Fans of wine have harvests, winery tasting rooms, tours, vineyards, and places across the world to indulge their love of the grape. Travel groups, weekend gateways, and cruises centered on wine have long been popular, with travelers taking adventures afar to explore their favorite beverage.
Chatting with tasting room staff and winemakers is often as pleasant as sipping the wine. But no, this article isn’t about wine, but beer.
Beer has lots of fans, too. Craft breweries also have the appeal of small, independent producers eager to talk about their brews. Moreover, craft beer sales are going up, and the number of small breweries in the US is growing.
If this gets you in the mood to visit such places, we have some destinations for beer lovers that you may be interested in. Several of these cities are known for their craft beer scene, but there are some up-and-coming beer cities on this list. With a little inspiration and some planning, you’ll find your own favorite “beercation”.
Here are some of the best US destinations for beer lovers!
1. Grand Rapids, Michigan
It seems only right to start with one of the greatest destinations for beer lovers in the US: Grand Rapids. Also known as “Beer City,” this place boasts over 80 breweries within about an hour of downtown, which create a sort of web called the Beer City Ale Trail.
You’ll find Dark Horse Brewing Company, Brewery Vivant, Founders Brewing Co., and New Holland Brewing, just to name a few. Perfect for those who love beer, this small city gives you the chance to sample plenty of great breweries in a small geographic area.
2. Portland, Maine
Portland is a lovely seaside city located on the southern coast of Maine that has a lot to offer when it comes to things to explore and do, with a bevy of restaurants, art galleries, museums, and scenic, rugged beaches.
It’s also one of the best destinations for beer lovers, featuring a long history of microbrewing along with outstanding local institutions like Allagash and Shipyard Brewing Company. These two are consistently the best breweries in the area.
Oxbow Blending & Bottling is another top contender, as are Bissell Brothers Brewing, Rising Tide Brewing, and Lone Pine. After visiting Allagash, check out Austin Street Brewery, right across the street.
3. Portland, Oregon
The other Portland, located on the west coast of Oregon, offers more breweries than any other city in the world. Often called “Beervana,” this City of Roses is one of the greatest destinations for beer lovers and is practically a mecca for these people.
There are lots of breweries calling Portland home, including the world-famous Widmer Brothers Brewing, Bridgeport Brewing, and Pyramid companies. Its new crop of eco-breweries is also becoming a thing, like Hopworks Urban Brewery, whose bar is fueled by customers on stationary bikes.
You’ll also get the chance to visit the near-cult status brewery Hair of the Dog, and popular craft breweries Rogue Ales and Deschutes run brewpubs nearly around the corner from one another.
4. Bend, Oregon
Bend, found east of Oregon’s Cascade Mountain Range, is among the best US destinations for beer lovers. Not only is it a stunning city, but it’s home to an impressive list of enticing breweries.
Tourists who are traveling with their furry friends are sure to love Boneyard Beer, a place where your dog can sample the first organic, non-alcoholic brew made specifically for four-legged friends: Dawg Grog.
Bend is also one of the destinations for beer lovers that host annual events like Bend Oktoberfest and Bend BrewFest. While you are here, Bend is also known for its abundance of outdoor recreational activities, including golfing, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and more.
Keep reading to discover other great destinations for beer lovers!
5. Boston, Massachusetts
Here in Boston, residents consume more beer than in any other place in America. The places that fuel those drinking habits are some world-famous microbreweries and breweries, including the historic Samuel Adams.
Moreover, the first brewery here was established not long after the Pilgrims arrived, as beer was safer to drink than water at the time. You’ll get the chance to try the Samul Adams beer, which is produced by Boston Beer Co., and you’ll also find some outstanding historic pubs such as the Green Dragon Tavern and The Warren Tavern, the oldest in the city dating back to 1780.
Not only is Boston one of the best destinations for beer lovers, but it also hosts the east coast’s biggest event of domestic microbrews at the American Craft Beer Fest. This celebration features over 640 different varieties from more than 140 American brewers.
6. Denver, Colorado
Colorado ranks high among the best destinations for beer lovers, and rightly so, as it has a fairly large number of breweries per capita. Moreover, you can sample some of the top craft beers in Denver at Great Divide Brewing and Denver Beer Co.
Despite the fact that most of today’s breweries are located outside of the city, such as Coors in Golden, you’ll find the Platte Street area and Art District peppered with breweries. The city’s first craft brewery, Wynkoop, was first opened in 1988 by John Hickenlooper, who would become mayor and then governor.
Both Wynkoop and Great Divide are just around the corner from Coors Field. Visit Denver in the fall, and you’ll be able to attend the Mile High City’s Great American Beer Festival, one of the top brew fests in the whole country.
It’s no wonder why the city is one of the greatest destinations for beer lovers; here at the event, you’ll get the chance to meet with other beet enthusiasts and taste more than 2,200 different types.
7. San Francisco, California
With dozens of craft beer bars and tons of breweries in 49 square miles, it’s no surprise that San Francisco is one of the best destinations for beer lovers.
The city is packed with micro and nanobreweries that have been producing food-inspired beers like no other place in the country, including Moonlight Brewing Company, which picks redwood twigs and cedar bark from its brewer Brian Hunt’s own backyard. That’s definitely one of the great destinations for beer lovers that you may not want to miss.
The San Francisco area has been fueling the flame of America’s craft beer movement since the 1970s, if not even earlier, while Anchor Steam’s history can be traced all the way back to the California gold rush.
Like other great destinations for beer lovers on this list, this one is home to lots of beer bars, including The Toronado Pub, the host of America’s most important barleywine festival, as well as The Monk’s Kettle and Mikkeller Bar, featuring plenty of rare offerings.
8. Kansas City, Missouri
The Kansas City beer scene once consisted of only a couple of brewing establishments, including Boulevard Brewing Co., which is a local favorite that has eventually become one of the largest craft breweries in America.
Moreover, in the past few years, there has also been a significant increase in businesses that cater to malt enthusiasts, helping to put Kansas City on the national beer map.
Head north of downtown and you’ll find The Big Rip Brewing Company, Cinder Block Brewery, and Screenland Theatre, with the latter becoming one of the best destinations for beer lovers.
Its impressive craft beer selection as well as having launched the annual Arts & Crafts Festival, which celebrates music and movies along with beer, make the place a great spot for beer geeks.
Kansas City is also famous for its barbecue, which, we have to admit, pairs extremely well with a good brew.
9. Austin, Texas
Texas is packed with exceptional breweries, and Austin is known for producing a unique style of breweries. Some, like the community-owned Black Star Co-Op, went for a different approach and named their fine brews Irrational, Rational, and Infinite.
Others, such as Hops & Grain Brewing, feature an impressive eco-focus, selling their beer in eco-conscious cans as well as using recycled grains to make dog biscuits.
But when it comes to the Texas brewing scene, it’s hard to find something greater than the suburban farmhouse Jester King Brewery, a temple of American and Belgian free-thinking experimentation with an exceptionally outstanding Bier de Miel Honey Saison.
As one of the best destinations for beer lovers in the country, this Texas brewery is the only farmhouse brewery in the state that allows natural yeast to ferment its beers.
The process results in low carbonation, bold flavors, and sour notes. Visit it during spring, and you’ll feel like entering paradise; not only will you sample a fine brew, but you’ll also get the chance to enjoy a wide-open field full of brilliant wildflowers.
10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia may not be among the best US destinations for beer lovers, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great spot to visit if you love beer. For instance, you can visit McGillin’s Olde Ale House, which has been a beloved brewery since 1860, as well as places like Sly Fox Brewhouse & Eatery, which has been a leader in the local brewery scene since the state’s barley rush in the 1990s.
Philadelphia also hosts the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Beer Festival and Philly Beer Week. Several of its bars also boast an excellent reputation, including Memphis Taproom and Grey Lodge Pub, which both rank in Draft magazine’s Top 100 around the country.
Whichever of these destinations for beer lovers you choose, you may want to bring an instant camera with you to take some great pictures.
You may also want to read 10 Laid-Back US States Where You Can Truly Relax.
