This is a guest article submission by David Ackley of Local Beer Blog (you can find them on Facebook).

If there were an award for Most Scenic Brewery, Volcano Brewing Company would certainly be in the running.

Just a few hours north of San Jose in the rural highlands of Costa Rica, lies one of the country’s most active volcanos, Arenal Volcano.  Volcano Brewing Company sits a safe distance away, just outside the town of Tilarán and on the opposite end of Costa Rica’s largest lake.  It is ideally situated for a day trip to the volcano, windsurfing on the lake, and exploring the surrounding tropical forests.

As one of the big players in Costa Rica’s rapidly growing craft beer scene, Volcano Brewing Company offers artisanal beer and spectacular scenery in a relaxed atmosphere.  Operated by the same folks behind Witch’s Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo, Volcano Brewing Company is a hotel, restaurant, and brewery, complete with swimming pool, skate park, and tennis court.  The on-site “Eco Farm” provides produce and dairy for the tasty and reasonably priced restaurant. Menu highlights include the Spinach Tilapia and the monstrous house burgers (seen below). Both the fish and the beef are locally sourced. Breakfast is included with your room. Dine well with the knowledge that your meal didn’t have to travel very far to get to your plate.

Volcano Brewing Company had four craft beers on tap during this writer’s visit: two of their own unfiltered ales, plus two from Costa Rica’s Craft Brewing Company:

Gato Malo Nut Brown Ale – Dark amber in color, with a clean hop aroma.  Flavors of caramel and coffee go down smoothly. Hopped with Challenger and Cascade. 4.5% ABV.

Witch’s Rock Pale Ale – A clean, sessionable, American-style pale ale, brewed with Chinook and Cascade hops. 4.8% ABV.

Libertas Golden Ale – Clear, golden in color, and capped off with a white head. Subtle aromas of fruit are reminiscent of a certain apricot-flavored beer from Vermont, but this beer is less full-bodied. 4.7% ABV.

Segua Red Ale – This red ale features aromas of mild, fruity hops matched by notes of caramel. Well-balanced hop bitterness makes it a nice pairing for spicier dishes. 5% ABV.

In addition to helping you decide which beer to start with, the friendly staff at Volcano Brewing Company will gladly assist in coordinating activities.  The more adventurous can arrange for tours of Arenal or the nearby waterfalls. Guests can also book area tours by horseback or kayak. For those just looking for a little down time, a massage can also be scheduled at the front desk.

Volcano Brewing Company is easily accessible by car, lying just a few hours north of San Jose by way of the Inter-American Highway. There are direct buses from San Jose to Tilarán Monday through Saturday. The one-way trip costs just over $6 and is a very manageable four-hour ride.

Starting June 24, 2012, Copa Airlines will offer service between Panama City and Liberia, making Tilarán more accessible than ever.  Volcano Brewing Company is just 8 km by taxi north of the Tilarán town center.

Volcano Brewing Company embodies the best of Costa Rica: laid back living in a gorgeous natural setting. If nothing else, enjoy a beer by the pool and watch the sun set over the lake. It will be well worth the trip.