The Best Breweries in Ohio

Ohio has over 400 breweries, but which are the best? In ranking order, here are the best breweries in Ohio:

Planning an Ohio trip? Check out my Columbus beer and travel guide here, Cleveland guide here, Dayton guide here, Cincinnati blog here and Hocking Hills blog here.

Jackie O’s Brewing: Athens & Columbus

Jackie O’s is best known for their stupendous Barrel Aged Stouts, Barleywines and Porters. Everything they make is delicious, but their barrel aging program is really what makes them the number one brewery in Ohio. Jackie O’s has four locations in Athens—Public House Restaurant, Uptown Brewpub, Taproom and Brewery and The Bakeshop and they also have Jackie O’s on Fourth in Columbus.

CLAG Brewing Company: Sandusky

CLAG is quietly emerging as a powerhouse brewery cranking out stellar IPAs, Lagers and Stouts. Their taproom is shared with Small City Taphouse and both tap lists are full of incredible beers and guest taps. They’ve got delicious food as well. This spot is a delight to visit.

Hoof Hearted Brewing: Marengo & Columbus

Hoof Hearted is definitely a “hype brewery” but they live up to their hype. They are best known for their IPAs, but their Stouts and Sours are also great. Their original taproom is in Marengo and they have a second space in downtown Columbus.

Masthead Brewing Co: Cleveland

Masthead crushes the Hazy IPA game. Located in downtown Cleveland, their taproom is a fun and spacious building with a pizza kitchen as well. Their barrel aged beers are also gaining notoriety.

Little Fish Brewing Company: Athens & Dayton

Little Fish is focused on using local ingredients for both their beers and their farm-to-table restaurant menu. Their Wild Ales, Sours and Stouts are what they do best. Their original taproom is in Athens and they have a satellite space in Dayton.

Land Grant Brewing Company: Columbus

Land Grant has a large tap list with a large variety of beers available. Their Sours are the most impressive but everything is well done. They have a massive outdoor space and frequent events.

Branch and Bone Artisanal Ales: Dayton

Branch and Bone is making unique and delicious beers in Dayton. They are known for their our Wild Ales, Saisons and Mixed Fermentation Styles, but their tap list always has a large variety of beers for any palate.

What are your top breweries in Ohio? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

The Best Breweries in Southern California

Southern California is full of fantastic breweries, including some of the top breweries in the world! It can be overwhelming to plan a beer trip to this area just because there are simply so many breweries and a lot of those breweries also have multiple taprooms. For full guides to this area, check out my San Diego beer and travel guide here and my Los Angeles guide here.

In ranking order, here are the best breweries in Southern California:

Monkish Brewing Co: Torrance and Anaheim

Monkish is arguably one of the best breweries in the country. Their original taproom is located in Torrance, conveniently close to LAX if you are flying in/out of the city. They are best known for their New England IPAs which are absolutely spectacular, but their funky beers are delicious as well. Monkish has a second location in Anaheim next to Farmer’s Park and the Anaheim Packing District.

Bottle Logic Brewing: Anaheim

Bottle Logic is a powerhouse brewery specializing in Stouts. They have a nice patio, a large tap list, and phenomenal beers in Anaheim.

Pure Project: San Diego Area

Pure Project is easily the best brewery in the San Diego area. They have several locations to check out—Vista, Miramar, Balboa Park, Carlsbad and North Park. Their “Murky” IPAs, Stouts, Sours and Lagers are all superb.

Homage Brewing: Pomona and downtown Los Angeles

Homage is best known for their Saisons and Lambics, which are top-notch. Homage has two locations—their original taproom is in downtown Pomona and they have a smaller secondary taproom in the Chinatown neighborhood of downtown LA.

Green Cheek Beer Co.: Costa Mesa and Orange

A stellar brewery with a wide array of beers to choose from, including a few guest taps. They are best known for their Lagers and IPAs and have taprooms in Costa Mesa and Orange.

Highland Park Brewery: Downtown Los Angeles

Highland Park is a fantastic brewery in downtown Los Angeles with a wide variety of beers and delicious food. They have great beers and chill vibes.

Kings Brewing: Rancho Cucamonga

Kings is best known for their thiccc Fruited Sours but they also highly value a good crisp Lager. They have a massive tap list and a friendly team, located in Rancho Cucamonga.

North Park Beer Co.: San Diego

North Park does all styles of beer well! West Coast IPAs, Hazy IPAs, Lagers, Stouts—they are all fantastic. Their taproom in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego has chill vibes.

Burgeon Beer Company: Carlsbad

Burgeon is a great brewery with a wide variety of beers to choose from. Each style is executed well and their taproom is a fun place to hang out.

The Bruery: Placentia & Anaheim

The Bruery is a highly awarded brewery creating uniquely delicious beers. Their main brewery and taproom is located in Placentia, right near Anaheim. Their second location, Bruery Terreux Tasting Room, is 5 minutes away in Anaheim proper. This location houses their Lambics and Wild Ales, but you can get those on tap at the main taproom as well.

The Lost Abbey: San Diego Area

The Lost Abbey is a Belgian brewery with four tasting rooms in the San Diego area—The Main Tasting Room in San Marcos, The Church in downtown San Diego, The Sanctuary in San Marcos, and The Confessional in Cardiff-By-The-Sea. They focus on Belgian-style Ales and barrel aged beers.

What are your top breweries in southern california? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

The Best Breweries in the Charlotte Suburbs

Charlotte has a lot of fantastic breweries and the Charlotte suburbs are packed with breweries as well. Some of these are better than others, so this guide will share the best breweries outside of the 485 loop in the Charlotte suburbs.

Want to stay within the city limits? Check out my Charlotte guide here. Looking for more breweries on the South Carolina side of the border? Check out my blog on the YoCo Brew Trail.

Here are the best breweries in the Charlotte suburbs, in no particular order:

Keepsake Brewery: Gastonia, NC

Keepsake is putting out delicious easy drinking beers in Gastonia. Their specialty is Lagers which they make extremely well. They have a cozy taproom and back patio space.

High Branch Brewing Co.: Concord, NC

High Branch is located at Gibson Mill in Concord and makes some stellar brews. Their IPAs and Stouts are what they do best but they always have a variety of beers on tap. The taproom vibes are chill, they have an outdoor space, and frequently host food trucks and events.

Slow Play Brewing: Rock Hill, SC

Slow Play is in Rock Hill! You can generally find almost any style of beer on their tap list, but their Sours are what they do best. They always have fun events happening such as live music, a disc golf league, and more!

King Canary Brewing: Mooresville, NC

This is a unique brewery in a converted house on Lake Norman. They have a nice outdoor space and seating upstairs and downstairs inside. There are some partial lake views from some areas of the brewery as well. King Canary specializes in IPAs and has great vibes.

Percent Tap House: Harrisburg, NC

Percent Tap House is a beer bar, bottle shop and brewery in a Harrisburg shopping center. They always have a large selection of guest taps available and their house made brews are delicious. They have a small indoor space and an outdoor patio with frequent food trucks. Their Sours are what they do best.

Replay Brewing: Fort Mill, SC

Replay is a game-themed brewery at Kingsley in Fort Mill. There are pinball machines, arcade games, video games and more. They always have a variety of beers on tap but their Sours and Lagers are what they do best. You can get food from the neighboring restaurants such as the delicious Taco Molino.

Royal Bliss Brewing Company: Denver, NC

Royal Bliss makes insanely delicious grilled cheese sandwiches and great IPAs. They have a lovely outdoor space with a turf patio area and an upper deck along with their indoor seating. Royal Bliss is a great spot to visit after a hike at Lake Norman!

What are your favorite breweries in the CLT suburbs? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

My Favorite Places I've Stayed Around The World

I get asked all the time where I stay when I travel and it is 100% dependent on where I am at. Generally speaking I am a somewhat frugal travel. I try not to spend too much on hotels/Airbnbs because I would rather plan another trip with that money. Sometimes where I stay is based on a hosted collaboration, sometimes it is a basic, reliable chain hotel that is reasonably priced (usually a Hilton), sometimes it is an Airbnb—it all just depends on the circumstances.

I have spent hundreds if not thousands of nights at different lodgings around the world and here are my favorite places I have stayed at:

Latin America

Tortuga Del Mar

Tortuga Del Mar: Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

I absolutely loved my beachfront room. The owners are so sweet and it’s nice and small so there’s barely anyone else around. The black sand beach is gorgeous and there are a couple of restaurants and a store within walking distance. Check out my Costa Rica guide here.

La Casa Verde: Banos, Ecuador

This eco-hostel is super relaxing, and the hosts are incredibly nice. There are hammocks, delicious snacks, and great views. Don’t let the word hostel throw you off—I had a private room and bathroom and nothing about it felt hostel-style, it was just a normal hotel with a variety of lodging options. Check out my Ecuador guide here.

Popa Paradise

Popa Paradise: Bocas del Toro, Panama

This is a gorgeous property! The pool, beach, walking trails and facilities were all stunning. The team here is also super nice and helpful. The food was fantastic and the place is quite small so you’re not overwhelmed by other guests. Check out my Panama guide here.

Arakur Resort & Spa: Ushuaia, Argentina

If you find yourself in Ushuaia at the very bottom of the content, Arakur is a must-stay. The outdoor pool and hot tub was one of the highlights of my entire trip! The views from the entire hotel are unreal. is Check out my Argentina guide here.

New Zealand

Edge Hill Hut: Taupo

The views from this Airbnb are superb! It is overlooking Lake Taupo and Mount Tauhara with sheep and farmland abound. The outdoor deck is packed with amazing amenities—an outdoor tub, fireplace, grill, comfy seating and more. There are thoughtful touches throughout the home and it was very clean and comfy. This airbnb is only a 15 minute drive from downtown Taupō and a little over an hour away from Tangariro National Park. It was also ridiculously affordable for such a nice spot. Check out my guide to New Zealand’s North Island here.

The United States

This House on Airbnb: Puerto Rico

The views from this house are insanely beautiful—from the valley below, the surrounding mountains, the wild horses, the gorgeous cloud-filled sunrise—it’s a beautiful place to be. The house itself is listed as a tiny home but it is quite spacious. The living area has hammock chairs, the bathroom has a nice soaking tub, and the bed is quite comfy. Check out my Puerto Rico blog with recommendations across the island here.

Kinn Guesthouse

Kinn Guesthouse Bay View: Milwaukee, WI

The set-up of Kinn Guesthouse is very cool. Each room feels more like a loft apartment and there is a shared kitchen and living room. It is housed above an Italian restaurant and walkable to several great coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Check out my Milwaukee guide here.

Fenway Hotel

Fenway Hotel: Dunedin, FL

The Fenway Hotel is a delightful spot. The hotel is gorgeous, the views from the rooftop bar are superb and the food and drinks are delicious. There is a trail on along the inlet in front of the hotel and you can easily walk into downtown Dunedin which is full of breweries, restaurants, shops and coffee shops. Check out my Dunedin blog here.

Orchards Inn

Orchards Inn: Sedona, AZ

Orchards Inn is right in the heart of downtown Sedona and the rooms offer spectacular views of the red rocks. Each room is a bit different, but my suite included a lovely fireplace, a spacious balcony, and an extremely comfortable bed. They have their own restaurant as well, 89Agave Cantina, which is delicious. Full Sedona guide coming soon!

North Carolina

Bryson City Cabin

This cabin on Airbnb: Bryson City, NC

This cabin had magical mountain views and was the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Outside there is a fire pit and inside their is a fire place so that you can have cozy vibes inside or out. The hot tub was excellent and there were lots of thoughtful amenities. Bryson City & Western North Carolina guide coming soon!

The Glamping Collective: Clyde, NC

This is the nicest “glamping” I have ever seen. These domes take luxury to the next level. The views are beautiful. The bathroom is insanely posh. The kitchen has everything you need. Outside there is a hot tub and a fire table. There are onsite hiking trails. On top of all this, Asheville is just 25 minutes away! Highly, highly recommend.

Glamping Unplugged

Glamping Unplugged: Boone, NC

Glamping in a dome on a creek in the middle of nowhere? Yes please. This is a fun and unique stay just 20 minutes from Boone. Make a fire, stargaze, fish in the creek, go for a hike—the outdoor possibilities are endless. Check out my Boone guide here.

Where are your favorite places you’ve stayed around the world? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

September & October 2022

September and October brought more fantastic adventures & ales—who would’ve guessed!

In September I spent 17 days exploring the Southwest in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Sedona, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, the greater Las Vegas area, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park.

October brought the Snallygaster beer fest in Washington D.C. with a stop in Richmond on the way and a relaxing mountain weekend in Bryson City, NC! I also had the privilege of visiting Asheville twice and spending lots of quality time in Charlotte!

All of this lead to some killer beers—below is my top beers in September and October, in no particular order:

All We Become Is Just Dirt In The Ground at Burial Beer Company in Charlotte, NC

This is an Imperial IPA mashed with oats and barley, whirlpooled with Incognito, Cryo, and Phantasm, made from New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc skins, then double dry-hopped with Simcoe, Citra, El Dorado, and doses of Citra and El Dorado Cryo.

Burial continues to put out bangers from all sides of the spectrum—Pilsners, IPAs, Stouts—you name it. It is surreal to think that their Charlotte taproom has only been open for 5 months, so many great beers have already been had here!

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything collaboration brew from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY and Root + Branch Brewing in Copiague, NY

This is an Imperial IPA with Citra, Riwaka and Motueka hops from two of the best IPA breweries in the country—Other Half and Root + Branch. I was luck enough to have this one on draft at Other Half’s Washington D.C. taproom and in a can from the release in NYC and I loved it both times!

Cake Day from Bottle Logic Brewing in Anaheim, CA at The Wandering Tortoise in Phoenix, AZ

Cake Day is a Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Chocolate Cake Stout aged in a combination of Bernheim, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, and Old Fitzgerald barrels with a blend of Ghanaian and Ecuadorian cacao nibs, vanilla frosting and sprinkles. This was brewed to celebrate Bottle Logic’s 8th Anniversary and was truly superb. The Wandering Tortoise is a fantastic beer bar in Phoenix with a huge draft list and fantastic can and bottle selection as well.

Double Dry Hopped Double Citra Daydream from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY

This is an Imperial Oat Cream IPA with Citra pellets and Citra Lupulin. Other Half does it again—no surprise there. This was a stellar brew and the perfect accompaniment for a relaxing weekend in the mountains.

The Heart of Chaos Triple IPA from Fidens Brewing in Colonie, NY at Snallygaster

The Heart of Chaos is a Triple IPA with Citra, Nelson and Mosaic hops. This was brewed to celebrate 3 years of Fidens! This was my favorite beer from the Snallygaster beer festival in D.C. and a delicious brew.

Dagligt intag collaboration brew from Trillium Brewing in Boston, MA and Omnipollo in Sundbyberg, Sweden

This is a Fruited Berliner Weisse with raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries and milk sugar. Trillium and Omnipollo’s collabs are always next level, but Dagligt Intag took it to the extreme. This beer is absolutely loaded with fruits but is still incredibly balanced and delicious.

Spellbinder at Wren House Brewing in Phoenix, AZ

Spellbinder is Wren House’s house Hazy IPA with Cascade, Mosaic and Citra hops. This beer won gold in the Hazy/Juicy IPA category at Great American Beer Festival in 2020, so I am not alone in my assertion that this is a fantastic beer. I enjoyed everything I had at Wren House and the vibes were great as well.

Check back next month to see my top beers of November!
Cheers—Alexis

A Weekend Exploring Michigan's Thumb

The Thumb is a beautiful area of Michigan surrounded by Lake Huron and the perfect place for a weekend escape!

To best explore the thumb, drive M-25 around the coast with stops at the various small towns and roadside beaches along the way.

This route starts you in the furthest southeast point of the thumb, Lexington, and heads north, but you could also do this in reverse if you’d like!

Lexington

• The Wind Jammer: A restaurant right on the marina with lunch, dinner and sushi.

• Wander the cute little town full of shops and restaurants.

• Tierney Park: Beach access with picnic tables
  

Port Sanilac

• Check out the lighthouse and walk the marina seawalls

• 4 mile scenic turnout: a roadside park with nice views of Lake Huron

Bird Creek Farms

Port Austin

• Kayak to Turnip Rock: Rent a kayak from Port Austin Kayak & Bike and explore Lake Huron! Be sure to check the weather conditions as rentals are frequently cancelled due to the conditions.

• Bird Creek Farms Restaurant and Tap Room: A farm-t0-table restaurant with a large selection of craft beers and delicious food. They have a very cute setup with picnic tables, string lights, hops, and yard games.

• Pak’s Backyard: A beer garden and restaurant that is open seasonally behind Port Austin Kayak. It is a nice outdoor space with beers, cocktails, wine, and burger menu. They also have coffee, smoothies and pastries in the morning.

• Port Crescent State Park: A beautiful state park with sand dunes, beach access, hiking trails and a Dark Sky Preserve. You will need a Michigan Recreation Passport to enter. It is $10 for a day pass for non-Michigan residents or $36 for an annual pass. Michigan residents can purchase an annual pass for $12 with their license plate registration renewal or $17 any other time.

• Bird Creek Park: A nice beach area and park. They have a splash pad for kids, a boardwalk and bathrooms with showers.

• Veterans Waterfront Park: Another area for beach access with bathrooms and a pavilion. Here you can walk out on the long jetty into Lake Huron.

• On your way into Port Austin check out the Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse, a historic lighthouse and park.

Brew Moon Caseville

Caseville

• Brew Moon Coffee House and Gallery: A coffee shop with pastries along with a shop full of Michigan creators. They also have a cute back garden area!

• Thumb Brewery is located here with a solid beer selection and full food menu.

• Sleeper State Park: Another state park on Lake Huron. This is more wooded with different hiking trails. You will also need the Michigan Recreation Passport to enter here.

After Caseville there are a few small industrial towns and a plethora of farms, but no other great stops along the shore of the thumb.

Frankenmuth Brewery

Frankenmuth 

Frankenmuth is not technically part of the thumb, but if you are driving downstate it is worth a stop to explore this Bavarian Village! It is a very unique town with a bunch of different themed shops and restaurants to check out.

• Frankenmuth Brewery: A solid brewery and winery with a full food menu.

• Zehnder’s: A restaurant, hotel and splash village known for their family-style chicken dinners.

• Bavarian Inn: A restaurant and lodge also known for their family-style chicken dinners.

Have you explored Michigan’s Thumb? Let me know your favorite spots in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

July & August 2022

July and August were a wild ride! I went on a 5 week solo road trip and visited 93 breweries across 10 states, so needless to say there were a TON of great beers drank. In no particular order, here were the best beers I had over July and August:

Eternal Vigilance from Ever Grain Brewing in Camp Hill, PA

Eternal Vigilance is an Imperial IPA with Motueka, Citra and Riwaka hops. This was a delicious juice bomb that I thoroughly enjoyed. Ever Grain was a great stop in Pennsylvania en route to Washington D.C. The food and beers were delicious and I’d highly recommend checking it out if you’re ever in the area!

Vast Air from Other Half Brewing in Bloomfield, NY

Vast Air 2021 Blend is a Wild Ale spontaneously fermented in a coolship. Other Half’s Finger Lakes taproom specializes in Wild and Farmhouse Ales and they are absolutely crushing it. This was a delicious and refreshing brew on their gorgeous farm setting.

Very Special Lord Whangdoodle from The Veil Brewing in Richmond, VA

Very Special Lord Whangdoodle is an Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout aged in a blend of Bourbon, Cognac, Maple, and Apple Brandy Barrels conditioned on double hazelnuts, double truffle, double vanilla, and double coconut. This was an insanely delicious beer. The Veil’s Stouts are always impressive, but this was one of my favorite beers I have had in a long time.

Double Citra Chroma Daydream from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY

This is a Triple Dry Hopped Oat Cream Imperial IPA with Citra hops, Citra Cryo, and Citra Incognito all hand-selected and paired with a ton of oats and a hint of milk sugar. This was a creamy, juicy brew that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Broccoli’s Axe collaboration brew from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY and Fidens Brewing in Colonie, NY

Broccoli’s Axe is an Imperial IPA with Mosaic, Simcoe, Hallertau Blanc, Cascade, Citra and Galaxy. This is a collaboration based on Other Half’s Broccoli and Fidens’ Eugene’s Axe, arguably their flagship beers. It is no surprise that these two created something so fantastic!

Adieu Adieu from Monkish Brewing in Torrance, CA

Adieu Adieu is a Double Dry Hopped Triple IPA with Citra hops. Monkish is consistently great with their IPAs, but Adieu Adieu takes it to another level. This is a top beer of 2022 for me so far!

Eunoia Batch 10 from Phase Three Brewing in Lake Zurich, IL

Eunoia Batch 10 is a Barrel-Aged Neapolitan Imperial Stout with strawberry, cocoa nibs and vanilla. Eunoia is one of my favorite series of Stouts out there and I was thrilled to finally get to try it at the source! Normally I don’t love a fruity Stout but this one was a great balance.

Spotted Cow from New Glarus Brewing in New Glarus, WI

Spotted Cow is a Cask Conditioned Farmhouse Ale and the flagship beer of New Glarus (and perhaps the entire state of Wisconsin!). Spotted Cow is a classic brew but having it on tap at their taproom was even better! This is a very unique beer that is perfect for the summertime.

Conducting Business collaboration brew from BlackStack Brewing in St. Paul, MN and Orchestrated Minds Brewing in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Conducting Business is a Double Dry Hopped Imperial IPA with Amarillo, El Dorado, El Dorado Cryo, Citra and Citra Cryo hops. BlackStack and Orchestrated Minds are both superb breweries so it is no surprise that this beer was top-notch!

Check back next month to see my top beers of September! Cheers —Alexis

June 2022

June’s top beers are mostly centered around my trip to New York, but I had some great beers in Charlotte too. Burial Beer also opened in CLT in June so it was a struggle to not list every one of their delicious beers that I had on tap! My top beers over the past month are listed below in no particular order:

Ultrasphere from Hudson Valley Brewery in Beacon, NY

Ultrasphere is a Sour IPA with raw wheat, malted oat, milk sugar, raspberry, vanilla and hopped with Citra & Mosaic. Hudson Valley is best known for their Sour IPAs so when I visited their brewery I knew I had to get a good selection of them. Ultrasphere is slightly sweet but not in an overpowering way and very easy to drink.

Peach Pink and Green Saison from Homage Brewing in Pomona, CA

This is a dry hopped, barrel aged Saison with falanghina grapes, masumoto peaches and Sabro hops. Homage was one of my favorite breweries I had at Green City, Other Half’s festival. This Saison was perfectly balanced and refreshing—I could easily drink a whole lot of this brew.

Salmagundi Vol. 1 from Weaver Hollow Brewing in Andes, NY

Salmagundi is Weaver Hollow’s series of blended farmhouse ales. Volume 1 is a blend of a barrel-fermented Saison brewed with a single European malt and single European hop, aged for 6 months; and an herb beer brewed with hibiscus, lemon verbena, and kaffir lime leaves, which was fermented in stainless and aged extensively in French oak. Weaver Hollow is always a delight and I was thrilled to see the selection at Beer Street, a fantastic beer bar in NYC.

Bone and Throat from Root and Branch Brewing in Copiague, NY

Bone and Throat is a dry hopped Double IPA from Root and Branch. After having a plethora of Root and Branch beers in cans it was very exciting to get to finally try their beers on draft. Root and Branch makes some of the most consistently delicious IPAs in the country.

All You Know For Certain Is That You Know Absolutely Nothing At All collaboration beer from Burial Beer in Asheville, NC and The Eighth State Brewing in Greenville, SC

This is an Imperial Stout with pecans, toasted coconut, Thai banana, rum barrel aged orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, and Vanuatu vanilla bean. When Burial and Eighth State team up you know it is going to be something wild, and that is exactly what is happening here. Somehow all of the adjuncts come together perfectly to create a delectable, thiccc Stout that leaves you wanting more.

Saison Bernice from Sante Adairius Rustic Ales in Capitola, CA

Saison Bernice is a Farmhouse Ale with multiple yeast additions, including Brettanomyces, and is further aged in the bottle. This was my second favorite beer at Green City, after Homage’s Saison. Saison Bernice is always a true pleasure to get to try—it is a perfect beer in my opinion.

The Beer formally known as La Tache from The Ale Apothecary in Bend, OR

The Beer Formerly Known as La Tache is a Table Sour made of malted barley, wheat, Goschie Farms Cascade Hops, honey and house lactobacillus culture. It then spends 3-9 months fermenting in barrels prior to a month-long dry-hopping in oak barrels. Everything The Ale Apothecary makes is unique and funky, and this was no exception. I was taken aback by just how fantastic this was.

Check Back next month to see what my top beers of July are! Cheers—Alexis

Yosemite National Park Guide

Yosemite National Park is on many people’s bucket list, but it can be overwhelming to try to plan a trip to such a large park that is also incredibly busy. Check out my guide below with tips for visiting Yosemite, hiking in Yosemite, and where to stay.

Vernal Falls

Yosemite Tips:

• If you’re visiting during peak season (mid-May-September) you will need a reservation to enter the park. Learn more and book your reservation here. If you do not have a reservation you can enter the park before 6am or after 4pm.

• You will also need either a National Park Pass or to pay $35 for 3 days of access to enter the park.

• I cannot emphasize this enough: start your days early. You will avoid crowds, parking issues, and the heat if you just set that alarm a little bit earlier and get moving early.

• If you enjoy waterfalls, visit during the spring or early summer when they are the most active. The snowmelt creates an abundance of water.

• I would also recommend that you get out of Yosemite Valley. Many people who visit the park only visit the Valley which is the most touristy area. There are 6 distinct areas to Yosemite: Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy, Glacier Point, Wawona and Mariposa Grove, and Tuolumne Meadows.

• While in Yosemite Valley there is a convenient and free shuttle to take you to different points without having to move your car. If you are staying at certain locations in the park this is also a great option for getting around the Valley. There are two different shuttle loops that operate about every 10-20 minutes—learn more here.

  • You can also bike in Yosemite Valley via the bike rental shop and bike lanes are everywhere.

• Tioga Pass Road cuts through the center of the park and is only open seasonally. Each year it differs depending on conditions, but it is generally open late May through September. Many hikes and lakes are along this road, so be sure to plan ahead.

• Be bear aware! All of the bears in Yosemite are black bears, so if you see them in the wild keep your distance, if you see them in a public space get as large and loud as possible. Do not leave food in your car and always have your backpack within reach. Drive the speed limit throughout the park to save bears.

• If you are visiting in the year 2022 Glacier Point and Glacier Point Road will remain closed all year. Any trails along the road are inaccessible and Glacier Point, a popular viewpoint, is inaccessible. Bridalveil Falls is also closed for 2022.

• A note, Crane Flat Lookout Trail is not a trail, despite what AllTrails thinks. It’s a road to a fire tower which you actually can’t even go up for views. You’re welcome!

Tunnel View

Hiking in Yosemite:

There are two viewpoints I would recommend that are not hikes, but rather areas to park and enjoy the view:

• Tunnel View on Wawona Road is the classic Yosemite viewpoint as you enter Yosemite Valley. Here you can see El Capitan, Horsetail Fall, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Fall.

• Yosemite Valley Viewpoint on Big Oak Flat Road is essentially the other side of Tunnel View across the park with great views of Half Dome.

Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail

Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail 

This trail is 7.2 miles long from the trailhead, 164 flights up with 2,162 feet of elevation gain, and is rated as hard. Keep in mind the closest parking lot is an additional 0.7 miles away. You can also take the shuttle to the stop near the trailhead.

The first section is paved and uphill and leads to the Vernal Falls footbridge. This is the most popular area of the trail as most people make it to the footbridge and turn around. There is a bathroom here and a water refill station as well. It is 0.9 miles/36 flights up from the trailhead to the footbridge.

Next you will come to Vernal Falls itself, where you should expect to get quite wet from the waterfall mist. This section has steep, wet steps and you will walk directly next to the waterfall.

From here you will continue up more stairs to the top of Vernal Falls before heading deeper into the wilderness. Next you will hike alongside Nevada Falls for a while, with great views and frequent switchbacks.

When you have finally reached the summit at the top of Nevada Falls there is an outhouse if you need it and great views of the valley below. As you start your descent there are great views of Half Dome, Nevada Falls and Mount Broderick.

At Clark Point you will have one last great view before taking the John Muir trail back down. There are quite a few switchbacks until you reconnect with the Mist Trail at the Vernal Falls footbridge.

Overall this hike took me 4 hours with lots of stops for photos and was a fantastic trail. It was not very crowded which was one of my concerns with it being in Yosemite Valley itself, but the difficulty of the trail means less folks are on it, and again I would emphasize starting early.

Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake Trail

Mirror Lake shares a trailhead with the Vernal and Nevada Falls trail, so I would recommend doing this after you finish your long hike as it is short and easy. If you are not hiking the Vernal and Nevada Falls trail, Mirror Lake is shuttle stop #17.

The Mirror Lake Trail has two sides—the left hand side is paved, the right hand side is not paved and has slightly more incline. On either side you walk along the water to Mirror Lake which has crystal clear water providing great reflections of the surrounding mountains. You also have nice views of Half Dome.

As an easy hike in the Valley, this trail and area in general is quite crowded. From the trailhead shared with Vernal and Nevada Falls the Mirror Lake trail is 2.6 miles total out and back and 12 flights up.

Lower Yosemite Falls

Lower Yosemite Falls

This is another easy and popular trail in Yosemite Valley with great views. It is a flat, paved 1.1 mile loop that takes about 30 minutes with stops for photos.

The trail leads to the base of the Lower Yosemite Falls which is crowded, but still beautiful. You can also see the Upper Yosemite Falls at certain angles throughout the trail, so be sure to look up!

Wapama Falls

Wapama Falls Trail

This trail is in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park. This area is only open from 8am to 5pm unless you are camping. There is a locked gate that a park ranger will come open at 8am and then you can drive through the park entrance gate to the trailhead.

This trail is 4.8 miles long, 38 flights up over 1000 feet of elevation, and is rated as moderate. It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes with lots of stops for photos. The trail is extremely quiet, especially compared to any trail in Yosemite Valley. You are exposed in the sun for most of the hike, so be sure to plan accordingly.

To start, you will cross over the massive O'Shaughnessy Dam, which provides water to the San Francisco Bay area. From here you will hike towards Wapama Falls with great views of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. There is also one smaller waterfall first that is higher up, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.

Wapama Falls is absolutely roaring in the late spring and you will get soaked if you walk on the bridges under the falls.

Tuolumne Grove

Tuolumne Grove Trail

This is a 2.5 mile long, 22 flights up over 656 feet of elevation gain, and is rated as moderate. This is a paved trail that is downhill to the giant sequoia trees and uphill on the way back.

It is a quiet trail overall but still touristy since it is pretty accessible, but the hike back up is quiet steep. Overall I wasn’t super impressed, the giant sequoias are giant, but it was pretty boring and not really worth the time spent.

Valley View Point

Where to stay when visiting Yosemite:

You can choose to stay in Yosemite National Park or outside of the park itself, just depending on what you are looking for and what makes the most sense for you. It also will depend on where you are coming from—East, West, North, or South.

If you plan to stay in the park be sure to book your reservation far in advance—I would suggest 8 months to a year out just depending on when you are going. If you wait until even 6 months out all of the lodges are booked solid. Reservations open 366 days in advance and can be booked here. There are both hotels/lodges and campsites available in the park.

Personally I chose to stay outside of the park because of scheduling, pricing, and activities after hiking—if you are in the park you are a bit confined to the food/drink/activities there and I like to explore. I also was coming from Santa Cruz so the South entrance was closest and therefore I chose to stay in Oakhurst.

Bass Lake

Oakhurst recommendations:

The Yosemite Southgate Hotel and Suites is a newly remodeled hotel with clean and spacious rooms. They have a pool, hot tub and continental breakfast. It is 22 minutes from the hotel to the South Gate entrance of Yosemite.

South Gate Brewing Company in Oakhurst has a full food menu and solid beers. It is a great spot to visit after a day of hiking for tasty food and a cold beverage. They also have a small outdoor space.

Bass Lake is another spot worth checking out while in the south Yosemite area. This lake is nestled in Sierra National Forest and is a nice spot to relax after a day of hiking.

• The Willow Cove trail is a short .7 mile out and back trail to a private beach on the lake. It is overgrown, rarely used, and full of bugs, but the spot it leads to is the perfect place to relax on the lake.

• Ducey’s On The Lake is a nice restaurant with great service. They do not have any draft beer as a forewarning. They also have an upstairs patio bar/restaurant with great views, but it has limited hours.

Have you visited Yosemite National Park? What are your favorite hikes and tips? Let me know in the comments!

May 2022

May was a month of bottle shares and an 11 day Northern California road trip, so there was a ton of good beer consumed and new breweries visited. Check out my top beers of the past month, in no particular order:

The Maison from de Garde Brewing in Tillamook, OR at The Monk’s Kettle in San Francisco, CA

The Maison is a Spontaneous Wild Ale aged in oak barrels and blended for 3+ years. de Garde is definitely one of my favorite breweries in the country so finding them on tap in San Francisco was a treat! The Monk’s Kettle was a fantastic beer bar with great food, I highly recommend checking them out in the Mission District.

Coeur de Cuvée (Blend #8) from Side Project Brewing in Maplewood, MO

Coeur de Cuvée is a series of blends of wine barrel fermented and aged Saisons from Side Project. This eighth release contains select barrels of a Chablis-inspired Saison which was then refermented on Michigan pears before being blended in a Bière de Coupage style and conditioned for an extended period of time in bottle. This was another fantastic beer from Side Project, who never seems to disappoint.

10,000 Steps (Batch 2) from Private Press Brewing in Santa Cruz, CA at Holy Water in San Francisco, CA

10,000 Steps Batch 2 is a blend of barrel aged Imperial Stout and Barleywine brewed with maple syrup and conditioned on cacao nibs and vanilla beans. Private Press is a sought after brewery with no taproom and limited releases in the Bay Area. Seeing them on tap at Holy Water was a delight! Holy Water is a chill beer bar in the Bernal Heights neighborhood with fantastic beers.

Supplication at Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa, CA

Supplication is a Brown Ale aged in Pinot Noir wine barrels for one year with sour cherries, brettanomyces yeast and lactobacillus and pedioccus bacteria. Visiting Russian River was definitely a huge goal of mine so I was pumped to make it out to Santa Rosa. I tried 8 beers at Russian River and was truly surprised to find that Supplication was my favorite.

Everything at Sante Adairius Rustic Ales in Capitola and Santa Cruz, CA

I visited both Sante Adairius locations while in Northern California—the OG taproom in Capitola and The Portal in Santa Cruz. I was insanely impressed with every single beer that I had:

Queen of the Season Foudre aged Saison; Wisdom is Learned Barrel Aged Saison with peaches; The Gift of Comfort Barrel aged Blonde ale with rose hips and Meyer Lemon; Landscapes #3 Oak aged Saison dry hopped with Kohia Nelson; Anais House Saison; Cellarman Oak aged Saison in collaboration with Triple Rock; Tomorrow, Today IPA with Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic

Everything at Moksa Brewing in Rocklin, CA

Visiting Moksa was also extremely exciting for me, so it was tough not to drink the entire menu as I loved everything. My two favorites at Moksa were Smells Like C.R.E.A.M. Spirit, an Imperial Stout with port barrel aged maple syrup, vanilla beans and coffee in collaboration with @mikerphonebrewing and One Million Blueberries Imperial Sour Ale with blueberries and vanilla.

Hypnotized Minds Volume 2 Collaboration beer from Xul Beer Co. in Knoxville, TN, BlackStack Brewing in St. Paul, MN and Orchestrated Minds Brewing in Fort Lauderdale, FL at Resident Culture Brewing Company in Charlotte, NC

Hypnotized Minds is a Double Dry Hopped Triple IPA with Azacca, Citra & Simcoe hops. In celebration of CLT Beer Week Resident Culture hosted a tap takeover with a few guest taps, one of which was this fantastic Xul, BlackStack, Orchestrated Minds juice bomb!

Home Sour Home 2022 at The Rare Barrel in Berkeley, CA

Home Sour Home 2022 is a Golden Sour aged in oak barrels with peach, cinnamon and vanilla bean. Everything at The Rare Barrel was superb, but Home Sour Home was particularly delicious! This beer has a great balance of tartness and sweetness, making it easy drinking and phenomenal.

Schmoojee Hydra collaboration brew from Imprint Beer Co. in Hartfield, PA and Mortalis Brewing in Avon, NY

Schmoojee Hydra is a heavily fruited sour with mango, pineapple, passionfruit, banana, coconut and marshmallow. Mortalis and Imprint are two of the best in the game for Fruited Sours so it is no surprise that this was delicious. It was light and refreshing while also being thiccc and fruity at the same time.

Check back next month for my top beers of June 2022!
Cheers —ALexis

My Experience Flying with Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air gets a bad rap because they sell cheap base tickets and “get you” with all of the add-ons such as choosing a seat and carry-on bag fees. Personally, I actually found Allegiant to be a great option and would definitely fly them again.

Pros of flying Allegiant:

• The price! Allegiant tickets are quite cheap. When going from Charlotte to Tampa this spring my ticket on Allegiant was just over $100 roundtrip nonstop while other airlines were charging $450+ because it was spring break season.

• The smaller airports that most Allegiant flights fly in/out of are much easier to navigate. Parking tends to be more convenient and cheaper, lines are shorter, and there are less humans in general. At the Concord airport I parked ~25 feet from the main entrance of the airport, waited 15 minutes to check my bag, and got through security in 30 seconds.

• In my experience I arrived early on both legs of my trip—departing Concord we left 10 minutes before scheduled and landed 30 minutes early, then arriving back to Concord we were 15 minutes early. Can’t beat that!

• I found the seats to have a good amount of leg room. I am 5’10” so some planes have my knees basically in my tray table, but Allegiant had more space than your average seat.

• Cheap a la carte drink and snack options! They have high quality drinks and snacks at great prices. Why do I need a free water and peanuts when I can spend $5 and get something I actually want? The key for me was the La Colombe Draft Latte—so much better than a coffee on a plane (gross) and so much cheaper than a coffee in an airport.

• If you’re going to fly it a lot they have a credit card with some cool perks.

Cons of flying Allegiant:

• No inflight entertainment

• No plugs to charge your devices

• Thin seats

• Smaller airports have less amenities. If you arrive at the airport in need of coffee or food your options can be quite slim, BUT as I said above the planes have great food and drink options at low prices.

• You pay to check your bag whether it is a carry on or a checked bag. A lot of airlines have moved to this practice, so personally this was not a barrier for me.

• Limited routes. Allegiant is still a small airline so they don’t fly to very many cities. Most of their routes involve Florida and the Southeast.

The Bottom Line:

Would I fly Allegiant again? Absolutely. It was convenient, cheap and easy! My only wish is that they would add more routes so I could use it more often.

Read more about how I always score cheap flights here!

Exploring the YoCo Brew Trail

York County, South Carolina is Charlotte’s southern neighbor that is just a quick 25 minute drive from Uptown! York County includes the cities of Clover, Fort Mill, Lake Wylie, Rock Hill, Tega Cay, and York. The new YoCo Brew Trail has 13 stops that are super fun to explore, with lots of delicious beers, great food options, and relaxing patios. There are also several great walks and hikes in York County so you can pair your morning hike with an afternoon beer! Scroll down for all of my recommendations!

How To participate in the YoCo Brew Trail

1. Grab a passport at any participating stop on the YoCo Brew Trail!

2. Visit at least 10 listed YoCo Brew Trail locations and get a stamp at each location!

3. Visit the York County Visitor Center at 130 E. Main Street in Rock Hill, or visit the Anne Springs Close Greenway Gateway Canteen for your free swag! This year the swag is a fun pint glass! If you visit the Greenway Gateway Canteen you also get a fun bonus sticker.

4. Tag @visityorkcountysc and use the hashtag #YoCoBrewTrail

5. Drink responsibly! There are 13 spots on the YoCo Brew Trail which are a world of fun, but as always please drink responsibly.

Stops along the YoCo Brew Trail

1873 Brewing, Fort Mill

1873 has a small tap list and sandwiches and snacks on their food menu. They also have wine and non-alcoholic options. Their taproom has TVs for sports and a patio as well.

Amor Artis Brewing, Fort Mill

Located on the main strip of Fort Mill, Amor Artis is a local favorite. Their taproom is beautifully designed with plants everywhere, exposed brick, and large windows over looking Main Street. There is both a back patio and an upstairs rooftop bar. Amor Artis has a wide variety of beers but their Sours and West Coast IPAs are what have impressed me the most. They also have wine and non-alcoholic options.

Carolina Brew Supply, Rock Hill

Carolina Brew Supply started as a homebrew supply store and is now a brewery and winery. They also offer a food menu with shareables and sandwiches. They offer winemaking classes and have frequent events at their taproom.

Dust Off Brewing, Rock Hill

Dust Off is located in downtown Rock Hill with a beautiful mural on their side wall and outdoor seating. One of their owners is a veteran so their beers and overall theme are all related to the military. Their food menu offers shareables and sandwiches.

Lake Wylie Brewing, Fort Mill & Rock Hill

Lake Wylie Brewing has two locations—Fort Mill and Rock Hill. Fort Mill is their original location offering a full brewpub menu and large outdoor patio. Rock Hill also has a full food menu. Each location has similar tap lists and are both very family friendly.

Legal Remedy Brewing, Rock Hill and Legal Remedy Brewing Riverwalk

Legal Remedy is York County’s oldest brewery and opened their Old Town location in 2015. Their original taproom has a beautiful, large patio space and a full food menu. Their second taproom is near the Riverwalk and also has a large patio and full food menu, but tends to specialize more in cocktails.

Model A Brewing, Tega Cay

Model A is located in a strip mall in Tega Cay. They have a nice patio space, a full food menu, and frequent events such as live music. They are consistently changing up their tap list and have fun offerings like a dill pickle beer or your classics like Hazy IPAs.

Replay Brewing, Fort Mill

Replay is a game-focused brewery located in Kingsley Town Center. They have board games, video games, pinball and more, plus they are dog and kid friendly both inside and out. They always have a wide variety of beers on tap but their Sours and Lagers are what they do best. If you are hungry you can have neighboring Taco Molino delivered to your table.

Rock Hill Brewing, Rock Hill

Rock Hill Brewing has a small but varied tap list along with ciders, wine and non-alcoholic options. You can order Millstone Pizza directly to your table at the taproom if you are hungry. They have frequent live music and other events.

Slow Play Brewing, Rock Hill

Slow Play is one of the most popular breweries in York County, and for good reason. They have great beers, a beautiful patio space, and frequent events. Their tap list is always extensive, but their best beers are their IPAs and Sours. You must visit Slow Play while hungry as they have arguably the best food truck in the Charlotte area onsite—Cibi Cibi. They specialize in hot chicken sandwiches, burgers, and other handhelds.

Bonus Stop: Anne Springs Close Greenway Gateway Canteen, Fort Mill

Check out the Greenway Gateway Canteen for a drink before or after a lovely stroll in nature! If you complete your passport and have this bonus stop you will also receive a bonus sticker. They host a summer concert series on Thursdays in May and June and have frequent events. Entrance to the greenway is $12 or you can get a membership for reduced rates.

Morning Hikes, Afternoon Beers

The best way to experience the YoCo Brew Trail is by pairing it with some of the great hikes and walks in York County! Some of my favorites include:

• Anne Springs Close Greenway: There are several trails in this expansive area. My favorite is the Lake Haigler Loop. It is an easy, 3.5 loop that is mostly flat. The fall is a great time to soak in the colors of the greenway. Be sure to check out the swinging bridge and the Greenway Gateway Canteen for a snack or drink! Admission to the Greenway is $12 or you can get a membership for reduced rates.

• Piedmont Medical Center Trail: This is a 4.6 out and back trail, so you can do as much or as little as you’d like. It is paved the entire way and runs along the Catawba River. The Riverwalk where the trail starts and ends is home to several spots you can visit before or after as well—The Pump House, Legal Remedy Riverwalk, and Grapevine are solid options.

• Baxter Village Trail: This is a nice and easy 9 mile trail network right along the Catawba River. It is mostly shaded by tree cover as well which is a nice protection from the sun. The entrance to the trail is the Baxter subdivision neighborhood, but don’t fret, it is actually incredible peaceful and you’ll quickly forget that you parked next to someone’s house.

• Another option to get outside is to visit the Glencarin Garden! You can see azaleas, dogwoods, wisteria, crape myrtles, camellias, annuals, hardwood trees and more. The peak bloom period is typically the last week of March through mid-April, but it is always a beautiful place to visit. Admission is free.

Lake Wylie Brewing at Common Market

Bottle Shops in York County:

Common Market: Rock Hill

Grapevine: Fort Mill, Riverwalk, York

Main Street Bottle Shop: Rock Hill

The Vault: Clover

Tipsy Bottle: Fort Mill

Coming soon to the YoCo Brew Trail:

Off the Tracks Brewing: Rock Hill

The Print Shop by Amor Artis: Fort Mill

Middle James Brewing: Rock Hill

April 2022

April was a crazy month of travel and beers—so crazy in fact that I didn’t write a March top beers round up because I was on the road at the end of March and first couple of weeks of April, sorry friends! This past month I visited Wilmington NC, Charleston SC, Savannah GA, Miami FL and Seabrook Island SC. I also attended two beer festivals in April—Cape Fear Craft & Cuisine in Wilmington and Wakefest from J. Wakefield Brewing in Miami. That all adds up to a lot of beers, so the ones that made the cut here are truly the best of the best!

In no particular order, here were my top beers in April 2022:

MawMaw’s Humbleberry Pie collaboration brew from Two Tides Brewing in Savannah, GA and Inner Voice Brewing in Decatur, GA

MawMaw’s Humbleberry Pie is a Fruited Sour with raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, vanilla, cinnamon and graham cracker. It is packed with flavor and extremely easy to drink, but still comes in at 7% ABV.

Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Stepping on Toes collaboration brew from Westbrook Brewing in Charleston, SC, The Eighth State Brewing Company in Greenville, SC, Evil Twin Brewing in New York, NY and Edmund’s Oast Brewing in Charleston, SC

This is an Imperial Stout aged in Laird’s applejack apple brandy barrels for over two years then infused with toasted coconut, banana, macadamia nuts and vanilla beans. This beer is basically everything I love infused into one brew—apple brandy barrel aged, coconut, banana, and vanilla! This was an exceptional brew. I had the original Stepping on Toes last year and this one completely blows the other out of the water. Highly recommend if you can get your hands on it!

Simple Thoughts from Tripping Animals Brewing in Doral, FL

Simple Thoughts is an Imperial Stout aged for 15 months in bourbon maple barrels and conditioned with wild Thai banana, coconut, cacao nibs, peanut butter and Madagascar vanilla beans. Peanut butter Stouts can be a miss for me, but I was thoroughly impressed with this brew at Tripping Animals. Everything I had there was fantastic!

Around The Sun 2 from Edge City Brewery in Charlotte, NC

Around The Sun 2 is a Sour IPA hopped with Citra and conditioned on mangos, tangerines, kiwis and Cloister honey. Edge City released this beer for their 2nd Anniversary in April, and the first version of Around The Sun was released last year for their 1st Anniversary. This beer is the perfect balance of tartness, fruitiness, and smoothness. I had this beer 3 times in 24 hours, so I can definitely say I fully endorse it.

Citra Cutting Tiles from Trillium Brewing in Boston, MA

Cutting Tiles is Trillium’s single hop Double IPA series with raw wildflower honey. This Citra version of Cutting Tiles was fantastic! Anything Citra is usually going to go over well, but the addition of the honey sweetened things up a bit and smoothed out the beer. Another win from the folks at Trillium!

Napping Under the Echo Tree from Lua Brewing in Des Moines, IA

Napping Under the Echo Tree is a Fruited Sour with dragon fruit, passionfruit, mango and guava. This was my first time trying anything from Lua and I absolutely loved it! I will definitely be hunting for them on my Midwest road trip this summer!

The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism Chapters 1, 2 & 3 from Root and Branch Brewing in Copiague, NY

I did a side by side of all three chapters of The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism and thoroughly enjoyed each one! Chapter 1: Ignorance is Strength is a Double IPA, Chapter 2: Freedom Is Slavery is a Triple IPA and Chapter 3: War Is Peace is a Double IPA. Each Chapter was pretty similar, but overall Chapter II was my favorite!

CHECK BACK NEXT MONTH TO SEE MY TOP BEERS OF MAY 2022!
CHEERS—ALEXIS

Dunedin, FL

Dunedin is a cute city in the Tampa Bay area of Florida with several breweries and overall beachy vibes.

Dunedin Tips:

• I highly recommend flying in/out of the St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE) if the timing/routes make sense for you. This is a small airport that is easy to navigate and the routes were cheaper than Tampa in my experience.

• While in the area be sure to check out the cute, artsy city of St. Pete as well! Check out my recommendations and tips here. Check out my Tampa recommendations here.

• Dunedin itself doesn’t have a beach, but it is still a great destination in the Tampa Bay area to visit and stay. You can easily make day trips to the surrounding beaches.

  • Clearwater Beach is a popular destination that is about 20 minutes south of Dunedin. The water here is extremely clear and beautiful but it does get quite crowded, especially near the public beach at Pier 60.

    • Badfins is a fun, beachy restaurant in Clearwater Beach with delicious food and a solid beer selection. I would caution to ask about the price of a pint of beer before you order because they have some outrageously expensive selections.

7venth Sun Brewing

Dunedin Breweries:

• 7venth Sun Brewing Company: A good brewery located on the main road of downtown with a wide variety of beers. Their Sours are what I would recommend the most. They have a side patio space and offer fun flight trees.

• Cueni Brewing Co.: A solid brewery with a nice patio space and chill vibes. They offer massive flights in the shape of Florida if you’re sharing with someone!

• HOB Brewing Co.: House of Beer has two locations right across the street from each other. Both offer massive tap lists with average beer. HOB has a large outdoor space and House of Beer is the original, grungier beer bar.

• Dunedin Brewing: An average brewery with a nice patio space and a small food menu. 

• Soggy Bottom Brewery: Arguably a dive bar and not a brewery. They had zero of their own beers on tap when I visited and divey vibes.

Brunch at Hew Parlor & Chophouse

top dunedin recommendations

• Stay at Fenway Hotel: This gorgeous hotel screams luxury at every corner. It is right across the street from the bay and just a few minutes walk from downtown. The building used to be an old radio station and so the hotel has leaned into that theme with smooth jazz playing everywhere and frequent live music. There are beautiful ocean views from the hotel rooms and rooftop bar and a relaxing pool area.

  • Hi-Fi Rooftop Bar: A fantastic spot to watch the sunset over the ocean! This rooftop bar offers killer views, delicious cocktails, and a small food menu. It is a popular spot so if you plan to visit for sunset be sure to arrive early. Located on top of Fenway Hotel.

  • Hew Parlor and Chophouse: The restaurant inside Fenway Hotel with delicious food! You can choose to sit inside or out on the front patio with lovely views. This is much better than your typical hotel restaurant and I highly recommend the brunch in particular! 

  • Edgewater Trail is runs in front of the hotel and spans 3.3 miles along the bay 

• Pineallas Trail: A biking/jogging/walking trail that runs through town. The trail spans 50 miles, from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.

• Wander downtown Dunedin: It is a cute area full of shops, restaurants and bars

• Edgewater Park: A small park located on the marina with a playground and picnic tables

• Cork and Beans: Coffee shop and wine bar in the heart of downtown with a nice patio space  

February 2022

February brought a slue of fantastic beers! I also took trips to Greenville, SC and up to Michigan, so that led to some great beers as well. Fingers crossed we are moving towards warmer weather and more patio beers in the coming weeks!

In no particular order, here were my top beers in February 2022:

Tulip from Fidens Brewing in Colonie, NY

Tulip is a Double IPA brewed with Citra and Simcoe hops. Fidens has really fine-tuned what a Double IPA should be and Tulip is a prime example of this. Smooth, juicy, flavorful, and delicious.

Never Gonnagetit³ from The Veil Brewing in Richmond, VA

This is the triple fruited version the Veil’s mixed berry gose with raspberry, boysenberry, and blackberry. Anything mixed berry is always going to be a win from my perspective and this was delicious. Shout out to Salud Beer Shop for hosting a Veil tap takeover so we can have their RVA goodness in CLT.

Ana from Fair Isle Brewing in Seattle, WA

Ana is a tropical Saison refermented on Ananasnaya Kiwi fruit from Red Cedar Farm in Poulsbo, WA. In my opinion, Saisons are always best enjoyed on a beautiful day sitting outside (preferably also with a cheese board). I have been hyping Fair Isle up since I visited their taproom in July and Ana reminded me of just how good their beers are. If you haven’t jumped on this train yet I highly recommend it!

I Once Left My Mind In A Bed-Stuy Juice Bar Collab from Burial Beer Co. in Asheville, NC and Other Half Brewing in New York, NY

This killer collaboration is mashed with oats and candi sugar, whirlpooled with Incognito hops, and triple dry-hopped with Mosaic, El Dorado, Blanc, Motueka and Riwaka hops. It is another banger from the folks at Burial and Other Half, which should come as no surprise.

All Is Not Lost from Petty Thieves Brewing in Charlotte, NC

All Is Not Lost is a Saison brewed with ceylon tea and lemon peel before being refermented on Asian pear puree. Petty Thieves always has a wide array of beers to choose from but I’ve found their Saisons to be my favorites. All Is Not Lost was superb—the pear flavor was not too overpowering but the perfect balance of fruity and refreshing.

Stress Dream collab from The Eighth State Brewing Company in Greenville, SC and Fidens Brewing in Colonie, NY

Pictured left, Stress Dream is an Imperial Stout with Monteblanco Passion Fruit Washed Coffee Beans from @methodicalcoffee , Toasted Coconut, Strawberry, Papua New Guinea Vanilla, Peruvian Cocoa Nibs, and Caramel. When two of the best in the game team up your expectations are pretty high, but Eighth State & Fidens did not disappoint. I am excited to open the bottle of this that I got soon too!

Crunchtime from HopFly Brewing in Charlotte, NC

Crunchtime is an American Lager from one of Charlotte’s newest breweries, HopFly Brewing. They opened in March 2020 in Rocky Mount, NC and just expanded to CLT last week. If you haven’t already checked out their new space in South End get on it! They do each style of beer well, but I found Crunchtime to be well-rounded and refreshing—perfect for their rooftop patio space.

Dots on the Wall from Birds Fly South Ale Project in Greenville, SC

Dots on the Wall is a Farmhouse Style Table Beer. Did you ever think a Table Beer would make a top beers list? I certainly didn’t, but Dots on the Wall has flipped that idea on its head. This was a fantastic, easy-drinking beer that still had plenty of flavor.

Hopnosis from Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, CA

Hopnosis is a West Coast IPA with Mosaic Cryo hops. This was a superb West Coast IPA from the folks at Firestone Walker who have been honing in on this style of beer for over 15 years. Learn more about Hopnosis in my PorchDrinking Beer Feature linked here!

Curtains Closed from High Branch Brewing in Concord, NC

Curtains Closed is a Hazy Double IPA with oats and Sabro, Citra, Azacca, and Centennial hops. High Branch is best known for their IPAs and Curtains Closed was perhaps the best one that I have had from them.

Ghost Big Sherb from HOMES Brewing in Ann Arbor, MI

Ghost Big Sherb is a Smoothie Sour with milk sugar and double fruited with blackberry, black currant, and plum, then aged on vanilla bean. HOMES always makes delicious beers, particularly their Sours. It was fruity without being overly sweet or thick, and I thoroughly enjoyed every sip.

Check back next month to see my top beers of March 2022! Cheers—Alexis