It's free? Our local tour cost money. I think it's because in California alcohol can't be provided for free. Heck - my kid (who didn't even get a drink with admission) cost $2. I had one drink (a Best Damn Cream Soda) at the beginning of the tour, but others were pounding two down before hitting the actual factory tour. And at the end I didn't want to drink much since I was driving. Instead of getting full beer I got a couple of tastes (in shot glasses) and I traded in my coupon for a Coke for my kid. Some were even getting bottled water. I've taken my kid on a winery tour near Seattle, and then they handed out a cup with grape juice so my kid didn't feel left out.
I even saw A-B employees drinking beer in the tasting room. I wonder if they get it for free.
I did learn that "beechwood aging" basically does nothing to impart any flavor to the beer. We were allowed to take a beechwood chip, smell it, and even keep one. Smelled like absolutely nothing. I felt kind of cheated when George Clooney talks about it, and then I find that it's not like an oak barrel adding flavor to wine, but just to give the yeast something to adhere to rather than settling at the bottom of the tank.
We actually did a double tour that day. We went to the Jelly Belly Candy Company tour first. They gave free samples. For some reason I got draft beer jelly beans. They said kids weren't allowed to have any, even though there's no alcohol. The A-B brewery is about a half mile away.
https://www.jellybelly.com/california-factory-tours
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Jel...c541c82515091!2m2!1d-122.0912008!2d38.2360465
My kid is somewhat psyched about their open house coming up next week. They're even bringing the Clydesdales. We'll probably go to Jelly Belly too.
http://www.budweisertours.com/locations/fairfield-california/events-calendar.html#BOH