Spirit-Inspired Journeys!
Beer, Ale, Lager, Stout and More
Recent
years have ushered in a golden age for beer drinkers in the U.S. With
microbreweries and craft brewing companies popping up all around the
country, we have more choices and more varieties of freshly brewed
drinks than ever. (Freshness is vital -- down with "skunky" imports!)
Travel & Leisure Magazine recently reported on "America's Best Beer Cities", and the top rated in the U.S.... Portland, Oregon! From European-sty le farmhouse beers, to "nano-breweries" that make batches of fewer than 4 barrels (quaff it while you can!) and even beer-flavored ice cream... the "City of Roses" is positively abloom with great breweries.
Rounding out the top 5 are Denver, Portland, Maine, Seattle, and -- get this -- Kansas City!
If your travels take you across the pond, you may want to make your first stop "the old sod". I reland is known for its beers, ales, lagers and stouts -- most famously that "meal in a bottle", Guinness. But Ireland offers so much more: Harp Lager, Kilkenny
Irish Cream Ale, Murphy's Irish Red... You can sample a different brew
every night for weeks, and tour Ireland from the comfort of your pub
stool.
Of
course, once you cross over to The Continent, your choices expand
exponentially. Germany, Belgium, The Czech Republic... every country in
Europe has its own unique brews and breweries. (Indeed, every country
in the world -- Some of the best brews can be found in China, Japan,
Mexico...) Long story short, if you're a beer lover like me, you'll
travel a long way before running short of great travel choices.
Wine
 You know what? I'm just going to skip wine. There are so many wine tasting cruises, groups, tours, clubs and more...
But let me make one point about "going to the source": Beaujolais season is almost here, and how we all love that fresh, crisp, fruity new wine. Accent on "new"! Because if you're French you know that, by the time this autumn's Beaujolais Nouveau reaches American shores, it's already too old to drink!
Unlike beer and Beaujolais Nouveau, some things improve with age. Such as...
Scotch
And when I say Scotch, I mean single-malt Scotch. Because as far as I'm concerned, there is no other Scotch. Sure it's just my opinion -- but hey, it's my blog! And if you want to taste great Scotch, you just gotta go to Scotland.
Follow
in the footsteps of some of my recent clients who made the tour this
summer. Head straight to Campbeltown, one of the handful of areas in
Scotland categorized as a distinct whisky producing region, and known as "the whisky capital of the world". Swing by the Tullibardine distillery, and you'll pass close by the Glengoyne
distillery as well. Often described as Scotland's most beautiful
distillery, Glengoyne has been turning out its wondrous water of life
for more than 200 years.
Nearby are Springbank and Glengyre, not to be missed, before you head to Islay and the source  of my favorite single malt in the world, Laphroaig. Ah, Laphroaig! With each sip you can
taste the smoky peat fire as it warms you through and through.
Truth is, there are so many great distilleries in Scotland, you would need a month of Sun days to visit them all. And while you're there, you'd be smart to secure the services of my friend Bill Hill. This Edinburgh tour guide knows more about Scotland than most Scotsmen have forgotten. And he pours a mean glass of whisky to boot! So when you go, take your time, relax, drink smartly, and enjoy one of the great pleasures of The Old World.
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So there you go! What better excuse to hit the road than "Hey -- I'm thirsty!!"
Until next week!
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