Andy’s SoapBox

Thanks to this post at Hop Talk, I learned that New York is launching an official Empire State Brewery Trail in September to highlight its beer. According to an article in USA Today “The trail is similar to promotions that the wine industry has used to attract tourists to visit vineyards in the Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley and eastern Long Island.”

Now this is an idea I can get behind since it combines two of my favorite things: beer and hiking. OK, I don’t know if this is really how it is, but I picture a rolling sylvan trail along a winding brook, and every few miles there is a brewer ready to share free samples. (In my mind, there are also ice cream cakes and dancing girls every so often, but those are beside the point.) It reminds me of the Englischer Garten in Munich which also has trails and streams and several wonderful Biergartens (and nude sunbathing – but again, beside the point).