The concept of taking a brewery tour is for beer lovers who like the whole experience more than the end destination itself. You get to map out taprooms on your way, search for rare brews, and discuss all things hops on the journey itself. Every stop will give you a taste of their experimentation and unique flavoring, depending on the location you visit. Yet it should be noted that safety should come first in your adventure. A little bit of planning ensures everyone’s safe on the road trip.
Map Your Brewery Route in Advance
Start with a clear plan of where you are going on your brewery road trip -and how you plan to arrive. Without assessing distances or traffic, moving from one brewery to another can make you drive fast and, therefore, make risky decisions. It is common to have a lot of traffic on highways. A high traffic situation on the roads may lead to increased incidences of sudden braking, lane changes, and other accidents.
Make sure you do the following:
- Cluster nearby breweries
- Look at the traffic pattern and construction sites
- Calculate realistic travel times between each destination
This helps minimize stress. You will feel less pressured to arrive at each tasting venue before its closure, and you are less likely to speed or drive distracted.
Choose Reliable Transportation
You should arrange for your means of transport before you consume any alcohol, because it will cause you to be stressed if you attempt to sort out your transportation means at the end of the day. This is because, in just 2024, there were 11,904 deaths resulting from drunk driving accidents, and according to the NHTSA, that is.
Thus, think this through beforehand. For example, you can either:
- Pick one member of your group who will remain sober
- Schedule a ride-sharing from one location to another
- Pay for a local chauffeur or brewery tour service.
With all of these arrangements made, there is no need to wonder about whom everyone should choose to be a driver at any moment. After ignoring all warnings about responsible driving, you put yourself into situations that increase the likelihood of becoming involved in a car accident, thus potentially injuring both yourself and others in the same or other vehicles. If you are in an accident as a driver in Colorado, you are obliged by law to stop your vehicle, give out information, and report an accident whenever it is required.
But if you choose to leave the scene of the incident or injury, you can face severe penalties from the law. In regard to being travelers within the state of Colorado, like in Denver, understanding how authorities handle hit-and-run accidents in Denver can be important if an accident occurs during a brewery road trip. It is always best to speak to a local lawyer regarding your situation.
Pace Your Alcohol Consumption
Craft beers are not light beers. Some IPAs, stouts, and limited editions actually have more alcohol than one might think, and tasting samples can easily rack up. The national standard for blood alcohol concentration in all 50 states is .08. Per NHTSA findings, a driver whose BAC exceeds .08 is four times more at risk of being involved in a crash than a sober driver. One’s risk of a collision actually starts to go up well before hitting this legal threshold, meaning waiting until you feel you’re “over the line” will be anything but effective in preventing crashes.
Use these basic techniques to drive safely:
- Hydrate during tastings
- Split the high-ABV beers
- Consume proteins
Assign and Support a Designated Driver
The designated driver can be considered the best tool for safety on brewery tours. It works effectively if all the members plan it out and respect the arrangement. The designated driver commits to drinking nothing, while other members promise not to harass the designated driver with jokes. Some examples of supporting a designated driver include helping the member pay for food and beverages that are free from alcohol content. During a busy craft beer festival, this kind of support becomes even more important. And you could:
- Rotate the role on longer trips
- Choose breweries with strong non-alcoholic options
Making Safety Part of Every Craft Beer Road Trip
If the tour is organized well, the experience will be fantastic for sure. With careful planning, good timing, and proper transport, it is possible to focus on the taste of the beer instead of red and blue lights in the mirror. After the organizational part is settled, everything that follows will become more pleasant: trying new seasonal beers and talking about tastes with friends.
