It has been awhile since I toured a brewery and there are so many nowadays that I thought I’d hear from others about their experience. I am not interested in the braised cale and bean sprouts you had, just the tour experience. But I guess if you feel the need, I can't stop you.

The last one I was on was about 15 years ago, either Summit or Sprecher. Sprecher didn’t charge an admission then.

For fun, these are some of the big guys I visited back in the day.

Hamm’s – free pretzels & beer, you could stay as long as you wanted, no limit. I only saw a group of about a half dozen football players from a local private college get the boot because they were getting kinda loud. I think Hamm’s was afraid they’d have to call the cops if it got any worse.

Grain Belt – cool because their building was the open factory type where you could see how most of the process was tied together. The truck drivers had a break room where they could throw down a couple on break. The office had a water fountain that dispensed beer. According to a relative who worked there, 3 out of 5 workers were alcoholics, not surprising given how beer flowed so freely there. Nice tavern as the hospitality room, I wonder if it still exists?

Schmidt – cool exterior of the grounds (brick) but otherwise forgettable.

G. Heilmann – Best beer of the big boys IMO, I even toured it after it was shut down and restarted by the present owners. They were, and still are, a contract brewer. You'd be surprised at whose beer has been brewed here.

I toured all of the above breweries on the last day it was possible before they closed. In fact I was the last person to tour Grain Belt.

Miller – once I toured this place I knew why they are probably the worst beer in America. A couple of years ago somebody gave me a Miller and it was again confirmed.

Bud in St. Louis, the wooden escalator was cool.

Coors – fitting that this place would eventually join with Miller. A huge modern factory with no character.

Leinies in Chippewa Falls – nice tour but how cheap can you be? 2 little Dixie cups of beer, maybe 3 swallows, I haven’t drank any of their beer or toured their place in over 20 years.

We've found that most tours -- especially from the big breweries -- are pretty boring. (Miller is the worst) "Here are our kettles..." "Here is where we add the ingredients..." "Here are our bottles..." At least they ended with tastings.

Very notable exceptions:
* Deschutes in Bend, OR - Great stories on a full walk-around, 2 free beers daily even without touring
* Schell's in New Ulm - Packed with history, informative tasting
* Surly in Minneapolis - Entertaining, up-close tour, generous gifts, great food on-site
* Budweiser at Grant's Farm, St. Louis, MO - Wonderful, relaxed setting, Clydesdales

The only way one can taste beer at Yukon Brewery, in Whitehorse, is to take the free tour. Does anyone know if that is the rule throughout Canada?