The Beer Drinkers Layover: DRAFT Magazine’s Airport Guide to Beer Hunting

From May/June 2008 issue

Unbeknownst to most weary travelers, airports across the country are now serving up award-winning local microbrews, but you have to know where they are to take advantage.

The May/June issue of DRAFT magazine highlights the best airports for thirty travelers whose flights have been delayed and which airports to avoid.

Airports with award-winning local microbrews:

1.      Philadelphia International Airport: Thanks to Jet Rock, Philly features the rare jewel of a big-selection airport bar in not one, nut four terminals. The rock ‘n’ roll-themed restaurants in terminals B, C, and D pull 48 taps (24 in F) with a mix of local micros and big-brewery lagers.

Recommended Pint: Victory Hop Devil

2.      Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport: Grab a steak and pint at Ike’s near Checkpoint 1 at MSP. With eight taps, the bar pours local favorites from Surly and Summit brewing companies. Rock Bottom (at the intersection of concourses c and D) also features locally brewed ales, plus four bottles from Boulder Beer. Watch out; Rock Bottom fills up quickly.

Recommended Pint: Surly Bender

3.      JFK International Airport: JFK may be the busiest New York airport, but it also has the most plentiful craft beer selection with two Sam Adams (terminals 3 and 4) and two Brooklyn Brewery (terminals 1 and 4) bars. If that’s not enough, the NY Sport Bar and Grill (terminal 6) features 40 taps of craft and international beers.

Recommended Pint: Brooklyn Lager

4.      Boston Logan Airport: Aside from the obvious hometown favorites, San Adams Boston Brewhouse (Terminal C), Logan also holds the Harpoon Tap Room (Terminal A), with six beers on tap served in proper glassware. All employees at the Harpoon bar know their beer, thank to a mandatory course in craft beer held at the brewery, and are quick with recommendations.

Recommended Pint: Harpoon Munich Dark

5.      Seattle-Tacoma International Airport: Seattle is a beer haven, and so is its airport, Sea-Tac. The comfortable and amusingly adorned Africa Lounge (Concourse A) pours all four offerings from Mac and Jack’s Brewery, while the Alaska Lodge provides suds from another Northwestern favorite, Alaskan Brewing Company. The Mountain Room Bar rounds our Sea-Tac’s trifecta of great beer bars with local and national craft brews.

Recommended Pint: Mac African Amber

6.      Los Angeles International Airport: Three small but promising brewery outlets dot LAX with a range of American and classic European beers. San Diego’s Karl Strauss Brewing (Terminal 7) and local Manhattan Beach Brewing (Terminal 4) provide fine sample of American styles, while a Gordon Biersch (Terminal 1) represents Old World brewing.

Recommended Pint: Gordon Biersch Hefeweizen

7.      Salt Lake City International Airport: Salt Lake City is the last town where you’d expect to find a beer-friendly airport, but it actually has two great pubs from award-winning local brewers: Wasatch (Terminal 2, Concourse D) and Squatters (Terminal 2, Concourse c). Unlike nearly all airport pubs, Squatters Pub is actually run by the brewery, which ensures that a knowledgeable and passionate staff is pouring their 10 selections.

Recommended Pint: Squatters Full-Suspension Pale Ale

8.      Washington, D.C. Dulles International Airport: Virginia brewery Old Dominion (Concourse B) deserves major recognition for being the only airport bar to serve a wood-aged beer. Gordon Biersch (Concourse D) also serves up four flagship beers, if you’re in the mood for a classic German style.

Recommended Pint: Dominion Oak Barrel Stout

9.      Denver International Airport: One of the West Coast’s craft beer meccas, Denver International doesn’t disappoint. A Rock Bottom Restaurant (Concourse C) provides safe but flavorful taps, while nearby Timberline Steaks and Grill (Concourse C) pours an array of local brews. New Belgium provides the brewery’s standard lineup, including the coveted Fat Tire Amber Ale.

Recommended Pint: New Belgium 1554 Brussels Style Black Ale

10.     Portland International Airport: Portland is serious about its beer, and the airport shows it. Laurelwood Brewing’s two pubs (concourses A and E) offer top-notch organic ales, while Rogue (Concourse D) offers another eight brews alongside their own rums and gin.

Recommended Pint: Laurelwood Free Range Red

11.     Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport: The cozy Bluegrass Brewing Company (Concourse C) give a hint of what it’s like to sit on the Mason-Dixon line, while Sam Adams Celebrates Cincinnati (Concourse A) provides an escape if you’re not feeling up to that cultural exchange. Either option provides a tasty escape from long security lines.

Recommended Pint: Bluegrass Dark Star Porter

12.     St. Louis Lambert International Airport: Brewing in the shadow of Anheuser-Bush, Schlafly Beer did the sensible ting and crafted fill-flavored ales that blow light lasers right out of your glass. The Schlafly Taproom (Terminal B) showcase five of its best brands that show no fear when it comes to taste.

Recommended Pint: Dry –Hopped American Pale Ale

13.     Cleveland Hopkins International Airport: Tucked away on the quieter side of the airport, Great Lakes Brewing’s bar (Concourse A) is easy to miss, but worth finding. Three mainstay beers plus a seasonal ale are available in a sampler that can make the worst layover seem like a blessing

Recommended Pint: Holy Moses White Ale

14.     Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport: SweetWater brews up aggressive West Coast-style ales in the unsuspecting South, and your taste buds stand to benefit. In fact, the SweetWater Draft House will make sure of that with four delicious, unfiltered beers.

Recommended Pint: SweetWater IPA