Beercation
Craft beer is more than taste; it’s time and place.
For many craft beer enthusiasts, tasting the beer is only a part of the gratification; the real satisfaction comes in the chase. Destination beer tasting, AKA “beercationing”, has evolved into a lifestyle so much that established breweries have begun expanding their operations to enhance the trend. Some are even experimenting in beer hotels, “Brewtel”s or “Bed and Brew”s.
Dogfish Head founder Sam Catagione said of his inn in Lewes, MD, a historic harbor town, “it’s for people who embrace beach lifestyle.” Guests are encouraged to explore the local quaint
destinations as well as plenty of ways to pass time at the inn. A former school outside of Portland, OR was converted into a 57-room brewtel for McMenamins Brewery. It features a gathering hall, a cinema, and an event center. Enthusiasts from around the country journey here for the vast beer selection and the endless regional events. To assist in reshaping Portland, ME, Shipyard Brewing Co. has teamed up with a developer to renovate one of their existing breweries to house 105 rooms with keg beer room service and a tasting room, offering accessibility to downtown offerings and other local craft breweries.
With the uptick in “beercationing”, these and other craft brewers allow their guests to fully embrace the craft they love, by immersing themselves in the culture that helped shape these unique companies.
This story is brought to you by guest writer Brandon Graska.
Sources: It’s A Brew Life | Bon Appétit (July 18, 2014) | Image: Laura Pittaccio