What's the Best Place for a Beer Vacation?

California.

Just rent a car and start in San Diego and head north along the coast.

 

All depends on what you want.. 10 days in August Vermont was a joy for me.

http://imbibehour.blogspot.com/2015/10/vermont-is-scenic-paradise-beer-is-not.html

 

I vote for Vermont in the summer or fall. It's beautiful and pretty easy. You can cross Lake Champlain and spend time in the Adirondacks or head to Montreal or Maine. Very scenic with plenty of great beer offerings and lots of things to see and do.

 

Richmond VA would be a good option.

 

Vt, everyday.

 

Since you seem to be looking at Winter time, think about the possibility of traveling down through Virginia's Shanendoah Valley, stopping at a few places on the way, and winding up for a few days in Asheville NC.

 

A second vote for Asheville considering your location and time constraints.

 

Perhaps NYC then.

 

Portland, Maine, or Asheville, NC have worked for us. Tough decision, but Portland is closer. Can't go wrong with either choice as far as beer goes.

 

Just got back from my dream craft beer vacation with my dad. Growing up we would take a lot of road trips, but I am getting married and what better way to do one last major hurrah!

Flew into Burlington, VT and rented a one way car rental. Did Foam, HF, Burlington brewing company, and Alchemist. Special nod to Hen of the Woods, Prohibition pig, and Blackback pub for excellent dining experiences. Headed up to Maine for Bissell, Maine brewing, Allagash, foundation, and battery steele. Nice detour in Acadia. Then headed down to NH, followed by a quick detour to Massachusetts for Tree House and Trillium. Armsby abbey by far has the best Mac and Cheese on the planet.

Then we drove back to Arizona... hitting side project among many others along the way!

 

Was going to suggest Bend, but it's probably not a good fit for your parameters.

 

At that time of the year and with a 1-2 day time horizon, your options are pretty limited. Asheville is a great place, but dead in January. All the good New England places will be cold, and have possible snow issues. Richmond would be OK, but the weather is still going to be spotty (or great, you never know what you'll get).

Maybe come up with a few plans and play it by the weather once you get closer? The beer scene near Pittsburg (Brew Gentlemen) is good, and there's always NYC for beer and more (at very high prices).

Ideally, at this time of the year, you would go to San Diego.

 

Boston. Trillium, Tree House, Jack’s Abbey.
The Rhode Island breweries (Proclamation, Tilted Barn, Long Live) are within driving distance.


Portland, Maine. Too many to list.

I’m a golfer and I found a ton of craft beer in Saint Andrews, Scotland.

 

As always I'm going to say Colorado. Estes park has some great taprooms now, and a couple nights by the fire at the Stanley never hurt anyone. Well, except the Torrence family.

 

The entire economy of northern New England is based upon hoovering tourist dollars northward up the east coast's interstates and, since the majority of the breweries north of 89 are relatively near to ski areas, unless you're traveling during an actual blizzard, you will find the highways cleared, salted, sanded, covered with red carpeting and lined with cheering peasants dispensing warm mittens and cocoa. The possible exception being Hill Farmstead in Greensboro which really isn't near anything in particular and is inhabited by surly, dung-flinging peasants.