The BeerCast hits the road…?

For years it’s been an occasional subject of discussion whenever the BeerCasters gather in the pub. The road trip. Long passed into the realm of fable, a beer lover’s holiday of epic proportions. The west coast of America seems like the obvious place – the USA being the home of the road trip (although the first long car-based journey took place in Germany when the wife of Karl Benz drove this experimental car 66 miles at a dizzying 10mph). I doubt she stopped off for a flight of local IPA on route, however. Although, the Germans do love their beer, of course.

San Francisco has some cracking brewpubs, and as BeerCaster Shovels used to live there, it seems like the obvious place to start. 21st Amendment has to be on the itinerary, at the time of writing their current tap list has nine beers on, with all but one over 5.5%abv. Clearly, public transport is the only option – a luxury probably not available halfway up the coast. Designated drivers need to be decided upon well in advance once the trip begins in earnest. So after touring Anchor and enjoying the rest of San Fran’s pubs…where next?

Lagunitas? Russian River? Firestone Walker? Bear Republic? Anderson Valley? North Coast? Full Sail? Deschutes? Rogue? BridgePort? Ninkasi? Widmer Brothers? Caldera?

I don’t think we’re going to get past Portland…