Looking for your first adventure of 2016? Adding to your New Year’s resolution list of new things to try? Then the Jacksonville Ale Trail and Craft Beer Passport is just the thing! While we’re happy to celebrate bike trails and running trails any time of the year, this month we’re celebrating one of the most popular trails here in Jacksonville: The Jax Ale Trail.

The Ale Trail, which just celebrated its first birthday this December, is all about showcasing the Jax craft beer scene. With the great selections of beer and a variety of breweries here in Jax, it’s hard to go wrong. No matter where you are in the city, there is sure to be a brewery in close proximity.

While the Ale Trail celebrates our local beer, it’s not just locals enjoying it. According to Visit Jacksonville, since its creation in December 2014 more than 20,000 people have picked up a Craft Beer Passport, and about 900 have been completed. With participants from 39 states and 5 countries, you can safely say our beer scene has gone international.

The Ale Trail and Craft Beer Passport consists of 8 breweries, and a ton of different brews. Here’s how the self-guided tour works: start by visiting any of the eight breweries on the list and pick up your Craft Beer Passport. In the passport you’ll find the rules (really more like guidelines) for getting the most out of the trail and winning yourself some Ale Trail swag. (Hint: you have to complete the passport!) Then, choose your route and start drinking!

Since the Ale Trail is self-guided, you decide where to start, where to end, and how much time you’d like to spend at each brewery. Last, but not least, make sure you remember to bring your passport to each taproom and get it stamped. You’ve got to prove that you’ve been to all eight get the swag.

If you’re looking to knock out a big part of the Ale Trail in a day, you may want to check out the Jacksonville Brew Bus. The Brew Bus has tours that depart at Bold City Brewery or Engine 15, and have tour options like the “Full Pour Tour” and the “Sampler Tour.” These stops include beers and tours of the breweries, and are a little more comprehensive than just stopping in at the taproom for a beer.

Besides exploring different parts of the city as you visit the taprooms, take the chance to try an unfamiliar or interesting type of beer you might not normally choose. For example, try the popular Count Shakula, a dark stout from Green Room Brewing known for its chocolatey flavor. Or, if stouts are your go-to brew, try something a little lighter, perhaps a saison (often a paler, fruity, style of ale) from Aardwolf.

When in doubt about picking a beer, ask the person behind the bar. Tell them what flavors you like, and what you don’t, and more than likely they’ll be able to recommend a brew that’s to your taste. If you’re just starting to explore beer and are not sure what you do like, ask for a sample. Most taprooms will gladly let you try a few sips of a beer before committing to a full glass.

With such success from the Ale Trail in just a year what can you expect from the Ale Trail next? A new beer adventure, that’s what! Have no fear if you’ve already completed your Craft Beer Passport; Katie Mitura, Director of Marketing and Product Development at Visit Jacksonville, is working on a phase two of the Ale Trail designed to “exceed expectations.” This next phase will feature an extension of the beer community by involving local bottle shops in town and preparing exciting new contests with killer prizes.

If you’re really dedicated to your beer adventure, then it won’t take you long to finish the Ale Trail, but there’s no rush with this New Year’s resolution. You’ve got a whole year for eight breweries—take the time to learn about the beer in our city, and the people that make it!

You can also view this article on the Jax Ale Trail on EU’s website.