distillery: Chicago, IL

Maplewood’s taproom has a distinct vibe with their lounge set up that is different from most breweries. It feels almost speakeasy-esque, making your visit even more enjoyable. They specialize in IPAs which I highly recommend. They have their own liquor program as well, so if a craft cocktail is more your style you won’t be disappointed.

Check out my guide to Chicago here!

Fifth Hammer Brewing: Long Island City, NYC

I had never heard of Fifth Hammer before I wandered into their taproom in NYC while hopping around the breweries in the Long Island City neighborhood, but now it is one of my absolute top recommendations. Their beer is incredibly delicious, the vibes are super chill, and it is just all around a great place to hang out. Their fruited Sours in particular were what impressed me the most—they are jam packed with flavor!

Check out my guide to NYC here!

Southern Grist Brewing: Nashville, TN

Southern Grist’s cans of delicious beer stole my heart a long time ago, but visiting their taprooms this year really deepened my love. They do every style of beer well and with flair. Adjunct loaded Stouts, fruit packed Sours, hop loaded IPAs, crisp clean Lagers, you name it. They have two taprooms, the original in East Nashville and their second location on the west side of town, Nations Taproom.

Check out my guide to Nashville here!

What are your favorite breweries in the US you’ve visited?! Let me know in the comments!