Local Brews and Local Views

With summer in
high-gear, the opportunity to get out and enjoy the outdoors with a cold
craft beer is upon us. We’ve highlighted five different breweries and
campgrounds that are worth exploring one sip at a
time.

The
Northeast

Because of all
the ports and harbors that line the coast, hundreds of tourists visit this
region every summer. Between the crab and lobster in Maine and the clam
chowder in Boston, beer enthusiasts will love being able to pair their beer
with the delicious food of the Northeast.

What to Drink: Wachusett
Brewery – Westminster, MA 01473
The Wachusett
Brewery has been making distinct and delicious beer for the past 20 years.
With 18 varieties to choose from including a summery blueberry ale and dark
milk stout, no palate will be bored. The brewery tour is incredibly popular,
so reservations are recommended.

Where to Stay: Lamb City
Campground
Located just 19 minutes from the
brewery, Lamb City Campground is bordered by the Johnny Appleseed Trail and
the Mohawk Trail. With ample room for activities, guests can enjoy swimming,
fishing, basketball and volleyball tournaments, biking and hiking trails, and
canoeing.

The South

When in the South, it’s usually all
about country music and BBQ. But with the help of Cigar City Brewing in Tampa
Bay, Florida, a reputation for quality craft beer is developing.

What to Drink: Cigar
City Brewing – Tampa, FL 33607
This brewery
boasts more than 24 varieties of brews including sours, IPAs, lagers and more
poured in a spacious tasting room. The brewery is known for its impeccable
Imperial Stout and its inventive concoctions such as the Right Side Up
Pineapple Cake Lager, Guava Grove Sour Ale, and Chicory Dickory Choc Brown
Ale.

Where to Stay: Bay Bayou RV Resort

Located just 25 minutes from the brewery this
campground is also close to the beaches, and only one mile from Busch Gardens
so guests have ton of options when it comes to choosing vacation
activities.

The
Midwest
The Midwest has a multitude
of breweries to choose from, and being surrounded by lakes, forests, and open
land, makes for great camping opportunities too.

Where to Drink: Summit Brewing
Company – St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
Before tap
rooms were seen as a neighborhood staple, Summit was quietly tucked away in
St. Paul. Now, Summit continues to put out new brews that are considered some
of the most sought after beer in the region.

Where
to Stay: Town and Country
Campground
Located just 20 miles from the
brewery, Town and Country Campground has all the features that guests would
expect while staying in the land of ten-thousand lakes. The campground is
surrounded by stunning biking, hiking and nature trails with plenty of water
activities like swimming and fishing as well. Campers are also a short drive
from the Mall of America, The Minneapolis Zoo, and Mystic Lake
Casino.

The
Mountains
With the Rocky Mountains
as a backdrop, there are tons of places to enjoy a craft beer in this region.
Some of the country’s most well-known breweries can be found here, as well as
hundreds of smaller up and coming options.

What to Drink: New Belgium Brewing
Company – Fort Collins, Colorado 80524
New
Belgium began in 1989 when the founder was still delivering beers on his
bike. The brewery quickly turned into one of the most respected in the
country and now offers free tours of the facility. While Fat Tire is the
flagship beer of New Belgium, there are plenty of other varieties to enjoy
here as well.

Where to Stay: Riverview
Park
Less than 20 minutes from New Belgium’s
brewery, Riverview Park sits in the rolling foothills of the Rocky Mountains
along the Big Thompson River. In its backyard is the gorgeous town of Estes
Park and Big Thompson Canyon where there is a multitude of activities
available from hiking and biking to rock climbing and fly
fishing.

The
West
With dramatic cliffs along the
coasts and an abundance of lush forests, its easy to find somewhere to
explore when visiting the west coast. And for craft beer lovers, this region
is jam-packed with many of the best breweries in the country.

What to Drink: Elysian
Brewing Company – Seattle, WA 98108
Elysian
Brewing Company has been brewing since 1996 when it opened in Seattle’s
Capitol Hill neighborhood. The company now operates four area restaurants as
well as its full production brewery where you can taste their innovative
beers like the hoppy Star Dust IPA.

Where to Stay:
Trailer
Inns of Bellevue
Take a quick 20 minute drive
from the brewery to find Trailer Inns of Bellevue, the perfect place to
explore the scenery of the stunning Pacific Northwest. Enjoy views of the
Olympic and Cascade Mountains and the inspiring 14,410- foot Mt. Rainier
while getting active with options that include fishing, rafting, horseback
riding and swimming.