How to Plan a Safe Washington Brewery Road Trip

Scenic open highway with yellow lane markings leading toward red rock cliffs under a bright blue sky.

You have recently purchased a new car and you would like to share the occasion with your friends. What can be more appropriate than a road trip with them?  It is a mini getaway and an opportunity to relax and unwind with friends, get away from day-to-day life, and enjoy your new car on an open road. Having planned, the remaining issue is to select the ideal destination that will ensure the experience is sweet. 

Here is one of the ideas: make a brewery tour in case you live in Washington. It is a great experience to get to know the local industry, some of the hard-working brewers, drink good beer, and just spend time with people you love. And now to ensure that this is a safe trip that will just put your new car through a test and not your health insurance policy, here are some tips to be observed:

Once a Designated Driver.

When one drives on a road trip, he or she must be a driver and so no alcohol. Incidents of it may be disgusting, but safety first, you know? Being your own driver, you should be assigned to drive. It is also an excellent opportunity to test your new car on a longer trip.

Extra tip: Many Washington breweries are making their own high-quality non-alcoholic craft beer, using ingredients and brewing techniques similar to those of their alcoholic counterparts to maintain flavor complexity.

Prep Your Vehicle

Yes, we understand that you are proud of your new automobile. But you are still new to it, and you need to exercise additional caution. And even though it may be only a day trip around Washington. 

Make the usual checks:

  • Tires: Get all four tires (or the spare) checked in terms of correct pressure. Look and test the depth of check treads and cracks, or bulges.
  • Fluids: Test and refill engine oil (refill once the service check has been completed), coolant, and windshield washer.
  • Brakes: Find out whether there is squeaky or grinding. Test the brake fluid tank.
  • Battery: Do not permit the battery terminals to become corroded (white/blue chalky deposits), and remember to ensure that you make connections difficult.
  • Fuel: Have the tank of gas filled at the start of the day.

Added tip: No one is willing to buy a car and later discover that it is faulty. However, when you are the unfortunate shopper, you may have a case of fraud committed by the auto dealer. In case this is so, seek a law firm.  specializing in this type of case, such as Auto Law Firm, and ask their advice. You might be entitled to some compensation.

Decide the Route

The vehicle is now ready to travel; the friends have been packed in, and all that is required is to determine the destination. Breweries are concentrated in Washington and the surrounding region, so it is not difficult to visit several of them in a day. To visit as many breweries as possible with the least distance between them, consider breweries located in a compact geographical location, like Western Washington. The Ballard Brewery District is known to be densely populated, and multiple breweries (including Stoup, Reuben, and Urban Family) are located on several blocks in the neighborhood of one another. It means that you will be in a position to park the car and take a walk between breweries. The rest you need to do is to make sure that the locations will be easily able to serve out a group and take the necessary breaks where there is a meal on the menu. After the first three places, you do not want your friends to get sloshed. 

Bonus tip: You can call the breweries of your choice or visit their websites to discover the hours of the taproom and availability of parking on the ground. The independent breweries lack space in most cases; hence, this will save time and the hassle of finding parking spaces.

Sipping, Driving, and Having a good time.

That is it: a guide to visiting the breweries of Washington in your new car. It can be a bit difficult to be the designated driver, but you can bring your favorite beers on the way and complete the tour at home, taking a calm tasting session. In that case, everybody has a good time drinking beer, making merry, and having a memorable experience.

@washingtonbeerblog