5 INTRIGUING NEW BREWERIES YOU SHOULD TRY

5INTRIGUING NEW BREWERIES YOU SHOULD TRY

The golden age of craft beer shows no signs of winding down in the United States. From creative brews that use foraged ingredients and wild fermentation to unique flavor combinations to new hop varieties, there’s no shortage of inventive craft beer.

With the proliferation of new breweries pushing the envelope—or simply honoring the careful craft behind traditional brewing—shopping for microbrews can be an overwhelming experience. Add to that the long-list of established spots that remain triedand-true, and that’s a whole lot of beer.

But not all breweries are created equal. As far as newcomers go, a few standouts have risen above the pack. Here’s a look at five breweries to check out—all of which opened in the last year or so.

Wild East Brewing Company

Wild East is proof that homebrewers don’t have to stay hobbyists. This brewery was founded by homebrewers Lindsay Steen, Tyler March, and Brett Taylor in Brooklyn early last year, with a focus on farmhouse styles, European techniques, and mixed fermentation beers that rely partially on ambient or wild yeasts. That results in a line-up that ranges from unfiltered hazy IPAs and pilsners to barrel-aged sours and saisons—all of which are unique and interesting. The brewery’s taproom, in a former restaurant supply warehouse, is open for visitors.

Crowns and Hops

This new Inglewood, California brewery stands out for many reasons. The beer is fantastic—with top brews that include a hazy IPA with El Dorado, Citra, and Moteuka hops, and a Pecan Pie Stout. Owners Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter are building out a brick-and-mortar brewery now, so they can eventually show off their full range of some 20 beer recipes. Crowns and Hops also stands out for being one of the few Black-owned and woman-led breweries in an industry that is overwhelmingly white and male. Another feather in this brewery’s cap is its mission to give back, and work toward closing the gender and race gap in the brewing industry. In a partnership with BrewDog, Crowns and Hops released the 8 Trill Pils Initiative, which involved a $100,000 grant for Blackowned breweries.

Young Blood Beer Co.

This newcomer to Madison, Wisconsin is entertaining taste buds with big flavors, like hop-heavy Dad Mode Activated IPA and the Everyone Looks Like Guy Fieri farmhouse ale. Other options include the boldly flavored sour with strawberry, passion fruit, orange, and guava; a cream ale with pink guava, coconut, vanilla, and lactose; and a blueberry “fruit punch” sour with passion fruit, orange, and guava. But there are some more mellow options, too, that prove this brewery has also mastered more standard beers like lagers, IPAs, and saisons. There’s a taproom open, with plans to add a cocktail tasting room on the second level in the future.

The Seed: A Living Beer Project

With its unusual name, The Seed sounds more like a science experiment than brewery. And that’s not far off. Sean Towers and Amanda Cardinali have focused their Atlantic City, New Jersey brewery on telling “the entire pathway and story of that particular biological moment in time” when their beer was made. That obsession with the minutiae of fermentation also includes using local grain, foraged ingredients, and wild yeast and bacteria. The beer styles themselves aren’t wild—IPAs, a Kolsch, and a coffee stout are among the standouts— but they’re perfectly executed. And each one comes with its own unique inception story.

Boss Rambler Beer Club

The beer scene in Bend, Oregon is no slouch, so Boss Rambler certainly has a high bar to ascend to. And so far, that’s been no problem: the brewery nabbed “Best New Brewery” at last year’s Oregon Beer Awards. The company has perfected the classic American light beer—reclaiming a style that’s often ignored by craft beer makers. The brewery makes a range of hazy IPAs, perfecting a style that’s popular on both coasts, plus a refreshingly tart tropical fruited sour. The beer is available in beautifully designed cans, or at the inviting Bend taproom.

Meet Casper, Wyoming’s Best-kept Secret

COWBOYS, PIONEERS AND A VIBRANT CULINARY SCENE

Where the plains of Wyoming collide with Casper Mountain and the North Platte River sits one of the state’s best-kept secrets – Casper. A mountain town, Casper is one of those places you need to visit to truly appreciate. From sweeping landscapes to touchable history and a culinary scene that is wonderfully surprising, Casper has lots to do, see and experience.

Situated along The Road to Yellowstone and located just off I-25 (Casper also has an airport that welcomes flights from Salt Lake City and Denver), many visitors on their way to Yellowstone National Park weave Casper into their road trip itinerary to experience small-town charm, stand in history and soak up the many flavors of the West. When it comes to exploring Casper, there are a few must-do activities to put on your travel itinerary.

Historic Trails

Casper has been a hub of the West for hundreds – if not thousands – of years. While hundreds of thousands of pioneers traveled through modernday Casper on the Oregon, California, Mormon and Pony Express trails, evidence of humans in this area dates

back more than 10,000 years. Any visit to Casper, whether you’re a history buff or not, should start at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center. Sitting on a hill with views of Casper, Casper Mountain and the North Platte River – one of the country’s premier blue-ribbon fly-fishing streams – the Trails Center walks visitors through the history of the area, including American Indian tribes and early pioneers. After a visit to the Trails Center, set out on the actual Oregon Trail with Historic Trails West. Morris Carter – the man at the helm – takes visitors out for wagon rides on the trail, with tours that last from 2 hours to multiday treks.

Cowboy Up

Cowboys and cowgirls are right at home in Casper, and since Wyoming is known as the Cowboy State, it should be no surprise that western culture is alive and well here. To experience the best of the cowboy way of life, be sure to spend time in Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters. Owned by the Taubert family since it opened in 1919, the store has 10,000 pairs of cowboy boots and the largest selection of western wear in Wyoming. If rodeo is high on your list of things to do, plan your visit to align with the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) – held June 12 – 18, 2022 – or the Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo, held July 8 – 16, 2022.

Taste Casper and the West

For a town in the middle of Wyoming, you may not expect much when it comes to food. But Casper’s culinary scene is among the best in the state and knocks other cities out of the water with its diversity and quality. Some of the best culinary dishes come in the form of BBQ, pizza, pasta and steaks, as well as Thai, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Not-to-be-missed restaurants include FireRock Steakhouse, Ludovico Farm to Wood Flame, Thai Kitchen Restaurant and Wyoming’s Rib and Chop House. Wash down your adventures with locally made beer at one of Casper’s five breweries and spirits from Backwards Distilling Company.

Arts and Culture in the Wilds of Wyoming

While Wyoming may conjure up ideas of horses, wide-open spaces and untouched landscapes, Casper has a somewhat surprising arts and culture scene. Anchoring the arts’ community are The Nicolaysen Art Museum, Art 321 – Casper Artists’ Guild and Scarlow’s Gallery. David Street Station – an outdoor venue that’s open yearround and hosts several concerts, farmers markets and events throughout the year – is also a must-visit destination. Be sure to take time to wander through Casper’s downtown, a neighborhood that’s anchored by historic buildings, charming shops and galleries.

For more: www.visitcasper.com

Heber Valley MORE THAN JUST A SKI DESTINATION…

When you think of Utah in the winter, grand images of bluebird ski days and pristine snow-capped mountains likely fill your mind. The slogan “Greatest Snow on Earth” rings true in this great state and many plan their winter ski trips to Utah each year to carve through the champagne powder and glide atop perfect corduroy. While known for magnificent powder and renowned ski terrain, the Heber Valley offers so much more in this magical and wintry escape from the mundane.

The Greatest Snow On Earth

Heber Valley, Utah is a winter wonderland for those seeking solace and serenity, as well as outdoor adventure. Located less than an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport, this majestic mountain town is a year-round recreation mecca. This valley is a prime location to access two world-renowned ski resorts. Deer Valley Resort is known for perfect corduroy groomers and top-tier customer service. Sundance Mountain Resort offers jaw-dropping views

of Mount Timpanogos (the second tallest mountain peak in Utah) and the infamous Robert Redford legacy that started the vision for this resort. Excellent Skiing! What Else?

Beyond skiing the stunning slopes of the Wasatch back mountains, our charming alpine village astounds firsttime visitors with its quaint mountain charm and abundance of outdoor recreation, superb dining, and refined spa experiences. But what truly amazes our guests is the one-of-akind experiences and memories that await… There are so many one-ofa-kind experiences in this majestic mountain town.

An Emerging Gourmand Destination

Heber Valley is becoming known for more than just its outdoor recreation, historic railroad, and geothermal crater. This incredible mountain town is proudly welcoming expansions and new dining establishments from visionaries and extraordinary restaurateurs as the dining offerings continue to enhance the experience in this valley. Whether passing through, staying the night, or moving in, give one (or all) of the more than 30 local restaurants a try. You are sure to be pleased with the exceptional food, friendly service, and overall dining experience. Each local establishment offers a signature dish or drink and has carved out a devoted following for its twists on traditional favorites. It’s an exciting time to be part of the foodie scene in Heber Valley! Swimming in the Crater:

Discovering our 10,000-year-old

geothermal hot spring Crater quickly becomes a favorite as guests relax and soak in the 95-degree mineral water following a day on the slopes. The Crater is also known for snorkeling and scuba diving - being the only warm water scuba certification location in the lower 48 states!

Out-Of-This-World Ice Castles:

This award-winning frozen attraction is built using hundreds of thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists. The castles include LED-lit sculptures, frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides, fountains, and more, and take hundreds of hours to build each year. This is definitely a must-see experience in Heber Valley! Ski Among the Olympians:

The Soldier Hollow Nordic Center training and event facility welcomes athletes from around the world to train and compete in Olympic qualifying events. The year-round facility was host to three events during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and is now open to the public with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snow tubing in the winter. What Are You Waiting For?

These are only some of the amazing experiences that await you in Heber Valley. Plus, the historic Heber Valley Railroad, dark skies, Blue Ribbon fly fishing, snowmobiling, chocolatiers, yurt dining, renowned spas, and diverse lodging. All amid an impressive mountain backdrop with fast and easy access by plane or vehicle. Now is the time to plan your winter vacation at gohebervalley.com.