Vacation for beer lovers
By Mark Tichenor and Bruce Lish.

Vacation season is about to kick off. Millions of Americans will travel thousands of miles to the same ol’ boring beaches, ho-hum theme parks and passé natural wonders. Yawn.

Instead, we would suggest combining a love of travel with a love of beer and becoming a beer tourist.

That’s right, the indie beer industry is catching on that beer geeks like the stuff so much that they will happily make pilgrimages to their favorite breweries, no matter how distant or preposterously remote. An increasing number of small brewers are forming partnerships with hotels and Bed-and-breakfasts to provide all-inclusive, uh, ‘beercations.’

Unsurprisingly, Dogfish Head, of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, was at beer tourism’s forefront, combining luxury accommodations, outdoor activities and beer into what the brewery calls ‘The 360 Degree Experience.’

Guests stay two nights at the tony Inn at Canal Square. They get a tour of Dogfish Head Brewery, a $50 brewery gift certificate, kayak tour, boat cruise and various other sundries. Of course, they also get two evenings of drinking themselves incoherent on Dogfish Head’s super strong beer.

For the self-reliant beer-loving vacationer, Montreal’s Dieu Du Ciel Brewery rents a four bedroom apartment directly over the brewpub for nights, weekends and longer.

Although lacking the personal amenities of a fancy hotel, it gives visitors a base of operations in one of the most European of North American cities, and easy access to a fantastic brewpub. Just stock the fridge, wash the dishes you use (as the brewery requests), and go.

Later in the year, Cooperstown’s Brewery Ommegang offers the Bed & Brew Package in partnership with the Cooperstown Inn. As well as the full brewery tour (of one of the most beautiful brew houses we’ve ever seen) and VIP dinner and beer reception, vacationers enjoy proximity to the Baseball Hall of Fame and Cooperstown’s rustic, laid-back charm.

Packages don’t begin until October, but a vacation in the fall means explosions of color as the foliage turns, and the snappier weather compliments the strong, warming Belgian ales of Ommegang

These beer getaways do more than offer a great time in a restful setting. They serve as a hands-on demonstration that beer can be part of a life well lived; a small but tangible luxury that adds to one’s quality of life. They also give beer pilgrims a way to get from brewery to bed without weaving crazily all over the road and maybe slamming into a local.

Of course, it’s usually no big deal to book your own hotel near the brewery of your choice, but a bed/breakfast package usually gets you more personal contact with brewery personnel, tasting of experimental or as-yet unreleased beer, and a bunch of free stuff.

You might not even have to steal the hotel bathrobe.

Bruce is a certified beer judge and former commercial brewer. Mark owns a laptop and likes beer. For more on beer, check out the beercraft blog, updated regularly, at http://www.beercraftsite.com. Send your questions, suggestions, or comments to beercraft@rochester.rr.com.