Lonely_Planet_Asia_September_2017

BEER TOUR

HOW TO ASK FOR A BEER IN LOCAL LANGUAGE?

A beer, please

HOW TO SAY CHEERS? Cheers!

SIGNATURE BEER STYLE? Double IPA (among many

others)

LOCAL BAR SNACK? The three Ps: peanuts, pretzels

and potato chips

DO: Plan on adding 15% or more to your bill:

bartenders usually depend on tips to make a living.

The US is a continent-size country, and while

you can find outstanding examples of every

beer style just about everywhere, certain regions

have their own specialities. In the northeast are the

extremely fruity and often cloudy beers known as

New England IPAs. In Oregon, a number of rich and

intense Black IPAs have found a home. Perhaps due

to the heat, Florida has developed a native sour fruit

beer culture, while Southern California plays host to

aggressively bitter brews. Yes, US beer culture is at

an all-time high, but if it seems to have peaked, just

wait a while: thousands of new craft breweries are

expected to open here in the next few years.

USA

The global craft beer phenomenon

was arguably invented in the US.

In terms of variety, innovation and

flavour, it’s still leader of the pack

Jester King

13005 Fitzhugh Rd, Austin, Texas;

jesterkingbrewery.com; 00 1 512 537 5100

OBar OTakeout OFood O Tour OFamily

This rustic farmhouse brewery lies on a working ranch

in the beautiful Hill Country just outside of Austin, with

cattle occasionally wandering through its sprawling

grounds. Much of its production is fermented in barrels,

and the brewery employs its own mix of yeast and local

bacteria, sourcing its critters from a nearby cider press or

by leaving unfermented wort outside overnight, which

results in wild-tasting, often sour and highly charismatic

beers, like the extremely refreshing Le Petit Prince

Farmhouse Table Beer. Pints are served in the brewery’s

barrel room and beer garden, with artisanal wood-fired

pizzas and vegan cupcakes available at Stanley’s next

door. Free tours are available on Fridays, Saturdays

and Sundays. Be sure to try the Atrial Rubicite, a barrel-

aged raspberry sour ale.

Congress Bridge Bats

Every night at dusk,

crowds watch the largest

urban bat colony in North

America leave home under

Congress Avenue Bridge.

batcon.org/congress

THINGS TO DO

NEARBY

Continental Club

Rocking the trendy

South Congress strip

since 1955, this legendary

music club has hosted

shows by Stevie Ray

Vaughn, the Replacements

and Led Zep legend

Robert Plant.

continentalclub.com

Omni Grove Park Inn

Rest up at this striking

resort, famous for its rock

walls, mountain views and

subterranean spa.

omnihotels.com/

hotels/asheville-

grove-park

Wicked Weed Brewing

91 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, North Carolina;

wickedweedbrewing.com; 00 1 828 575 9599

OBar OTakeout OTransport OTour

A wall-sized portrait of Henry VIII surveys the scene at

Wicked Weed Brewing, a convivial brewpub anchoring

the South Slope Brewery District. Why Henry VIII?

According to lore, the temperamental British monarch

once called hops a ‘wicked and pernicious weed’ that

ruined the taste of beer. The hoppy ales at Wicked Weed

prove the king wrong – just ask the thirsty visitors fresh

(or not so fresh) from hiking trails in the nearby Blue

Ridge Mountains. On weekends, stag parties, girlfriends

on getaways and youthful revellers imbibe elbow-to-

elbow in the downstairs beer bar. Don’t leave without

trying the flagship Pernicious IPA: a bold, West Coast-

style IPA, which shows Henry VIII who’s boss.

THINGS TO DO

NEARBY

French Broad

Chocolate Lounge

This downtown emporium

serves up such morsels as

dark chocolate salted

caramel honey truffles.

frenchbroad

chocolates.com