Highway trippin’ is again! The seashores alongside the Gulf Coast are the vacation spot of selection for tens of millions of weary vacationers. Interstate 65 is among the foremost routes to get there, starting simply south of Chicago and winding right down to Cell, Alabama. Alongside the way in which are some wonderful craft beer cities, cities and craft breweries to quench your thirst as you cease for the night time.
First Cease: Indianapolis, IN: Metazoa Brewing Co.
“’Metazoa’ is the scientific phrase referring to the entire animal kingdom,” explains Sarah Silcox, Metazoa Brewing Co. Advertising and Occasions Supervisor. “Since day one we‘ve donated 5% of our income to animal and wildlife organizations to present again to the planet that provides us beer. Drink beer. Assist animals.”
Metazoa is nestled within the coronary heart of downtown Indianapolis with 18+beers on faucet and a canine park on-site. Whereas our four-legged mates are at all times welcome, one factor that does set Metazoa aside is their brewery is ages 21+ solely.
“Our greatest-seller is usually our home IPA known as Hoppopotamus that includes a brilliant, citrus aroma from Citra and Mosaic hops balanced by a lightweight sweetness from Vienna malt,” says Silcox.
Metazoa is experimenting with some seasonal fruit beers this summer season.
“Flaming Juice (Cherry Blonde Ale) and Blueberry Bandit (Blueberry Wheat Beer) together with the debut of our new Pander Bear laborious seltzer sequence and our rotating DDH Hoppopotamus sequence that includes double dry-hopped variations of our home IPA, Hoppopotamus,” says Silcox.
Metazoa’s brewing philosophy is all about balanace. From conventional ales to quirky experiement types, they deal with balanced taste.
Second Cease: Louisville, KY: Monnik Beer Co.
Brian Holton was working as an emergency room nurse three days every week when he determined he needed to make it massive with a brewery. He opened up Monnik in 2011.
“That little spot opened in 2011 and was profitable so I appeared to open one other larger spot in Louisville. My Dutch contractor good friend, Ian, got here on board as a accomplice and we opened our brewpub, Monnik Beer Co., in Louisville in November 2015,” Holton advised craftbeer.com.
Holton says Monnik’s beer is a mixture of basic types and new American creations and their meals is regionally sourced.
“The summer season beers you have to do that yr are each session ales. Ginger Saison has been round for the reason that starting and is a brilliant and refreshing tackle a basic type. We additionally could have a low-cal session ale popping out in July known as Nite Life Lite. Coming in at 4.6% ABV and solely 100 energy, it’s a novel tackle a low-calorie beer in that it’s calmly dry hopped and is 100% malted barley.”
Saisons have at all times been widespread at Monnik, which often has a number of accessible at any given time.
“Our largest vendor has at all times been our flagship IPA, however recently we’ve been promoting a ton of Italian Disco, our Italian pilsner.”
Monnik additionally has a brand new location in New Albany, Indiana.
Third Cease: Elizabethtown, KY: Flywheel Brewing
“We’re not in contrast to most small breweries,” stated Aaron Hawkins, co-owner of Flywheel Brewing in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. “We began as three homebrewers with a ardour (for) beer who needed to deliver that keenness to our hometown that desperately wanted one thing craft that promoted a accountable beer tradition.”
The spinning wheel, or flywheel, impressed the identify of the brewery.
“From printing presses to the mechanics of producing, the flywheel fostered our mind and enabled our trade,” explains Hawkins. “We honor that easy machine and easier time by bringing brewing again to the heartland of Kentucky. We imagine within the energy of a great beer to interrupt down social boundaries, and {that a} group wants a calming area the place neighbors can collect to type bonds and lasting friendships.”
Flywheel’s taproom has a completely useful letter press from the early 1900s. They use it to print promotional supplies and different gadgets.
Flywheel is thought for its IPA’s but additionally its cream ale.
“We pitched a Belgian yeast pressure in a cream ale to present it a bit totally different style and folks adore it,” says Hawkins. “We name it Decapitated Monkey it’s by far been our greatest vendor.”
Their summer season seasonal is a bitter ale known as Updog. Made with dragonfruit, natural rose petal and guave bitter, Hawkins stated it’s a wonderfully balanced mix of tart.
Fourth Cease: Nashville, TN: Jackalope Brewing Co.
Jackalope is among the first feminine based breweries in America. Based by Bailey Spaulding and Robyn Virball, it’s been brewing since 2011. Steve Wright joined shortly after that as President and now enterprise accomplice.
Jackalope’s trademark beer is Bearwalker, a maple brown ale.
“It was impressed by Bailey’s roots in Vermont,” explains Lisa Peterson, Jackalope’s Advertising Director. “Pure maple syrup is infused throughout the conditioning section and is noticeable from begin to end. Chocolate malts add roasted notes to the flavour and aroma. Additionally it is extra extremely hopped than most browns to create a balanced, but complicated brew.”
Thunder Ann American Pale Ale grew to become the primary Jackalope beer to be canned in 2013. In actual fact, it was the primary beer to be canned of any Nashville craft brewery.
“Thunder Ann is called after Davy Crockett’s legendary spouse – Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett, and is brewed with biscuit and honey malts that complement the citrusy American hops,” explains Peterson.
In case your street journey takes you thru Nashville this summer season or fall, you’ll be able to get pleasure from Lovebird. It’s a strawberry raspberry wheat beer that’s accessible by October.
Jackalope outgrew its authentic brewery in 2018 and opened a brand new location in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. Affectionately known as “The Ranch,” it’s open Wednesday to Sunday and has a non-public occasions area in addition to a dog-friendly patio.
Fifth Cease: Decatur, AL: Cross-Eyed Owl Brewing Co.
Based by the Atwood household in 2018, Cross-Eyed Owl Brewing Firm’s identify is a nod to British beer tradition and their method for naming pubs like The White Lion, The Drunken Duck or The Inexperienced Harpy.
“There are a number of members of the Atwood family who’re in love with owls, in order that a part of the identify was a simple selection,” explains Shane Sieweke, who works gross sales on the brewery. “’Cross Eyed’ appeared a great match to present us the enjoyable, whimsical, light-hearted identify we have been on the lookout for.”
Cross-Eyed Owl started as a house brew undertaking. Erin Atwood hosted a BBQ and a Brew Day for her husband, Trey’s, birthday.
“After a number of brew periods, Trey grew to become hooked on his newfound interest,” stated Sieweke. “A couple of years later, Trey was identified with colon most cancers. Throughout his chemo remedy, as Trey mirrored on the shortness of life he advised Erin he needed to begin a brewery to essentially do one thing with life for his or her household.”
Trey survived his bout with colon most cancers and is doing properly.
Cross-Eyed Owl’s Cream Ale is their top-selling beer. Additionally they have a well-liked Berliner Weiss and summer season beer, Sassymouth. However beer’s not the one factor they promote.
“Not like every other native brewery, we make craft soda,” explains Sieweke. “Within the faucet room, we at all times provide 4 of our rotational beers. This is among the household pleasant issues we provide. We additionally make shandies as a mix of our soda and beer.”
Sixth Cease: Cell, AL: Braided River
Braided River has a number of year-round beers together with Hoppy by Nature, Cling Out and Beer Right here Now.
Barely a yr previous, Braided River goals to provide drinkable, refreshing beer that works with the Gulf Coast life-style.
“The time period ‘braided river’ describes the way in which a number of rivers come collectively within the Delta,” explains David Nelson, founding father of Braided River. “They decelerate, unfold out, and criss-cross with each other, earlier than making their strategy to the Bay. We all know life is at its finest after we decelerate and join with each other. By brewing nice beer, we offer some extent of connection, bringing individuals collectively to savor life’s moments and have a good time the pure world in Cell’s yard.”
Braided River’s facility is in downtown Cell in an historic brick constructing with enormous home windows. The downtown is well walkable and the brewery retains a number of beer on draft year-round.
“We do a run of restricted launch beers each 3-4 weeks that present a variety of types we’re thinking about,” says Nelson. “We’ve just lately launched each a hazy IPA with mango and a New Zealand hopped pilsner. Coming this fall we’ll have a white stout and the return of our bitter brown ale with raspberries.”
When you hit the tip of Interstate 65, you’ll be able to go east in the direction of Panama Metropolis or west in the direction of the seashore of Mississippi and the joy of New Orleans. No matter which course you select, you’ll be able to proceed your travels with some nice cities, stops and craft breweries in both course.
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