For the seasoned beer festival or the novice, below are some tips to help you maximize your beer fest experience:

1. Get there early. Not only will you beat some of the lines, but it will also allow you to potentially meet with and talk to the brewery representatives. And of course, getting there early means more time to drink!

2. Get to know the brewers. In learning about Israel’s beer renaissance, it’s been fascinating to hear about how brewers went from their home kitchen to licensed microbrewery. The representatives or brew masters (if you’re lucky) will be more than happy to share their journey with you.

Endless beer on tap | 2015 Tel Aviv Beer Fest

3. Ask the brewer to recommend their favorite brew. This of course is a loaded question, but asking what they are known for or their most popular beer can help you decide what to try, especially if you’ve never tried their beer before.

4. Drink water! Hydrating is always good but also water will help to cleanse your palette in between tastings. The lingering flavors from food and other beers can greatly affect your impression of the brew.

5. Go from light to dark. If you’re tasting a number of different beers, let the color be your guide. It is best to taste from light to dark, as the lighter beers tend to have less impact on the palate. .

6. Get out of your beer comfort zone. Your first impulse could be to try the brands or styles you’ve had before, but it will never be easier to sample the up-and-coming or hard-to-find breweries or just a different style than you’re used to.

Alexander’s Wheel of Beer Fortune | HaHatzer’s latest brews

7. Try seasonal brews. It’s summer, so brewers may have seasonal wheat or saison’s that will be refreshing on a hot August day.

8. Keep track of your favorite tastings. Ok, this will be harder than it sounds, especially as the night goes on. But there will be a lot of different brands and styles you will try, so this is your best chance to remember what you had so you can request it next time!

9. Ask about distribution. If you like a brew, ask where you can find it. If it’s not carried in your area, ask if there’s anything you can do to help expand the distribution network, other than telling your friends, mapping their beer on our site, and requesting it at your local bar.

10. Be safe and have fun!

The itinerary:

Camping at Michmanim Ecological Village
Galil Brewery-Kibbutz Moran
Malka Brewery-Kibbutz Yehiam
Yehiam Fortress

One of the great things about Israel is that you can get in your car, drive a couple hours, and feel like you’re an entire world away. This means that a brew adventure is never too far.

On a Thursday afternoon, we loaded up the car with our tent, overnight belongings, and Porter the dog, heading towards the Western Galil. We arrived at our home for the night, the Michmanim Ecological Village, just in time to watch the sunset from one of the many hammocks roped to the trees, overlooking the Beit Kerem Valley. A fantastic start to the weekend.

The place was a perfect place to rest and drink some beers next to the fire while we discussed our beer tastings for the next day. While we camped there, the eco village also offers various sleep arrangements.

Friday was HOT. A perfect time for a cold one. We headed over to the Galil Brewery in Kibbutz Moran, only about a 15 minute drive from where we were staying. We had never tried Galil brews so we weren’t sure what to expect. We were warmly greeted by the staff and head brewmaster. The bar feels open and friendly and you can see where they do some of their brewing. The back of the bar has a porch with a view and Porter was allowed to hang out here.

We got an introduction to all of their brews: Irish stout, Blonde ale, Wheat, Saison, Belgium Tripple, IPA, and Pumpkin ale. The IPA and Blonde Ale were our favorites, but in the spirit of summer I went for the Saison which had a light fruity touch (very refreshing on a 40-degree day). We were very excited to see a pumpkin ale, which is something coveted come Fall in the US. It was good but we would’ve preferred to pack even more of a punch when it comes to the pumpkin spice.

We were pleasantly surprised, not only by their own brews, but in their whole mission. The brew pub stocks around 50 Israeli boutique beers at a time. They told us their mission is not to be the best brewery in Israel but to serve as a place where people can learn about and enjoy Israeli craft beer. True craft beer lovers who want to spread the love of microbrews! We’re glad to have more people fighting the good fight.

They’ve been around for over 3 years, and mostly sell in the North but you can also find them in Tel Aviv. For now, the only place you can drink their beer on tap is at the Galil Brew Pub. So go for a taste! Being that they’re not in Jerusalem yet, we bought a six pack for ourselves. Up until 3 months ago, Galil Brewery did not have a kosher hechser which hindered them from distributing them in Jerusalem. Hopefully they’ll now be coming to Jerusalem.

After, the Galil Brewery, the next stop was Malka Brewery. The drive from the Galil Brewpub to Malka is about 35 minutes. So if you’re going to try out this brew adventure, you’ll need a designated driver, or to leave enough time between brewery stops to sober up. =)

Malka beers are good but I have to say that what’s even better about visiting their brewery is the atmosphere. The place was packed when we got there. You get the feeling you’ve walked into a family BBQ. Their huge yard has a rustic feel with a collection of old chairs. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Haifa. Reggae music sets the mood and you find yourself soon sitting with a table full of strangers that feel like old friends. We got to meet a couple of regulars, Dror and Shlomi. It’s not only the beer, they said, it’s about the atmosphere, it’s about the feeling of the Western Galilee.

You can do a tasting of Malka’s lineup: Stout, Amber, IPA, Wheat, Pale Ale. The local favorite: the Malka amber.

With your beer you can enjoy a hot dog and chips or a cup of mixed nuts, olives, or pickles. They’ll also let you check out the brewing process in the back. Just ask. The bar is only open on Fridays (although you may be able to schedule private group tours).

Afterwards, we went to the top of the Yehiam Fortress and enjoyed one last bottle with a spectacular view from the watch tower. The history of this crusader-age fortress is interesting, yet the watch tower is worth a visit for the view alone. It may be the best place to soak in the vibes of the ‘olive and sea’ country that Dror and Shlomi were talking about.

P.S. We had wanted to make a stop at Meadan, but unfortunately their website was down and we didn’t have a way of contacting them. Meadan is a gluten-free brewery. We were a bit skeptical, but actually we met Meadan himself, at the Tel Aviv beer fest a couple weeks later and tried his Buckwheat ale. It’s a great option for the gluten-free folk out there and even for gluten-full beer drinkers, it had an interesting taste. At any rate, it’s a fantastic endeavor. We hope to next time be able to stop at the brewery..and if you decide to do a similar route, I’d suggest stopping there as it’s between Galil and Malka.

We are amidst a long overdue beer renaissance in Israel,  and it is truly a magical time.  Beer lovers are rejoicing! Even the occasional beer drinker may have noticed more Israeli brews on tap at restaurants and bars, or that their local bottle shop now has beer donning labels of new Israeli brands, or perhaps, has even accepted an invitation to one of the several beer festivals happening around the country.

Crafting beer is about so much more than creating an alcoholic beverage. A well-crafted beer often serves as an emblem of its land and its brewer. The brewer takes raw ingredients from the land–hops, wheat, barley, water–and develops a unique recipe, giving us a taste of that deep connection between man and his homeland. And that taste is damn good.

The metaphor suits Israel so well, it’s surprising that the craft beer scene hasn’t surfaced sooner. Israel brewers sometimes have to import ingredients but many add special spices or tastes known to Israel.

Many have written about how the beer scene in Israel has changed rapidly in the past few years. The legend has it that it all began with David Cohen of Dancing Camel.  Cohen is described as the pioneer of craft brewing in Israel, beginning his brewery in 2006. Now there are close to 30 licensed breweries and handfuls more of home brewers and contract brewers trying to make it into the scene.

But while the beer renaissance is hopping (pun intended), it still is in its youth. And for that reason it needs continued support. Brewing isn’t easy in Israel. The people who decide to dive in head first into microbrewery are taking a passion-led risk and often not making a huge profit. You’ll hear about a new brewery, have a tasting at a fair, and before you know it, their website is down and they’re no longer answering the phone. There are a range of issues stemming the beer boom, from the lack of demand for good beer (Israelis drink less than most countries) to the high cost of Israel-brewed beers to fragmented distribution.

We want the beer renaissance to succeed. So we decided to join the cause by creating a crowd-sourced beer map of all of the craft beer in Israel and by documenting our beer adventures as we galavant around the country.

This website will be dedicated to the beer renaissance as it’s happening, highlighting delicious brews and the story of their brewers, discussing the issues of the craft beer scene and how you can help it progress, converting non-beer-believers into craft beer supporters and last, but certainly not least, we are putting Israel craft beers on the map, so anyone who wants to find a good beer can locate it.

But it will take more than just two beer lovers with a map, a blog and dog. We need your help!

Join us in fighting the good fight:

-Add your favorite craft beer locations to the map
-Share and visit the blog or map
-Sign up for our newsletter
-Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
-Drinking Israel craft beer

Map it. Drink it. Live it.

L’Chaim!