Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BEST MICROBREWERIES
Microbreweries have exploded in popularity, and you'll never be far from a finely
crafted pint. Careful though: craft beers can be stronger than mass-produced
brands. Look for a brewery's 'session beer' if you want a lower alcohol content.
Surprising towns such as Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Asheville, North Carolina,
have become particularly famed for their suds. And for the record: Vermont boasts
the most microbreweries per capita. As you travel around the region, keep an eye
out for the following:
DC B
C Brau (
www.dcbrau.com
; 3178B Bladensburg Rd) In Washington, DC.
TThree Flo
e Floydds (
www.3floyds.com
) In Munster, IN.
MMagic Ha
ic Hat B
t Brewery (
Click here
)
In Burlington, VT.
Bell'
s Brewery (
www.bellsbeer.com
)
In Kalamazoo, MI.
Fulls
ell's B
ullsteam B
m Brewery (
Click here
)
In Durham NC.
Wine
About 20% of Americans drink wine on a regular basis. The West Coast states, predom-
inately California, produce the majority of domestic vino. In the East, New York yields
the most, enough to rank fourth nationwide when gauged by number of producers. The
Finger Lakes region is the hot spot, awash in Riesling grapes and prime for sipping a
good Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer or ice wine. Virginia is the fifth-biggest wine-produ-
cing state, with 192 vineyards within its borders, many located in the pretty hills around
Charlottesville. Particularly notable is the Virginia Viognier, an exotic white grape.
Michigan's west coast offers another vine-striped landscape; its winemakers are known
for everything from lush Cabernet Franc to high-end sparkling wines. All of these bucol-
ic regions have spawned entire industries of sip-tripping and bed-and-breakfast tourism.
In general, wine isn't cheap in the US, as it's considered a luxury rather than a staple
(in contrast to some European countries). But it's possible to procure a perfectly drink-
able bottle of American wine at a liquor or wine shop for around $10 to $12.
Spirits
The East is the cradle of the good stuff. Jack Daniels remains the most well-known brand
of American whiskey around the world, and is also the oldest continually operating US
distillery, going strong in Lynchburg, Tennessee, since 1870. Bourbon, made from corn,
is the nation's only native spirit. Kentucky produces 95% of the world supply, most of
