Scroll through your favorite streaming service and you’ll find countless shows and travel series dedicated to the culinary world. Glam shots of high-end restaurants and next-level chef artistry. Maybe even a few shows dedicated to wine culture. But, despite its rise as an exciting subculture, the world of craft beer has never been showcased in the same light. The beer review app Untappd seeks to change that with its new show Next Exit, a craft beer travel series styled after Bourdain’s Parts Unknown. The first episode aired on YouTube and sees host Untappd’s Creative Director Kenny Gould explore Pittsburgh, PA. Gould makes stops at famed dive bar Kelly’s Bar & Lounge, the historic Pittsburgh Brewing Company, and Chengdu Gourmet where he chats with Day Bracey, one of the prominent voices in Pittsburgh’s craft beer scene.
Untappd plans to release five more episodes of Next Exit in 2022. The cities have not been announced yet but viewers are encouraged to suggest future destinations for Next Exit. While craft beer sometimes portrays itself as insular and exclusive, Next Exit seems to open the world of beer to the viewer. The first episode offers historical context for Pittsburgh’s beer scene before meeting its modern players. Like any good food or beverage travel series, Next Exit gives a warm welcome to newcomers – allowing beer novices to get a sense of what makes a city’s craft beer community special.
