Breweries are fascinating places full of great sights, smells, and people. Over the past few years, craft breweries have sprung up across the United States in cities big and small. New York State is now home to over 400 breweries a record that hadn’t been broken since 1876. The dreams of entrepreneurs big and small all probably started in one way or another with a good old-fashioned homebrew.

I personally have been home brewing for some time, and while my Pale Ale flowed freely and disappeared in almost less time than it took to ferment, I also recently suffered a setback with a failed effort at a coconut porter. I attended a presentation at my local homebrew shop Bitter & Esters given by the chief “barrel wrangler” from Avery and perhaps after drinking a little too many flavorful Avery’s beers I thought I can do this… well, I was wrong! But hey you live and learn. 

Back to the task at hand, what is the quest for 100? I have been going to many breweries for years while on vacation and at home. I find that in a sense you always know what to expect walking into a brewery, but in reality you have no clue what you are in for until you saddle up to the bar and handed the draft list. Yes, everyone is using some grains, some hops, and some yeast but beyond that, the sky truly is the limit. You can add in virtually anything, and I’ve seen some mind-bending choices along the way… but that’s another post. 

The Quest for 100 is my decision to finally add up and create a record of all the breweries I have been to. So far the count stands at 81 but with a few more NYC breweries to go and a trip to Richmond Virginia in the near future 100 should be no problem in the next three months. 

I have a long way to go before I reach the likes of Brew York, who is well over a 1000 and was the inspiration for this post and my choice to add up my visits. I have tried countless beers along the way, picked up a more than a few t-shirts, and even made a stock investment. I enjoy visiting breweries as each time is a new chance to experience how a brewer has taken the basic ingredients and made them their own unique drinking experience.  

80 and counting, a blue pin represents a brewery we visited with our furry drinking partner Paco.

 

Cheers!