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Why has it taken me so long to find my way to Wander Brewing?! Heck if I know. Apparently, for the year that I’ve been here, my friends and acquaintances forgot to mention that it’s an awesome place. Wander Brewing feels like a real brewery. That may sound funny since it obviously is a brewery. What I mean is that it has a different feel than many other local breweries. The brew hall is located in a large historic downtown building. It offers many indoor and outdoor seating options. My taste buds have only just recently begun to mature enough to enjoy beer. I can’t recall which beers I had tried, but they were delicious. I’m transitioning from a “cider only” drinker to beer by way of sour beer. Wander has a few great sour beer options on tap. I very much appreciate Wander’s location. It’s nice not having to be right downtown. Sometimes I’m just not in the mood for the hustle and bustle. There is somewhat limited immediate parking. A large bike rack is available. Wander doesn’t have a kitchen, but a rotating schedule of food trucks provides food daily.

• Moonlight Brewing Company – Menu with Prices – 3350 Coffey Ln Suite A & D, Santa Rosa
• Zack?s Brewing Company – Menu with Prices – 712 Fulton St, Fresno
• American Solera SOBO – Menu with Prices – 108 E 18th St, Tulsa
• Badger State Brewing Company – Menu with Prices – 990 Tony Canadeo Run, Green Bay
• Orchestrated Minds Brewing – Menu with Prices – 803 NW 1st St, Fort Lauderdale
• Larder of East End – Menu with Prices – 147 Julius St, Pittsburgh
• Pretentious Beer Co – Menu with Prices – 131 S Central St, Knoxville
• Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery – Menu with Prices – 520 2nd St SE, Charlottesville
• Prost Brewing Co. & Biergarten – Fort Collins – Menu with Prices – 321 Old Firehouse Alley, Fort Collins
• West Sixth Brewing – Menu with Prices – 501 W 6th St #100, Lexington
• Strangeways Brewing – Menu with Prices – 2277A Dabney Rd, Richmond
• Maxline Brewing – Menu with Prices – 2724 McClelland Dr #190, Fort Collins

Moonlight Brewing Company – Menu with Prices – 3350 Coffey Ln Suite A & D, Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa is a great place to live or visit if you love craft beer. The city is home to a large number of breweries, many of which have been around for only a short time. But there is one granddaddy in the bunch, and that brewery is Moonlight Brewing.I visited Moonlight Brewing in support of my beer blog, Great Beer Now. I had heard about the age of the brewery, which dates back about 25 years, and wondered what to expect. With that many years of experience, expectations are usually high, since the assumption is that years of experience equals better product, stronger quality control, etc.Moonlight Brewing, it turns out, does know a thing or two about great beer. I tried the beers that were on tap at the time and liked all of them, but I was particularly drawn to the dark lager. There are about six to eight beers available at any given time and the expertise certainly shows in each sip.Moonlight Brewing is located in a warehouse district and it features a small, front space where you can walk up to the bar and order your beer. The back area contains seats and it is situated right next to the brewhouse, for an intimate, industrial experience. This is a little different than most other breweries, but itâ??s also very non- pretentious and low key, two traits that most beer lovers will appreciate. With its appearance, Moonlight Brewing isnâ??t going to win any accolades for eye- pleasing aesthetics, but the beauty at Moonlight Brewing is in the beer and with more than a quarter- century of experience, Moonlight brewing has proven that they know a thing or two about production of quality brew. Check them out, and experience the difference that experience makes.

Zack?s Brewing Company – Menu with Prices – 712 Fulton St, Fresno

We heard about Zack’s Brewing on the Perfect Pour Podcast so we decided to check it out. The Brewery, the owners and the beer are all amazing!! The brewery is very comfortable and spacious. Kids and dogs are welcome. From the minute we walked in we were greeted by the sweetest Security Guard of all time!! Then, ordering was a relaxed, no rushed feeling. Owners Mr. And Mrs. Zack were incredibly friendly and helpful to point out beers that you might want to try. We had a flight of 4 beers and every one of them was delicious and flavorful. The IPA’s were spot on and there was a nice variety of beers we’d never heard of or tried before. My fave was Mr. Tumnus, a goat cheese brown ale. But everything we tried tasted unique and amazing. We were lucky enough to try their special beer Chocotaso, a chocolate coffee stout, like a rich desert in a beer glass. For Hazy fans, my husband really liked, It’s ok, Juicy. And for Sour beer lovers, Can Haz Razz, was refreshingly light and very tasty. Needless, to say, we loved everything about Zack’s and left with quite a few of their 8$ 16oz. Crowlers to take and share with fellow beer enthusiasts. We truly had such a memorable, fun evening. Honestly, a gem brewery in Fresno. We can’t wait til the next time we come through Fresno to visit again!!

American Solera SOBO – Menu with Prices – 108 E 18th St, Tulsa

Amazing vibes and even better beers, this brewery has some next level beers that will knock your socks off. Iâ??m really not an â??IPA personâ? but Austin, one of the employees, gave me a tester of a few of their beers on tap and I actually ended up liking one of their IPAs called James…something. I donâ??t remember the full name, but I do know that even though my beer taste is somewhere closer to a Coors Light, these guys have some TASTY beers on tap that I really liked. If youâ??re in downtown and need to get away from all the noise, American Solera should be your next brewery stop in Tulsa.

Badger State Brewing Company – Menu with Prices – 990 Tony Canadeo Run, Green Bay

Badger State Brewing Company has been around since 2013, and already, they have taken up the number one spot for local breweries in the Green Bay area. When there are six total breweries in the immediate Green Bay area, two of them being historical institutions (Titletown Brewing and Hinterland Brewery) and the others relatively new up-and-comers, it’s important for Badger State to continue brewing exceptional beer. The Good: Several things immediately stand out at Badger State. First and foremost, the list of options. There are several standard options that Badger State offers year round, all varying in style and flavor. Where Badger State really shines are with their pilot series, limited release, and seasonal brews. To my knowledge, these are only available in the taproom, so in order to try out some of their best options, you’ll need to visit. They also have guest taps from other independent breweries, and several non-alcoholic options. Another great aspect of Badger State is the physical location. It is located a few blocks from Lambeau Field, so getting to and from the brewery is a breeze. The building itself is huge! There is a wonderful outdoor beer garden where they host a variety of live music, or just as a place to hang out in the nice weather (plus, dogs are welcome!). The taproom is a decent size with plenty of table seating and bar space. Down the hall from the tap room is a small gift shop, great for any beer lover in your life. Finally, there is the event space. I’m not sure on the exact numbers, but it is BIG and BEAUTIFUL. If you are looking for a wedding, conference, or fundraising venue, I would highly recommend you contact their staff and book the space. They are also large supporters of other local businesses and host a multitude of events throughout the year. The Bad: There is only one unfortunate issue I have with Badger State, but it is easily overlooked: Unlike a few other breweries in the area, they do not serve food. It’s incredibly annoying after having a few beers and finding yourself hungry. They serve giant pretzels in the tap room, but that’s it. HOWEVER, it is important to note, there are options. Badger State allows carry-ins for food, encourages folks to use delivery services, and (weather permitting) there is almost always some sort of food truck(s) out front waiting for hungry customers. As they don’t have to balance a restaurant and brewery, they can focus solely on brewing great beers (which they do). The Ugly: It is always great to see businesses succeed, and one measure of that is how busy the brewery is. Badger State has ample space for beer lovers, but the taproom and beer garden can fill up quickly. If you don’t like large crowds, I recommend avoiding Badger State on event days, or weekends as it gets loud and packed. Finally, I’m not sure how often this occurs, but when we went in for our brewery tour, there were quite a few small children in the tap room. I assumed that the tap room would be 21+, but it appears this is not necessarily the case.

Orchestrated Minds Brewing – Menu with Prices – 803 NW 1st St, Fort Lauderdale

Move over Ft Lauderdale, there’s a new brewery in town and if you like IPAs, Sours, Pilsners or even a Porter, you may have to visit Orchestrated Minds. It is not your typical brew house. It is housed in a loading dock kind of warehouse. The entrance is right across from CubeSmart. It is small and quaint, there literally is a bar and then seating area. There’s a rest room and a water cooler. Two bar tenders and a bunch of thirsty patrons. You can tell it’s a new spot because it still has that new spot smell. I first learned about Orchestrated Minds at another brewery’s first anniversary. There is a lot of great beer in the Ft Lauderdale area. More than is to be expected. Makes me happy to have so many great beer options. And…. Orchestrated Minds is definitely a great beer option. The beers: Little Miss Perfect… she is a perfect sour Whippin’ That Work… not my favorite Auckland to Boise… decent, don’t taste it, you have to atleast do a half poor to appreciate it, it grows on you. There were four musketeers right? This is the STAR of the show… by far the best…. every IPA lover will love this one. Cosmic Conversation… Its a Pale Ale… starts a little sour and finishes smoother. It is a beer drinker’s beer. And, got to meet the brewer/owner, … His passion will make you love his beer. All in all, it’s a new brewery and has a lot of potential. Come visit it and find a beer you like.

Larder of East End – Menu with Prices – 147 Julius St, Pittsburgh

Pittsburghâ??s beer scene is impressive and I was quite pleased with the different breweries I experienced when I visited the city in support of my Great Beer Now beer blog. Each had its own appeals and one of many memorable breweries I visited was East End Brewing.At East End Brewing, guests are treated to about 14 different beers on tap. I tried many of them and rated the Green Giant IPA and Rescueberry Shake, a milkshake IPA, as my three favorites. They put a good deal of effort into brewing the finest beer possible and the craftsmanship shows in every serving.East End Brewing features a large taproom with assorted seating, a pinball machine, and other extras. They have outdoor picnic tables for use when the weather is favorable and itâ??s common to find food trucks on site and itâ??s easy to find parking. Oh, and if you want beer to go, you can get a growler of draft beer or grab packaged beer from the fridge. They are kid and dog friendly, too. East End Brewing is a cool place to hang out and it once again proves something that is obvious when you visit: Pittsburghâ??s craft beer scene is on the rise, and it can now easily compete with some of the best beer cities in the nation. So be sure to swing by East End Brewing when you visit Pittsburgh. Youâ??ll be glad you did.

Pretentious Beer Co – Menu with Prices – 131 S Central St, Knoxville

Matt had already established a barometer of quality with Pretentious Glass Co. next door. So when he opened the brewery side, the bar was pretty high…pun unintended. The bar started out as a beer bar, showcasing beer from some of the best breweries in the city and region. Even after they started brewing their own beer, the continued that tradition, sharing their beer selection. Which shows that their business truly does support others. The beer. First off, the beer is tasty and delicious. They tend towards lighters beers (IPAs, Goes, etc) as opposed to Stouts, Porters. I know that can be seasonal, but they still tend more that way. Which isn’t bad, just good to know going in. Those lighter beers are crisp! They also pair their beers to the appropriate beer glass in a way unlike any others…because they literally make the glasses! I also love seeing the glass handles around town at other bars and breweries. It’s an easy signifier of quality!

Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery – Menu with Prices – 520 2nd St SE, Charlottesville

Popular brewery and restaurant with a large indoor space and ample outdoor seating and plenty of TVs. We stayed near here in Belmont and I swear this place was hopping every hour of the day! We had to see what it was all about, so we stopped by on a Sunday around 6PM before we left. There were tons of people there with families, friends, children, dogs, etc. We sat outside under the string lights at a table, first come first serve. There is an outdoor bar with large TVs that you can see from your seats. Toys and a play area for kids. Dogs welcome. Three Notch’d has gotten pretty popular recently, so I did have their passionfruit sour before, but the draft was even better! This is a great beer that is fruity but not overwhelming. We also got a watermelon sour, which is equally delicious. Beers are served in the appropriate logo glass. Many people were getting flights. Service was fast. I looked on Yelp ahead of time and saw that people really enjoyed the food, so I was excited to see the menu. Very good menu with much more than just typical bar food. I got the fish tacos and they were solid. The fries were great. Looking around at other people’s food did give me some order envy. The sliders and chicken sandwiches looked awesome. I guess I’ll have to come back! The only negative would be the location. It’s a little ways off the downtown mall next to a mildly sketchy area. You are safe, but I wouldn’t wander around drunk alone at night. There is ample street parking and a lot in the back. P.S. The story of how they got their name is really cool. Go inside and read it on the back wall.

Prost Brewing Co. & Biergarten – Fort Collins – Menu with Prices – 321 Old Firehouse Alley, Fort Collins

Wow! I went to this Prost location last Spring and boy… how downtown Fort Collins has changed since my last trip back there three years ago ( at that particular time that is. I went back again later in the Fall. ). This location is in the backside of what used to be a Goodwill Store. In all honesty it’s a big improvement because the Goodwill moved down south and this building was left vacant so it’s good that something finally moved in here… even if it is just part of the space. The entrance to the brewery is in the alley which gives it a more intriguing air to it. At Prost I got one of their regular beers on tap, the Kolsch which is a pale beer with less bitterness that a pilsner with a hint of fruitiness to it. As you may have already guessed Prost is a German themed brewery specializing in classic German beers. This adds a unique and continued diversified element to the craft brewing scene in Fort Collins. I have also been to their location in Denver and have had different beers than the Kolsch there. The Dunkle Bier is very good as well as their Pilsner or what they call Pils.

West Sixth Brewing – Menu with Prices – 501 W 6th St #100, Lexington

My experience at West Sixth Brewing this past weekend blew me away. First things first – the beers we tried were great. There was a great variety (a lot places in Nashville – where I currently live – have put all their eggs in one basket and make six beers of one variety – like IPAs); we tried Cerveza (Mexican-style lager), Pennyrile (Pale Ale), DankeChain (Oktoberfest), Snake Eyes (imperial stout), and more. But what really separated my experience to West Sixth from visits to other breweries? We took the free, hour-long tour of the brewery (available Friday at 5pm, Saturday at 2 and 4pm, and Sunday at 2pm), and what we learned on that tour made me LOVE this brewery. Long story short? This brewery is about more than their great beer. They really care about sustainability, their neighborhood, and the social impact of their business. They pay their staff a living wage. They give back to the community through their Pay It Forward Cocoa Porter. They host events when they give back 6% of that day’s sales to a non-profit. Wooden nickles (given out each time a flight is purchased) can be used to donate $1 to a local nonprofit. They rent out space in the Bread Box they didn’t need for the brewery to great local businesses and nonprofits (FoodChain, BrokeSpoke Community Bike Shop, and more). The tour was informative and very fun. Before we began the tour, I remember thinking: how can the tour be an hour!? But it made sense to me afterwards. This isn’t a typical brewery, and they have a lot to say. Beyond that, you also get a little free beer and a free glass when you take the tour! This was easily the best brewery tour I’ve ever been on. After tasting their beers and learning about their business plan, I’ll be buying West Sixth beers whenever I can. I’d also like to visit again when I’m next in Lexington. If you haven’t been, run – don’t walk – to this brewery.

Strangeways Brewing – Menu with Prices – 2277A Dabney Rd, Richmond

I stopped in at Strangeways Brewing on 8/18/18 after a long day of exploring the craft breweries in the Richmond area. I was not unfamiliar with Strangeways. The brewery had popped up at a couple of beer festivals I had attended. It was late when we arrived but everything from the variety of choices to large tasting room and outdoor space made it seem ideal as a place to hang out. The ambiance of the tasting room seemed cohesive with their branding of the monkey. I was surprised how far out the brewery was compared to the other breweries in the area (e.g. the Scott’s Addition neighborhood). However after being greeted by a bartender inside, I understood why. Strangeways appears to be somewhat already established. I ordered a flight and discovered that many of Strangeways beers had unique flavor profiles (and names to match). I don’t remember a specific beer. I do remember that brewers seem to be more interested in creating unique flavors than what is commercially popular. In a nutshell, my stop at Strangeways made me interested in learning more about their the beers; and, in the future, I plan on checking out their other location in Fredericksburg, VA.

Maxline Brewing – Menu with Prices – 2724 McClelland Dr #190, Fort Collins

Nice little brewery! I have been to Maxline a few times now and I have always enjoyed my experience. I have enjoyed the beer options and their selection has grown, along with the seating, over these first three years. I have enjoyed the Irish Red ale and their IPA options when I am there. It is hard to say that any of the beers stand out in my mind as a favorite, but it’s pretty solid work. That being said, I have a couple friends who would say they have a favorite brew on tap here. I really enjoy the patio area and the expansion inside for additional seats since they first opened. The staff has always been rather friendly and helpful, allowing me to try a small taste of a beer before committing to a pint and that is much appreciated! On most of my visits there has been a food truck just outside with good food options to enjoy with my beer. I have recommended this spot to many people who are looking for a brewery to try, since many people do not know it is here. This might be because the location is not well advertised. It is on McClelland, which is not a street many people use who are not locals. There doesn’t seem to be anything that really draws your eye to the spot when driving by either and I feel like that could use some work. I will continue to come to this brewery because I enjoy good beer and I like the neighborhood feel of the place. I feel like is what is going to make all the difference in these next few years with all of the new beer options. Keep up the good work and I will certainly update my review when that standout beer comes along for me.