DECATUR – That famous trail in the Appalachians can take months to trek. For some, years. Lucky for you, Alabama has its own mountain trail you can knock out in a weekend.The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)'s North Alabama Craft Beer Trail invites craft beer enthusiasts on a self-guided tour of eight North Alabama microbreweries offering hundreds of unique flavors custom to the region.
Available on www.northalabama.org, the self-guided tour features eight microbreweries and tasting rooms located in Florence, Huntsville, Madison, Cullman, Guntersville and Gadsden.
“Designed for residents and visitors to enjoy, the North Alabama Craft Beer Trail is a unique attraction highlighting Alabama-made beer while providing a boost to the North Alabama economy,” said AMLA President/CEO Tami Reist. “The Trail spotlights fresh, locally-brewed beer and is another opportunity to give visitors a unique destination experience that can only be enjoyed in North Alabama.”
Participating breweries on the North Alabama Craft Beer Trail:
Goat Island Brewing, Cullman
One of Alabama’s newest breweries, Goat Island’s mission is great taste through state of the art scientific processes, the highest quality ingredients and optimal freshness. Goat Island Brewing was founded on friendship and the art of making good beer. Two of the founders, Mike Mullaney and Gery Teichmiller, met during the Cullman Oktoberfest Celebration in 2012. They along with John Dean and Brad Glenn formed the Blue Moose Brew Crew. They brewed their beers and served them at the Blue Moose Café and Brewpub in 2013. The success of this venture convinced the four friends to open Goat Island Brewing in early 2015, the first brewery in Cullman since the 1880s.
Singin’ River Brewing, Florence
With a shared passion for craft beers, Rob and Michelle Jones started touring craft breweries across the United States as a shared hobby. That’s when they both decided to combine their two passions to create the first craft brewery in Florence, opening the doors of the Singin’ River Brewing Company in 2014. From the smooth flavor of their Handy’s Gold, to the rich, full taste of their porter, they are striking all the right chords – just like the Princess of the Singing River. Free tours are available on Saturday’s at 5 p.m. or by appointment.
Back Forty Beer Company, Gadsden
Back Forty Beer Company is focused on local ingredients in downtown Gadsden. They have an air-conditioned taproom where visitors may sample and purchase their beers on site. It is the largest brewery in Alabama and the only brewery to bottle beer and sell outside the state. Guided brewery tours are on Saturdays from 3 to 8 p.m. Back Forty Beer Company’s name is inspired by an old agricultural term referring to the 40 acres situated furthest from the barn. And just like the farm, the Deep South’s craft beer culture is fertile and primed for harvest.
Main Channel Brewery, Guntersville
Located in Guntersville, Alabama, the Main Channel taproom
is located in the original Jitney Jr. store location on U.S. 431. Affectionately known locally as “The Jit,” what was once a sleepy little convenience store soon became the local hangout for Guntersville teens and the surrounding towns alike. Main Channel Brewing Company is Marshall County’s first brewery. The idea for the brewery started with home brewing and family. Longtime Guntersville resident Brett Smith, his brother Clay Smith, and his wife Sarah Smith own the brewery.
Mad Malts Brewing, Huntsville
Featuring excellent service, smooth brews, and a relaxed atmosphere, Mad Malts makes excellent craft beer with flavors typically not found anywhere else. Twelve taps, live music, food and comedy shows can be found on most Friday and Saturday nights.
Salty Nut Brewery, Huntsville
Salty Nut Brewery is an up and coming microbrewery in Huntsville, specializing in craft beer. The taproom has been renovated using recovered barn wood and tin from an old tobacco barn in Kentucky, while the beer garden has seating, a fire pit and chiminea.
Straight to Ale, Huntsville
Straight to Ale currently offers tastings out of 10 taps. Snacks are available, and they have partnerships with several local food trucks – among them On-On Tacos, Sugar Belle Cupcakes, Food Fighters Bustaurant, Badd Newz BBQ, Earth and Stone Wood-fired Pizza and more – that pull up and serve tasty victuals several days per week.
Blue Pants Brewery, Madison
Blue Pants Brewery is where the magic happens. Hops, barley, water, and yeast make great craft beer. That’s really all is needed. Their brewers started out as home brewers, playing with ingredients, and learning which tastes they love. They use their skills and creativity to create unique, or just exemplary beers that may not fit any particular style category but are always unreasonably good.
But…but…but…this is all too good and too much to remember. Take our guide with you. We prepped a copy for you to print. Download it here.
