It isn’t exactly unique to participate in Dry January, but this year I participated by going through all of January without so much as a light beer. It was good to take a step back after the indulgence of the holiday season. In addition to being good for my liver and helping my body readjust, it is a good chance to reflect on individual relationships with alcohol and set good habits for the year ahead.

Even while I was going through the month, there were one or two occasions where people around me were partaking and I held back. In these instances, seeing the beer they were drinking made me want to indulge, but I made it through.

One of the cities with the biggest and best brewing scene is Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Here are a few breweries on my list to explore if I ever make it to Milwaukee:

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If you’re interested in beer, for its taste or inebriating effects, the Miller Brewing Company probably isn’t on your list of places to visit when you travel to Wisconsin. This brewery is worth touring, however, if only for its impact on the history of brewing in America. Frederick Miller settled in Milwaukee in 1855 with yeast he brought from Germany, and since then Miller called it home.

Moving into the more specialized beer, first on the list is Lakefront Brewery. This brewery is notable because it offers the country’s first USDA-approved gluten-free beer. The brewery offers a ton of year-round, seasonal and special-release draughts as well as the two gluten-free options.

Next up is Milwaukee Brewing Company. This one is more of a standard yet high-quality craft brewery. The brewery has a beer for every season and taste but doesn’t pull any punches with gimmicks or any singular specialty. A wide array of seasonal releases complement a robust year-round slate of beer. When you visit Milwaukee Brewing Company, make sure to check out the destination local series. These artisanal beers are the brewery’s gems. Gin O-Gii won a gold award at the 2016 World Beer Cup.

Third Space Brewing ticks all the right boxes for a family spot to enjoy a great beer. Third Space gets its name from its own designation as the place away from work and home as a space to disengage and enjoy a beer in the company of people you love. Third Space Brewing has a number of well-loved beers and a few spaces to indulge. The brewery’s beer garden, specifically, is family- and dog-friendly, making it the perfect candidate for a visit even if you are traveling with kids.

— Erich Martin, assistant editor