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USA TODAY SPECIAL EDITION
SOUTHWEST | BREWERIES
Ultimate Beercation
ELK VALLEY BREWING COMPANY Oklahoma City Owner John Elkins has been brewing for nearly 20 years and has dedicated himself to craft beer since opening Elk Valley in 2014. Four “core brews” — Firefly Crew (witbier), Magic Juice (double IPA), Tenkiller Pilsner and Straight Razor Pale Ale — are joined by a rotating menu of specialty and seasonal releases. ▶ elkvalleybrew.com
Road trip to some of the region’s best breweries By Kae Lani Palmisano
T
HE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST IS ideal for road trips. Travelers are drawn to the long stretches of highway that wind through landscapes that shift from prairies to desert. For beer lovers looking for a roadside libation, here are 10 of the region’s best breweries:
LA CUMBRE BREWING COMPANY
HUSS BREWING COMPANY Tempe, Ariz. With a wide range of styles on tap, Huss Brewing has a beer to suit any taste. But if you want to try the best that Huss has to offer, sample the Oktoberfest, a 2019 Great American Beer Festival silver medal winner in the Americanstyle amber lager category, and 2015 sweet stout bronze medalist Husstler Milk Stout. ▶ hussbrewing. com
LA CUMBRE BREWING COMPANY Albuquerque, N.M. La Cumbre means pinnacle, peak or summit, which speaks to this brewery’s aspirations. The results can be experienced in its Elevated IPA, a 2011 gold medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival, and the simply named La Cumbre Beer, which took gold for international-style lager at the 2016 World Beer Cup. ▶ lacumbrebrewing.com
HUSS BREWING COMPANY
BAD BEAT BREWING Henderson, Nev. Bad Beat is located just south of Las Vegas, and a visit is no gamble. The brewery has four beers available year-round and eight beers that rotate seasonally. A crowd-pleaser is The Ringer, a German-style pilsner that’s crisp and flavorful, yet balanced. ▶ badbeatbrewing.com
