My wife and I will be spending the upcoming weekend in Huntsville, AL. I know BrewBama and Majorvices are residents. Any good tips on stuff to see and places to eat and drink?
For beer you might check out Beezr/Chandler’s Ford. The brewer is making some good beers and the brewhouse is a homebrewer’s dream system with horizontal lager tanks and everything (it’s a tiny system but really sweet). Campus 805 (Yellowhammer and Straight to Ale). Yellowhammer beers are good still (I’ll take credit for that) … STA is kinda hit or miss.
Space and Rocket Center is neat – Check out the Davidson Center to see a horizontal Saturn V and some neat exhibitions without spending a ton of money.
There’s a lot to do downtown near Beezr/Chanler’s Ford (restaurants and such) and also at Campus 805.
I’m running Rocket Republic brewery right now but only have a couple beers on tap. They do have a downtown tap room. But I’m not ready to recommend it yet.
Straight to Ale, Yellowhammer, and Old Black Bear breweries all have good food and beers.
The Space and Rocket Center is pretty cool if you’re into space stuff.
If you’re looking for outdoor activities HSV has a lot of hiking, biking, and birding trails, and kayaking on the Flint River, or a picnic on Monte Sano Mountain or Big Spring Park.
Check out Burritt on the Mountain. https://burrittonthemountain.com/
Monte Sano State Park has some great views on the North and South Plateau loops. It’s $5 to get in.
Walk around Big Spring Park and walk to the spring itself.
I like Sam and Gregg’s Pizza downtown. Good pizza on the square and 10-12 beers on tap (several local).
Something different: head west to the Rattle Snake Saloon. It’s 1.5 hours west.
I’ve heard good things (mostly about the views) about this brewery 1.5 hours East. https://yelp.to/4MegUKTRukb
Head North 1 hour to Lynchburg, TN, home of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.
Thanks, guys. We hope to see some Fall colors or at least escape from the Florida heat and humidity for a couple days.
BTW we took a tour of the Jack Daniels distillery many years ago. At the end the tour guide took a photo of our group (on film back in the day) and sent it to us in the mail later. Except we weren’t in it.
Old Black Bear??? They do have good food … not always great beer. At least that’s my experience.
The JD tour is different now. They charge (years ago they did not) and you can get certain tours with whiskey tastings. Still a really neat tour but it has gotten pricey.
Don’t forget Cross-Eyed Owl across the bridge in Decatur.
Also, check the calendar and see if anything’s going on at Lowe Mill. If you like tea, check out Piper and Leaf.
My info’s a little dated, but Casa Blanca used to have really good carnitas with nopalitos and everything. And there were a couple of good German restaurants. Grounded in Madison was a pretty good locally owned coffeeshop.
Phuket if you like Thai.
And the Botanic Garden is pretty good … but maybe underwhelming in October.
I take my hat off to you, sir, if you had anything to do with Midnight Special.
Go hit the original Big Bob Gibsons in Decatur of you want some pretty fantastic BBQ.
Yep. All the original flagship beers are mine. Thanks!
I liked their Cave City Lager. I haven’t had it in a while but I remember it as a pretty good Dunkel.
Well, I know the owner. So that may tarnish my opinion of the beers. 
The Breweries
Campus 805 (central Huntsville)
Yellowhammer- Good beer. Good pizza. Nice patios.
Straight to Ale- hit and miss. Speak easy. Good patio. Good burgers.
Salty Nut- hit and miss. Owned by Straight to Ale. Do lots of homebrewer collaborations with 256 Brewers.
Innerspace- lots of Saisons. Closed a lot.
Note: the above 4 are very close to each other and in a Purple cup district (you can carry a glass of beer outside)
Downtown:
Beezr - small unique place. Good beer and good. Check the hours. They aren’t always open.
Green Bus- meh. Great location and nice bar. Beer is okay.
Below the Radar- good food. They seem to rotate head brewers and recipes. The last time I was there I was really happy. But, many times before the beer has been bad.
Note: These 3 are within walking distance of each other and in a purple cup zone.
Madison:
Rocket Republic- Majorvices works here. Two locations. The one in Madison is where the says the beer is better right now.
Mad Malts- some good hefes and dark beer. Strange location in a warehouse in a mediocre neighborhood.
Old Black Bear- “downtown” Madison. It’s been okay when I went.
Bowler Hat- fairly new. Good reviews.
South Huntsville:
Fractal- good patio. Beer is hit and miss. I like their Amber and Pilsner. Their is a new math problem to solve each time you go.
Decatur:
Cross Eyed Owl- too far for me. Sorry.
Good beer bars:
The Nook- great patio
Old town beer exchange (downtown I. purple cup district)
The Liquor Store- a liquor and beer store with a whole lot of taps
Das Stahl Bierhaus- beer store and bar. The owner selects the beer so he does a good job with putting unique beers on tap.
Brass Tap- this is a chain. Don’t go here.
Note: all of the above have great selection of beers.
Pretty good run down Tommy. I think i pretty much agree with you down the line.
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Bier bewusst genießen
One other question: each state will have different rules for who sells what and where. Will my wife be able to order a Chardonnay or a gin and tonic at a brew pub? Are there separate stores for beer, wine and spirits?
There are separate stores: wine and beer are together, spirits are separate. The Liquor Store has both. You just go left or right inside the outer door.
Some breweries make vodka and gin and therefore sell some mixed drinks: Yellowhammer and Straight Ale
Brewpubs sell food and other beer and other alcoholic beverages: Below the Radar, Old Black Bear (Brewpubs must get half their revenue from food and must sell other brands of beer)
Many breweries sell cider.
Our breweries technically can’t sell food (brew pubs can). But, they can rent space inside to a restaurant: Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer.
Other breweries often have a food truck or may let you order in with Uber Eats, etc.
PS. Take your wife to L’Etoile Patisserie for coffee and a pastry. She’ll love you for it. You’ll like it to.
While your there check out the two stores on each side; Holtz Leather Co. and Preservation Co. They are cool too.
Yellowhammer and STA both have distilleries and both serve mixed drinks/liquors. Some of the other pubs may have them as well. In AL the restaurant must have a certain manufacturers lic. to serve both and in most cases also serve food. Hard to be more descriptive than this without going into loads of detail.
Well, we’ve been here about eight hours now and had a diner-like breakfast at Gibson’s BBQ, walked downtown a bit, strolled the Botanical Gardens, had a flight at Yellowhammer, went to the Art Museum, and had a beer or two at BeeZr (Chandlers Ford). I’m drinking a can of Midnight Special in the hotel room and working on a plan for tomorrow.