Pennsylvania Beer Writer, Lew Bryson, visits the Jean Bonnet Tavern

VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, & DELAWARE BREWERIES is the result of over six months and 2,500 miles of travel, during which Bryson visited every brewery, brewpub, and brew-your-own place in the three states – “and the District of Colombia!” Bryson quickly adds. “I hit all 57 of them; it’s complete.” The book, published by Stackpole Books in Mechanicsburg, includes information on each brewery’s types of beer, tours, and food. Bryson, a noted beer connoisseur, also recommends a favorite beer for each brewery.

But as reviewers said about Bryson’s Pennsylvania Breweries(due out in a new, third edition in September) this beer book “acknowledges that there is life beyond the brewery walls.” So each brewery entry also has suggestions for lodging, a variety of interesting local attractions, and the best local bars. “Brewery tours make me thirsty,” Bryson explained. “That’s why I went the extra mile to do bar research as well. It’s a lot of work, but it’s all for the reader.”

VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, & DELAWARE BREWERIES is divided geographically, with the breweries grouped by location: Tidewater, Western Maryland, Metro DC, and so on. Bryson gives some background on each area, with even more suggested attractions, and shows the reader the magic in the surroundings. Then, just to stuff the book with even more meat, he adds interlude bits on microbreweries, brewing beer, “beer travel,” the best bars, and the mid-Atlantic’s exciting regional foods, like Chesapeake crabs, half-smokes, and Virginia ham.

Bryson’s home and real love, though, is Pennsylvania. That’s where his first book came from, PENNSYLVANIA BREWERIES, and that’s why that book will be coming out in its third edition this September. Following the same well-liked format as VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, & DELAWARE BREWERIES, the book includes brief descriptions of over 100 Pennsylvania bars, including the Jean Bonnet Tavern.

“The Jean Bonnet is one of my favorite places in Pennsylvania,” said Bryson. “For a beer and whiskey guy like me, it’s great. Not only is the beer selection outstanding, but George Washington marshaled his troops to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion right out there in the fields. You can’t beat history like that.” Innkeepers Shannon and Melissa Jacobs serve an excellent menu, maintain four lovely guest rooms, and, of course, keep an outstanding selection of draft and bottled beers.

Lew Bryson writes about beer and the brewing scene for Malt Advocate, Beverage Business, and Ale Street News. He also conducts tastings, beer dinners, and pubcrawls. He maintains a website, www.lewbryson.com, that includes constant updates to all three of the Breweries books.

“It’s a great job,” says Bryson. “I go to breweries, I drink their beers, I tell people about it, and I get paid for it. Almost every guy I know wants to be me.” Bryson lives in Newtown, Pennsylvania, with his wife, two kids, and his dog, Barley.