Huntsville is a very dynamic place with an active and growing local population. In fact, Huntsville recently became the city in Alabama with the largest population. Of note, there is an Army base next to Huntsville, the University of Alabama Huntsville campus in town, and a growing defense and space industry complex that includes the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and numerous defense industry and IT companies.
Our family was drawn to Huntsville because of the schools, job opportunities, amenities, and housing prices – and many more people are doing the same!
Of course, lots of people come to visit Huntsville and the surrounding area. We have some truly unique craft alcohol experiences to offer both locals and visitors. Downtown we have a former middle school that has been transformed into a space that houses breweries, restaurants, a coffee shop, meeting spaces, a ballroom, and bars. Elsewhere in the complex, you can find other fun places like an arcade, ax-throwing, and a wine bar.
Across town, you’ll find bars and restaurants that make visiting downtown worthwhile. From Phat Sammy’s, a tiki bar, to Sip, a swanky cigar bar, there are options for everyone.
There are craft breweries of all sizes around the city including Straight to Ale, Yellowhammer, Chandler’s Ford Brewing, Innerspace Brewing, Salty Nut, Green Bus Brewing, and Mad Malts. There is a Craft Beer Trail to follow, and recently the Downtown Huntsville Craft Cocktail Trail was unveiled which includes seven stops each offering a specific cocktail made for the trail.
I am a beer enthusiast and homebrewer. I have a nice homebrew system in my garage and I enjoy making various styles and variations. My favorite types of beer to drink and brew are porters, kolsch’s, and IPAs. My wife enjoys drinking sour beers, wine, and mixed drinks – especially with friends.
An example of just how enthusiastic I am about craft beer is a road trip that we took in 2018. Over nine days, we drove around the southeast visiting friends and breweries. We jumped off from Columbus GA and traveled through Nashville, TN, to Richmond, VA, down to Fayetteville, NC, through Athens, GA, and back home again.
I visited 15 breweries on the trip, and as a family, we visited eight more. Our two sons had a blast and we made memories that we’ll always cherish!
Let me show you the best of what Rocket City has to offer for beer, spirits, and more…on Huntsville Brews Cruise!
~ Patrick Armour