This series of posts is dedicated to the many, many six packs, pony kegs and pints that have sauntered into my life at one point or another.

It can be dangerous to visit breweries while traveling, especially with full knowledge that there is plenty of room in the car for consumable souvenirs. On a recent trip to Chicago, for example, I was quite sure my beer fridge back at home was stocked adequately. Then, on a recommendation, a stop was made at the District Brew Yards, a unique facility home to multiple brewers and their collective tap room built around a unique pour-your-own model. Sampling every contributing brewery’s wares was a pleasure, but the main attraction was Burnt City Brewing. Small pours were sampled and savored, and, before I knew it, a box heavy with cans was loaded into the back of the car. And someone else was driving. I was reminded of that grand adventure recently when I opened up a Pterodactyl Deathscream, a double dry-hopped DIPA and was enthralled all over again. The brewery visits might be dangerous, but they are clearly risks worth taking.