BEERCATION – New York – Finger Lakes Region

This stop on the trip was the Finger Lakes area of NY.

The answer to this question is Ithaca. Hoppy, being thirsty, proceeded to the nearest brewery.

At Ithaca Beer I quaffed a Flower Power IPA, which was named by Food and Wine as one of the most important American craft beers ever brewed. It was 7.2% ABV and 75 IBU.

The next stop on the trip was Hopshire Farm and Brewery in Freeville, NY. Here I enjoyed a flight of beers. These included Beehave, a Honey Ale at 5.2% ABV and 10 IBU, Brambles, a Raspberry Wheat Ale with 4.8% ABV and 20 IBU, Shire Ale, a Scottish Ale clocking in at 7.8% ABV and 30 IBU, Near Varna, an IPA at 7.5 % ABV and 74 IBU and Sympathy, a Belgian Strong Golden Ale with 7.9% ABV and 25 IBU.

Following are images from Hopshire Brewery.

This ends the New York State portion of the trip. From the next picture can you identify the last stop on the Beercation.

BEERCATION – Delaware

The first brewery stop in Delaware was Thompson Island in Rehoboth Beach. Here I enjoyed some mussels along with a Motueka Smash, a west coast IPA made with pale malt and Motueka hops with an ABV of 6.8%. It is described as having notes of stone fruit, tropics and pine.

The next stop in Delaware was, you guessed it, Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton. It was here where I had a flight of tasting room exclusives that included Festina Peche, a Sour Fruited Berliner Weisse with a 4.5% ABV and 8 IBU, I Hear You Like Talus, an American IPA at 6.8% ABV and 40 IBU, Negronia, a farmhouse ale aged in Dogfish Head Distilling Co. Mellowtious Gin barrels, infused with botanicals at 10% ABV, Saison Verdante, a farmhouse saison clocking in at 5.5% ABV with 20 IBU.

The last stop in Delaware was back in Rehoboth Beach at the Dogfish Head Chesapeake & Maine Restaurant, where I enjoyed their $15 Maine lobster dinner along with Dogfish Head Brewery and Distillery offerings.

This concludes the Delaware visit. On to New York State.

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BEERCATION – Virginia

The first stop in Virginia was Adroit Theory Brewing in Purcellville. Here I enjoyed their Death Ronin IPA a 6.5% ABV DDH made with Simcoe, Strata and Columbus hops and a Confessions Russian Imperial Stout at 16.5% ABV. The latter is described as having enough malty sweetness to conceal the booziness while also contrasting bold roasted notes of coffee and dark chocolate.

The last stop in Virginia was Eavesdrop Brewery in Yorkshire. Here I sampled the Armando Farmhouse Ale – Saison, 8% ABV, 22 IBU and the Saxon Monk Belgian Tripel, 11% ABV, 22 IBU. I also drank a Falcon Smash IPA (7% ABV) from Triple Crossings Brewing out of Richmond.

This concludes the Virginia visit. The next stop will be Delaware.

BEERCATION – Pittsburgh

The next stop of the Beercation was Pittsburgh where I visited Southern Tier Brewing, Fat Head’s Saloon and the Dancing Gnome Brewery.

That does it for Pittsburgh. Next stop is Virginia.

BEERCATION – Columbus

Listening to Hoppy, I decided to incorporate a beercation into a pre-planned vacation to visit relatives. The first stop in the trip was Columbus, Ohio where I visited two of their top rated breweries, Hoof-Hearted Brewing and Columbus Brewing. At Hoof Hearted I tasted three IPAs that are all rated higher than 4 on Untappd. They were Discount Nachos, a DDH hazy IPA, $60 Nachos, a DDH hazy DIPA and $120 Nachos, a TDH hazy Triple IPA clocking in at 12% ABV. I also sampled their Crossing Swords, a farmhouse Saison.

At Columbus Brewing I sampled Technicolor Hat, a Citrus IPA, Crocodile Tongue, a Wood Aged Sour, Tailwind Stout, and Baggared Scotch Barrel Aged with Laphroaig Scotch Barrels. Pictures follow.

This ends the Columbus potion of the Beercation. Pittsburgh to follow.