I want to share my adventures with the world, focusing on the venues I believe are the best. I have developed a loose criteria for what I consider the “best” venues over the years.  I have found that it has to be loose, otherwise you will be disappointed quickly.

• BEER: I don’t focus as much on the beer alone, even though it is a big part of my criteria of course. There are plenty of blogs, websites, apps, etc. that focus on just the beers.  Personally I have used both Beer Advocate and Untpped.  So unless it a special release I am going to or a ridiculously good beer I won’t go into too much detail there.  Variety of the beer is key too, I don’t like just trying a bunch of IPAs or stouts.  I like variety.  I will say too, bad beer can ruin the adventure as well.
• ATMOSHPERE: Atmosphere is key, a great atmosphere can make or break the adventure. You can have the best beer in the world, and it can be completely ruined by a poor atmosphere.
• FOOD: Food is important too, but this is a loose criteria for sure. Not all breweries serve food, some are just taprooms, some have food trucks and snacks available.  So in the end it just helps.  Having great food to pair up with the beer is huge bonus.
• CUSTOMER SERVICE: This one is important, in fact it might be the only ridged criteria I have.  Everyone wants to be treated well when out, no one in the world says “Lets go have a terrible time at that brewery”.  No, you want good or better service.  Thankfully, bad customer service is rare, but I have less than desirable service in the past.  In fact, most of those places are gone now, out of business.  (I wonder why?)
• KID FRIENDLY: Now this is an interesting concept that is new to the craft beer scene from my observations.  A lot of tap houses years ago had signs that said, “Adult Only” or “21+ Only”.  Which is of course 100% understandable, it’s a brewery that serves alcohol!  So yes, I understand that kids will not always be allowed, but I am a dad, so being able to swing into a brewery in my travels with the wife and kids is something I look for.  I think most breweries that are just tap houses have adapted by offering locally made sodas, juices, snacks, games, or have food trucks.  Thus, making them “kid friendly”.
• THE PEOPLE: People can most definitely make or break the entire experience. Friendly staff is more than just customer services, it’s how they interact with you and others.  How were the crowds around the place?  Were they rowdy drunks, getting into fights, or were people just having fun and socializing with others?  People is a big influence on my decision.
• PET FRIENDLY: This is also another interesting concept. Although personally, in the past I have not brought a pet with me to a brewery, I now have a dog that is behaved and trained well enough that I can bring her on some ventures.  So What I look for with other people’s pets or my own are the animals well behaved or are they a pain?  Usually its not an issue, but if you are pet friendly and I find it takes away from my experience, then it’s not going to go well with me.  Legitimate service animals are an obvious exception, and they are trained appropriately to function in large crowds and are never a problem.
• LOCATION: Location, Location, Location. It has been said before about many places, not just craft breweries.  Is it easy to find?  Is it in a safe area? Is there parking or local transportation to the area?  Is there a scenic view?  Is it a historic location?  These are just a few things that play into what I consider to be the best.
• THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE: I take all the above into consideration and make my decision from there.  I don’t have a checklist I write on, I just go over it all in my head and go from there.  Basically, it comes down to did have I have great time or no.

So there it is. I am going to share my best craft beer adventures with you and the rest of the world. I will also share some bad experiences and honorable mentions. I have drawn inspiration from TV shows, Books, other blogs, Facebook, Instagram, and my own adventures. I look forward to sharing these experiences with you and hope that it inspires you to have your own adventures. I remind you to please drink responsibly and legally. I want to see you out on your adventures, not the in the back of an ambulance with me looking over you. So enjoy and get out there and have an adventure and try new things.