Category: Drink It, Write It.

Coffee is a universal language. Every corner of the world harbors a cozy, charming coffee shop that houses stories and serves up delicious, warm mugs. Whether it’s café, caffè, or cà phê, discover international coffee around the Commonwealth.

Until this summer, when I stopped by Sickman’s Mill to meet up with Joe Devoy, it had been more than 30 years since I had seen this place. Times surely have changed since I was a kid and spent summers wading and tubing down the Pequea Creek. My visit introduced me to an outdoor bar, a mill in great shape, and the taste sensation, Jimmy Juice.

Cars line the roads surrounding Bryan Campbell’s farmhouse. The circa 1868 home is part of the Lancaster County phenomena whereby an old building is saved as new construction springs up in the fields formerly surrounding it, and Bryan has taken on the task of maintenance and renovation. Like me, the occupants of the cars have arrived to take part in the area’s most epic beer dinner that will include tastings of 16 beers paired with cheeses, appetizers, a main course, dessert and an intriguing guest list, not to mention a cast of volunteer servers and kitchen staff. It is a night to remember!

The first “dry January” was an act against aggression, not alcohol. Today’s version of teetotalling to start the new year has blossomed into a year-round trademarked movement, as well as a way of life for those leading sober lifestyles. The restaurant industry is fully embracing it, as well.

Beer production started in Green Bay in 1851, with names like Blesch, Rahr, and Hochgreve emerging to pioneer the drink locally. The city itself was incorporated in 1854, and today dozens of breweries call the Green Bay metropolitan area home. And hence, the city’s craft beer scene has flourished.

Wherever I travel, I always seek out great coffee. Edward Harris, the president and CEO of Discover Lancaster, tells me I am not alone in this practice. We recently chatted over an Americano and an iced drink at a local coffee shop so I could learn more about one of the marketing organization’s newest offerings, the Lancaster County Coffee Trail.

Beer was not always welcome in the land of fire and ice. In an effort to control the sobriety of foreign visitors and its own youth, Iceland deemed alcohol illegal in 1915. Thirsty Icelanders changed this restriction in 1922 and 1935 by opening up the sale of wine and specific spirits. But beer would not get its day until the first of March, 1989.

Brewing is not solely dedicated to major metropolitan areas. In fact, many towns and small cities offer everything a beer traveler is looking for in a destination. We’ve compiled a list of 20 of the best beer towns in the US based on size (population under 100,000), with a minimum number of two breweries, and the area’s overall appeal to beer fans. The list spans the country from east to west and if turned into a road trip would cover 9,315 miles over 33 states.