Where to Drink Like a Local in Every State

By Food & Wine
Updated March 13, 2020
Credit: Courtesy of Wyoming Whiskey
Ray Isle shares his favorite breweries, wineries and distilleries in all 50 states.
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Alabama: TrimTab Brewing

Credit: Graham Yelton

Even if you can’t make one of the frequent “Happenings” here—think drum circles and fire dancers—stop by the Birmingham brewery to quaff the excellent, wheat-based Bankston 88 Belgian Blonde. trimtabbrewing.com.

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Alaska: Port Chilkoot Distillery

Credit: Andy Hedden

In an old Army fort in the tiny town of Haines, distillers Heather Shade and Sean Copeland are making one of the tastiest craft gins we’ve had recently: 50 Fathoms Gin. Is the place remote? Sure. Is it worth the trip? Definitely. portchilkootdistillery.com.

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Arizona: Callaghan Vineyards

Credit: Courtesy of Callaghan Vineyards

Forget cactus. Think grapes. Arizona’s wine scene is little-known outside the state, but its best bottles are superb. In the Sonoita region, visit pioneer vintner Kent Callaghan for intense reds like his 2013 Caitlin’s Red, a spicy Petit Verdot blend. callaghanvineyards.com.

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Arkansas: Bike Rack Brewing Company

Credit: Jullian Wilson

Pedal up, dismount and relax into a pint of toasty Epic Trail Amber Ale at this brewery, founded by four cyclist friends, in Bentonville’s Arts District. bikerackbrewing.com.

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California: Shafer Vineyards

Credit: Russ Widstrand

Pick one standout in a state with over 4,000 wineries? Impossible. But still, it’s hard to argue with Napa Valley’s Shafer Vineyards as the choice. Book in advance to taste the iconic Hillside Select Cabernet, one of California’s greatest reds. shafervineyards.com.

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Colorado: Laws Whiskey House

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Rye and wheat from a family-owned Colorado farm go into some of the best whiskeys around at this Denver micro-distillery. Stop by to sample the spicy Four Grain Straight Bourbon Bottled in Bond. lawswhiskeyhouse.com.

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Connecticut: New England Brewing Company

Credit: Courtesy of New England Brewing Co.

Fans line up for this New Haven–area brewery’s obsessively sought-after Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA. That’s a great beer, to be sure, but don’t bypass the roasty, delicious Imperial Stout Trooper, which, at 9.5 ABV, packs a blaster-like wallop. newenglandbrewing.com.

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Delaware: Dogfish Head Brewery

Credit: Courtesy of Dogfish Head

If you need to immerse yourself in everything Dogfish Head, stay a night at its quirky, beer-themed inn in nearby Lewes. A glass of the beloved 90 Minute IPA, followed by a comfortable bed? Sign us up. dogfish.com.

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Florida: Cigar City Brewing

Credit: Russell Breslow

The citrusy, robustly hopped Jai Alai IPA is one of Florida’s most popular craft beers, and the riotous Tampa tasting room is a fine place to down a pint of it. cigarcitybrewing.com.

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Georgia: Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

Credit: Courtesy of Creature Comforts

Head to this 1940s Chevy dealership-turned-brewery in Athens for top-quality brews, among them the acclaimed, citrusy Tropicália IPA. creaturecomfortsbeer.com.

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Hawaii: Maui Brewing Co.

Credit: MBC/Edward Smith

With 32 taps, food trucks outside and spectacular views, this lively brewery tasting room is a must-visit on Maui. Try the bold Double Overhead Double IPA. mauibrewingco.com.

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Idaho: Cinder Wines

Credit: Courtesy of Cinder Wines

In 2008, Idaho native Melanie Krause opened Cinder Winery near Boise. At her tasting room (in a former produce warehouse) try the smoky Syrah from the state’s Snake River Valley AVA. cinderwines.com.

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Illinois: FEW Spirits

Credit: Courtesy of FEW Spirits

All of FEW’s impressive gins and whiskeys are entirely distilled and aged at its Evanston facility. Don’t miss the citrus-and-black-tea-inflected Breakfast Gin.  fewspirits.com.

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Indiana: Three Floyds Brewing Co.

Credit: Courtesy of 3 Floyds Brewing

Three Floyds is legendary thanks to its Dark Lord Day festival every May. But its Munster brewpub is open year-round, with 15-plus choices on tap, such as the flagship Alpha King Pale Ale. 3floyds.com.

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Iowa: Cedar Ridge Distillery

Credit: Courtesy of Cedar Ridge Distillery

Drop by Swisher’s Cedar Ridge to enjoy superior spirits such as founder Jeff Quint’s toffee-scented Iowa Bourbon Whiskey, along with pizzas from the wood-burning oven. crwine.com.

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Kansas: Union Horse Distilling Company

Credit: Courtesy of Union Horse Distilling Company

This Kansas City–area whiskey specialist does all its distilling and barreling in-house. The payoff? Top-notch spirits like its Reunion Straight Rye Whiskey, made with local grain. unionhorse.com.

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Kentucky: Angel’s Envy

Credit: Courtesy of Angel's Envy

Bourbon legend Lincoln Henderson’s legacy lives on at Angel’s Envy, the Louisville distillery he founded in 2010. Hit the tasting room to try the subtly red-fruited Port Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon. angelsenvy.com.

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Louisiana: Abita Brewing Company

Credit: Courtesy of Abita Brewing Company

It’s an hour’s drive north from New Orleans to this brewery’s destination-worthy taproom in Covington, where you can try its benchmark Turbodog Brown Ale. abita.com.

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Maine: Allagash Brewing Company

Credit: Courtesy of Allagash Brewing

Portland’s Allagash was early to the cask-aged beer game, and brews like its luscious Curieux, a bourbon-barrel-aged Belgian-style triple ale, are standard bearers. allagash.com.

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Maryland: Sagamore Spirit

Credit: Courtesy of Sagamore Spirit

We feel that Under Armour founder Kevin Plank put his fortune to excellent use when he opened Baltimore’s Sagamore Spirit. Stop by the Inner Harbor–area distillery to try the intense Rye. sagamorespirit.com.

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Massachusetts: Trillium Brewing Company

Credit: Courtesy of Trillium Brewing Co.

Until this popular Boston brewer opened its Canton location in 2015, devotees had to fill growlers and then skedaddle. Now you can take a seat to try limited releases on tap as well as favorites like the grassy, dry-hopped Heavy Mettle Double IPA. trilliumbrewing.com.

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Michigan: Mari Vineyards

Credit: Courtesy of Mari Vineyards

The über-talented Sean O’Keefe may be Michigan’s premier winemaker. At Mari’s Upper Mission Peninsula tasting room, you can check out his elegant wines, including the Mari Riesling. marivineyards.com.

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Minnesota: Surly Brewing Company

Credit: Courtesy of Surly Brewing Co.

At Surly’s vast beer hall in Minneapolis, order a glass of the funky Belgian-style pale ale Cynic to go with some of the excellent barbecue. surlybrewing.com.

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Mississippi: Rich Grain Distilling Co.

Credit: Nolen Grogan

Inside an 1880s brick building in Canton, distiller Dave Rich makes some of the best spirits we’ve tasted lately. Sign up for one of the regular Saturday tours, then sample his superb caramel-tinged bourbon. richdistilling.com.

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Missouri: Side Project Brewing

Credit: Tim Bottchen

Cory and Karen King brilliantly hit both the barrel-aged and sour beer trends with their brews. Visit their St. Louis–area tasting room, The Cellar, to check out their fragrant La Ruche Honey Saison. sideprojectbrewing.com.

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Montana: Lewis & Clark Brewing Company

Credit: Jason O'Neil

This Helena craft brewer uses Montana-grown malt for beers like its toasty Back Country Scottish Ale, while also supporting local nonprofits. lewisandclarkbrewing.com.

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Nebraska: Cut Spike/Lucky Bucket

Credit: Courtesy of Lucky Bucket Brewing Company

Jason Payne’s subtle Cut Spike Distillery Single Malt Whiskey is a winner, and so is his crisp Lucky Bucket Brewing Pre-Prohibition Style Lager. Conveniently, the tasting rooms—just outside Omaha—are adjacent to each other. cutspikedistillery.com; luckybucketbrewing.com.

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Nevada: Tenaya Creek Brewery

Credit: Tim Etter

Take a break from the craps table—your odds of winning are better with beer. Just head to this Las Vegas taproom, where you can grab a cool pint of its creamy Hauling Oats Oatmeal Stout. Jackpot. tenayacreek.com.

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New Hampshire: Hermit Woods Winery

Credit: Bob Manley

Blueberry wine? Hold your skepticism until you try Ken Hardcastle’s Petite Blue Reserve. It’s completely dry and thrillingly fragrant. Sample it at the winery’s tasting room in Meredith. hermitwoods.com.

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New Jersey: Unionville Vineyards

Credit: Courtesy of Unionville Vineyards

At Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes—abouta 30-minute drive north of Trenton—the complex 2014 Home Vineyard Chardonnay will lay to rest any doubts you have about the quality of New Jersey wines. unionvillevineyards.com.

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New Mexico: Gruet

Credit: Gabriella Marks

Champagne? Nope: New Mexico sparkling. But if that’s what you thought after tasting this winery’s elegant NV Blanc de Noirs, you wouldn’t be the first to be fooled. Swing by the Albuquerque tasting room for limited cuvées sold nowhere else. gruetwinery.com.

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New York: Ravines Wine Cellars

Credit: Courtesy of Ravines Wine Cellar

Among the Finger Lakes’ many fine wineries, Ravines in Geneva gets our nod, not only for its steely 2015 Dry Riesling but also for chef Scott Riesenberger’s terrific three-course “Ravinous Table” pairing lunches. ravineswine.com.

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