Fifty Places to Drink Beer Before You Die is a book whose time has come! When I started brewing Samuel Adams in 1984, there were only about fifty breweries operating in the United States. Today, more than four thousand independent craft breweries are thriving here. The craft beer renaissance has not been limited to the U.S., however. Innovative craft breweries have sprung up all over the world. This is the greatest time in history to be a beer lover!
Reading this book will inspire you to grab two things: your favorite beer and your suitcase. What a wonderful quest to map out all the places where you've had a beer or would like to have a beer.
An unforgettable beer experience has many elements. Certainly, the quality of the beer is critical, but it's also the place. Back in 1992 I went to Argentina to climb Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the western hemisphere. I brought a bottle of Sam Adams with me and strapped it to my body to keep it from freezing. When we reached the summit, I pulled it out from my climbing clothing and opened it. Thanks to the twenty-three-thousand foot altitude, the beer quickly erupted into a foamy geyser, and I got only a small sip of my Boston Lager. Still, it's one of the top fifty places I've ever enjoyed a beer in my life, aside, of course, from our Boston brewery.
I've always thought there is special magic in the first sip of a wonderful beer. Aaaah! If you combine the magic of the first sip with a magic moment, that's as good as it gets.
So, as you travel the world seeking peak beer experiences, don't forget to seek life's peak moments as well. Nothing goes better with a great beer than a memorable experience with family, friends, and the people you meet while traveling in pursuit of the best beer experience.
Cheers!
—JIM KOCH, FOUNDER OF BOSTON BEER COMPANY AND BREWER OF SAMUEL ADAMS