Out of State GABF Recommendations 'OR' How Twitter Can Save Your Life

This post is about 2 things: 1 - why Twitter is awesome and 2 - Some breweries around the country that you need to check out if you're going to GABF.

I have been planning to do some long post about why Twitter is a worthwhile service (especially for beer lovers), about how if you're not on twitter already I would convince you as to why you need to start using it. Indeed a few years ago when I started using it I was super skeptical as to it's value, but within a few weeks I was convinced that it was very good. I saw those videos that made fun of twitter with scenes of people tweeting things like "I just found a parking space" and I was never going to join after watching that. But, I had a blog so I figured I would try it out, see what all the hype was, and to see if it could somehow benefit me as a writer. Within a week or so I had learned more about beer and what was happening in the local beer scene that I ever thought possible. Through it, I've ended up meeting other beer lovers from all over the country, and as of very recent, I've met a few people from Denver Off the Wagon and other beer bloggers that I follow on twitter by sending them messages and seeing if they'll meet me at a certain bar while I'm town.

Lately I've been thinking that I need to figure out my GABF schedule but I've been way too busy to spend the time to figure it all out. So I simply sent a few tweets out to other beer
bloggers around the country asking them something along the lines of "Hey, What smaller breweries from your neck of the woods should I not miss while at GABF." (You all read my post about CO Breweries to check out, right?) Basically everyone has been enthusiastic about sending me their favorite local breweries that are participating in the festival. I already know about the breweries like Cigar City, Shorts, New Glarus, Alpine, etc. so I've saved myself hours and hours of work by simply asking my twitter friends what they would recommend. Too often I stick with what I know, or the famous breweries that everyone recommends, but I'm really happy to find out what other small places beer lovers are into and to give them a shot. So, here's a list of breweries from around the country that other beer lovers and beer bloggers have told me to not miss out on. I've decided to try them all because I've started actually trusting these folks:


Arizona
From: @Lucklys
Response: I'd look for @fourpeaksbrew @SanTanBrewing @papagobrewing @prescottbrewco @lumberyardbrew, Oak Creek

Southern California
From: @BikeBusBeer
Response: 1) @HereticBrew... 2) Def check out @eaglerockbrew and @BeachwoodBBQ_LB... 3) Tustin Brewing and TAPS are both totally worth a look as well.

Texas
From: @txgirlspintout
Response: 1) Real Ale has great bbl aged anything; @rangercreek is solid, try the OPA; @nxnwbrew's Barton Kriek, anything Freetail

NYC Suburbs
From: @Tastemyrizzo
Response: I live about an hour outside of NYC. If you come out here I'd recommend the @peekskillbrews, @KeeganAles, or Guilded Otter. (The last 2 aren't in GABF)

Illinois
Got an email response from @TheDailyPull
Response: Unfortunately I will not be at GABF. In terms of IL breweries, here's my recommended priorities: Two Brothers, Haymarket, Flossmore Station, Piece, Revolution, Metropolitan

Washington DC area
From: @brewmates
Response: 1) Check out our friends from @PortCityBrew and @dbbrewingco. We also just tried some Blue Mountain and were pretty impressed. 2) Let us know what you think and have a blast at @GABF! We will definitely be there next year. Cheers!

Washington State
From: Seattle Beer News
Response: I'll get a post up this week with a beer pick from most WA breweries attending, but def black raven, chuckanut, snipes...

Oregon
I didn't actually send any tweet off to Oregon because I'm well versed in Oregon breweries. I would check these smaller guys out for sure: Barley Brown, Laurelwood, Ninkasi, Oakshire, Breakside, Hopworks, Boneyard, and Bend Brewing.

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