A new destination is being added to beer tasters' lists. The classic beer route has, for centuries, been clearly drawn along a line passing through some very selective traditional European destinations (Bavaria and Belgium being indisputably at the top of the list). Now, that's changing. Microbreweries—local breweries with a production amount ranging from small artisanal quantities to volumes akin to small- or medium-sized factories—have multiplied in the United States, in amounts never seen before. They have boosted a parallel beer-tasting economy that invites fans of hops and malts to travel to breweries throughout the country, from the West Coast to New England.
However, it wasn't until December 10, 2013 that the most eagerly awaited Mecca of American beer opened its doors. St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts—about 60 miles from Boston—was finally certified by the International Trappist Association as the first Trappist brewery in the United States.
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