| "Beer is the mother of us all." | | | | Yeungling, the grandfather of all American breweries. |
| The first decision when traveling by beer is simple. If | | | | Tours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. and 1:30 |
| you're serious, you want to spend more time | | | | p.m. It's easy to find. Everyone in Pottsville knows |
| sampling beer than traveling. Unless you have | | | | where it is. |
| unlimited time and money you should focus on a | | | | The next big decision is - sampling or pub-crawl? You |
| single beer-friendly area for your jaunt. A good place | | | | really won't have time for both, so let's discuss |
| to start is Pennsylvania, home of America's oldest | | | | sampling. Most great breweries started as |
| brewery, Yeungling. You can narrow that down to | | | | microbreweries and there are plenty in the |
| the exceedingly beer-friendly and | | | | Philadelphia area - so I would suggest a microbrewery |
| Constitutionally-historical Philadelphia area. You can bet | | | | tour. You get to sample many fine home brews, at a |
| that when they planned the Declaration of | | | | fair price, and there is usually good food. Pennsylvania |
| Independence, it was over a few tankards of fine | | | | has some really beer-friendly food, such as potato |
| ale. By historical evidence, the American Revolution | | | | pancakes and smoked kielbasa. |
| started in pubs. If you enjoy freedom, you owe it to | | | | Here's a good microbrewery to start with, with high |
| beer. | | | | marks from beer connoisseurs: The Victory Brewing |
| This area also has cheap cab fares in comparison to | | | | Company, 420 Acorn Lane, Downington, PA. Good |
| many major Northeastern cities, and let's face it; if | | | | food, lots of taps, a high-speed growler-filler, and 24 |
| you plan to sample more than a few brews at every | | | | varieties of home-brew. Also, great burgers. |
| stop, it's best not to drive in a strange city. They | | | | From there, you can go to another great |
| also have excellent local buses, if you take the time | | | | microbrewery: Rock Bottom Brewery, 160 North |
| to get schedules, a map, and figure things out ahead | | | | Gulph Road, King Of Prussia, PA. They have the |
| of time. (Rule number one - don't try to figure out a | | | | freshest beer in the area, brewed and delivered |
| strange bus system after you've had a few.) There | | | | straight to the tap, and an excellent restaurant with a |
| is also good Greyhound bus service to the many | | | | club atmosphere. Finally, you can find other area |
| small towns that host some of the best | | | | microbreweries at |
| microbreweries. Time between destinations is very | | | | After all of this fine microbrew, you might become |
| short, and you can nap on the bus. However, if you | | | | jaded and want to try brewing your own. Head on |
| can hold your beer and prefer to drive, Dollar | | | | over to Keystone Homebrew Supply at 779 |
| Rent-a-Car of Pennsylvania is your best bet. Save on | | | | Bethlehem Pike, Montgomeryville, PA, to get |
| car rental and you can buy more fine beers to take | | | | comprehensive supplies and good advice from |
| home. | | | | friendly people. Then you can get a beer and good |
| If you have time, at the end of your tour, I would | | | | meal right next door at Bennigan's, at 680 Bethlehem |
| suggest a side-trip by bus to Pottsville, PA, home of | | | | Pike. |
