Anyone else on a mission to drink their way around the world? If you just answered yes to that question then you’re in the right place! As a self-proclaimed beer connoisseur, I can say that sampling and enjoying local craft beer, as well as seasonal and specialty beers, has become a bit of a hobby. Combining my love for craft beer and travel makes for the perfect combination of these favorite aspects. When traveling abroad, I’m forced to step out of my “beer comfort zone” which has led me to try local brews from all over the globe.
From Prague to Portland, Munich to Dublin, Brussels to Asheville, each destination has its unique beer culture, history, and style, which makes trying beers while traveling a perfect way to experience the local culture. The world’s top beer destinations are just a plane ride away. To help you plan the perfect globe-trotting itinerary, I’ve rounded up the top beer destinations that span cultures and continents. Wherever you go, you’re guaranteed to discover memorable breweries, meet friendly locals, and indulge in world-class brews.
Best Beer Destinations in Europe
If it’s beer you love, then Europe is a continent for you. It boasts a rich brewing tradition and is home to numerous countries renowned for their beer culture. Some of these European cities are a must-visit at least once in your life. Of course, I’m talking about Munich with its world-famous Oktoberfest and Dublin with its creamy black Guinness. It may not be possible to drink all the beer around Europe, but if you want to get the most bang for your beer buck, check out these top beer destinations in Europe and see which one will quench your thirst.
You haven’t had Guinness until you’ve had a Guinness in Dublin, Ireland. The city is also home to several other famous breweries and pubs as well, including the Temple Bar and the Porterhouse.
Listed on most beer lovers’ bucket lists for its unique and diverse beer styles, including wild-fermented lambics, sour ales, to Trappist beers such as Orval and Chimay. While in Brussels, go to Delirium, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the bar that sells the most different labels with an astonishing 2,000 different types of beer available.
In Prague, you’ll have your choice of dozens of historic beer halls and swanky bars. For the traditional experience, go for U Fleku, Bredovsky Dvur, and U Vejvodu.
The Pilsner beer style was famously created in 1839 in Pilsen, Czech Republic (just a quick trip away from Prague), and golden larger is still the Czech capital’s beer of choice.
Beer lovers will find a great variety in Amsterdam. The Netherlands brought the world Amstel, Heineken, Grolsch, and many other renowned labels. Brouwerij’t IJ is perhaps the most iconic brewery in Amsterdam where you can sample more than 100 beers from exclusively Dutch breweries. Or also De Prael, which is another of the beer temples in the Dutch capital.
Berlin is one of Germany’s most storied beer cities. In addition to the long-standing local favorites such as Berliner weisse, Berlin’s brewers turn out hazy IPAs, sours, and a wide range of other styles.
More than 6 million beer lovers make their way to the Theresienweise in Munich to attend the famed Oktoberfest, a defining city tradition since it first took place in 1810 (usually held from late September to early October). Indulge in a Munich Helles pale lager at brew-centric icons such as the 16th-century Hofbräuhaus beer hall and the 11th-century Weihenstephan brewery in nearby Freising.
The Polish capital city of Warsaw boasts quality breweries serving up delicious beers. In recent years, the city has undergone a love affair with craft beer. It is home to over 25 multi-tap bars specializing in craft beer – Try the taste of smoky stouts, dark porters, hop-infused IPAs, and other rich ales and lagers from all over Poland.
Best Beer Destinations in the United States
The United States has a thriving craft beer scene, with many small breweries and brewpubs popping up in cities all over the country. Some of the most famous beer destinations in the US include Portland, Maine, San Diego, California, and Denver, Colorado.
The West Coast’s Portland has long been a beer destination – thanks in part to locally grown hops and barley that keep your microbrew tasting fresh and natural. There’s no shortage of breweries with nearly 70 just in Portland city limits. There are numerous organized beer tours that will help you see the sights and sip on your favorite local brews.
For beer lovers, Portland, Maine is a must-visit because of its amazing and diverse breweries. Currently, the city boasts 12.7 breweries per capita, making it the third-highest in the country. To sample a bunch of Maine beers in one go-around, stop at Novare Res in the Old Port neighborhood.
In the charming city of Asheville, NC you’ll find a strong beer culture that has drawn the attention of big names Sierra Nevada and New Belgium who have set up shop for their East Coast operations. Due to its small stature and saturation of brewers, Asheville boasts the most breweries per capita than any other city in America.
Home to some of the country’s oldest and biggest breweries like Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz, brewing beer in Milwaukee is an institution. You’ll also find that this city has been busy in the craft beer scene as well. Breweries like Lakefront, Milwaukee Brewing Company and heavy-hitter Leinenkulgel all produce popular German-style beers that are Sconnie approved.
Denver is the epicenter of Colorado’s brewery activity. As the home of the great American Beer Festival, Denver has been a mile-high summit for beer aficionados for nearly 25 years. Beyond Coors, and its baseball field, visitors to Denver will find one of the hottest craft beer scenes in the country.
Flagstaff is a great city for nature lovers, it’s a university town, and the first Dark Sky City, plus it offers plenty of choices when it comes to Flagstaff Breweries and brewpubs.
The Railroad district is making its mark as one of the best craft beer destinations. You may consider planning your next beer-cation around a Flagstaff festival. There is an outdoor beer and music festival every June, and a tasting event in January featuring 60 brewers representing local, regional, and national brewers.
Seattle is a city that takes its craft beer seriously. With more than 200 breweries in the state of Washington and counting, it’s no surprise that the Emerald City boasts a thriving craft brewing scene. From traditional German-style beers to experimental brews made with locally sourced ingredients, there’s a beer for every taste in Seattle.
San Diego, CA is to craft beer what Napa is to wine. Craft legends Stone Brewing and Ballast Point are the biggest to call the San Diego area home. Both beer companies offer tasting rooms and breweries that are spread throughout Southern California. Other popular beers are Green Flash, Pizza Port with its offshoot Lost Abbey, and Fall Brewing Company. The Golden State has around 1,000 craft breweries today, making it one of the top beer destinations for beer tourism.
Best Beer Destinations in Asia
Asia is home to some of the world’s largest lager brands that are exported around the world. In recent years, Asia has joined the craft beer craze. This can be seen in the host of new breweries and taprooms that have appeared in the last 5 years across the region. And for this reason, Asia can no longer be ignored as a traveler’s destination to sample some of the world’s best beers.
Qingdao’s Beer Festival has become a mainstay for Asian beer lovers. Every August millions gather for Qingdao’s epic International Beer Festival. The event is meant to mimic Munich’s world-famous Oktoberfest but with an added Chinese twist. Bratwurst-serving beer tents, Bavarian band music, and Peking opera performances come together to create a distinctive atmosphere. The festival is sponsored by Tsingtao, whose Qingdao-based brewery and museum are open all year.
Originally dominated by German-style wits, helles’ and alts, a throwback to the German influence in the early days of brewing in Japan, the modern craft brewers have definitely got their brew on as can be seen in the numerous new world beer styles now available. Be sure to make a beer stop at the legendary Popeye in Ryoguku – Japan’s premier specialist craft beer haunt. You can also find Japanese and imported microbrews on tap at countless bars around Tokyo – and even some places that are starting to brew their own.
Shanghai, China is an up-and-coming city for beer lovers. The beer scene here is very reminiscent of Portland. Portland brewers have been moving to Shanghai to set up shop, and the influence shows. Today you’ll find an expanding number of micro-breweries producing predominantly American-style craft beers. The trendy Itaewon district of Seoul was the original craft beer area thanks to the presence of a US Military base there for so many years.
Beijing, China is home to the largest collection of craft beer brands. Like many other countries, the craft brewers started off homebrewing and then scaled up rapidly once they had unlocked the demand for artisanal beers in the world’s largest beer market. Beer lovers will be pleased with the offerings of taprooms scattered across the city such as Slow Boat Brewery, NBeer Craft Brewery, Jing A, Panda Beer, Legend Beer, Steam Rhino Brewing, and Beersmith Craft Brewing.
Best Beer Destinations in South America
South American beers may not be the world’s most famous but there is no doubt that this continent is home to an ever-flourishing beer scene. If there’s nothing that you love more than enjoying a cold one with epic views, keep reading. This list of the best beers in South America is bound to get you craving a pint.
Cusqueña is one of the major players in Peru’s beer market. As the name would indicate, this regional beer originates from Cuzco. There are four varieties of Cusqueña, Dorada (lager), Roja (red ale), Negra (dark ale), and trigo (wheat beer). You’ll quickly recognize Cusqueña when you see it in a bar. The bottle labeling uses traditional Inca patterns and features an image of Machu Picchu above the logo.
Although Chile is most famous for its corn beer, also known as chicha, it is Cristal that dominates the market. This pale lager is citrusy and light, making it a perfect pairing to a meaty meal! The beer is brewed in two different plants, which are located in the cities of Santiago and Temuco. Together, these two plants produce nearly 57 million liters of beer per month.
When it comes to beer options in Bolivia, variety is pretty limited. As with a lot of the Latin world, regional beers carry a lot of weight, and the most commonly found beer tends to come from the particular region in which you find yourself. Bolivian beer brands such as Paceña (La Paz), Sureña (Sucre), Potosina (Potosí), and Taquiña (Cochabamba) all somewhat dominate their region, so much so that the only really national brand feels like Huari.
3 Cordilleras is a craft brewery based in Medellín, Colombia. They opened their doors in 2008 after its founder’s longstanding passion for beer reached new heights following a move to Atlanta in 1996. After working at a leading craft brewery for many years, he returned to Colombia with the aim of creating great craft beer from his homeland. And boy, did he achieve this. The brand name comes from the fact that the Andes splits into three ‘branches’ as it spans up through Colombia, with the 3 mountain peaks forming a part of the logo and visual identity of the beers.
Bogotá Beer Company (AKA BBC) is the biggest microbrewery in Colombia, brewing specialized handcrafted beverages, where you can find a variety of different types of beers. Not only does the brand have some great beers, named after parts of Bogotá and its surrounding areas, but what is especially cool about BBC is the sheer number of outlets they have. From the cozy and intimate ‘BBC Bodegas’ to larger pub-style beer gardens and even food truck courtyards, you can barely walk a few blocks around the city without bumping into one of their outlets.
