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.