Summertime Brews

Think there’s nothing better than a cold beer when it’s hot out?  Sip some warm weather brews at these American brewery tours and tastings.

By Bret Stetka for MSN City Guides

After years of internal debate, I’ve come to the conclusion it’s OK to plan a vacation solely around visiting a brewery. There’s nothing wrong with, say, driving six hours to Maine just to sip an Allagash White Ale in its natural habitat … or planning an entire extra day in San Francisco to get the most out of the Anchor Brewing Company. This sort of behavior is fairly common when it comes to things like lobster rolls and sourdough, so why not beer?

For those of you on board with my new revelation, I’ve compiled a list of some of the country’s most worthwhile brewery tours and tastings, but with a seasonal catch. I’ve selected breweries not only offering a great visitor experience, but also producing some of my favorite summer beers. So in the interest of seasonality, I’ve featured one warm weather beer from each brewery, guaranteed to be crisp, refreshing and highly drinkable, without comprising flavor. I’m sure there are plenty more tour-worthy breweries out there filled with hops, malt, boilers and tasty summer brews, so let us know your favorite in the message boards.
___________________________________________________________

More from MSN

• Sound off: Favorite summer beer?
• MSN Green:  Organic summer beers
• 5 overrated cocktails
• 10 things your bartender won't tell you

____________________________________________________________

Allagash Brewing Company – Portland, Maine
Most beer lovers would agree the Belgians make the best beer in the world—a point not lost on Rob Tod, who started Allagash in 1995, and whose Belgian-inspired beers are among the finest produced stateside. At the time, Americans had firmly accepted German, Czech and English-style brews, but general knowledge of Belgian brewing was limited to vague monastic associations (many Belgian beers are brewed by monks) and puzzled queries: “I thought the Belgians were known for waffles?” But these complex, often very strong beers have caught on big, and now lines of eager drinkers form every Monday through Friday to tour Allagash and sample their White, Dubbel and hearty Triple brews.

Summer Beer: Allagash White (5.0%) - This American interpretation of a Belgian-style white—or “wit”—beer is bright, citrusy and has a pleasing bite thanks to the brewer’s own special blend of spices.