Beer tasting in Bavaria<\/p>\n
getty<\/p>\n
In the past, people would visit a brewery if they had extra time during a trip. Now, for some travelers, visiting a brewery is the main reason to travel.<\/p>\n
In 2026, the best places to drink beer offer more than just great drinks. They are about the location and the story behind each place, and some are far from the usual tourist spots. In Bangkok, brewers are working against strict alcohol laws. In Latvia, people are using wild herbs, foraged berries, and old recipes that survived the Soviet era. In New Zealand\u2019s hop country, you can drink beer with mud on the floor and a view of the fields where the hops grow.<\/p>\n
This guide has three sections: top destinations gaining popularity for 2026 as chosen by Vine Pair <\/a>experts, new breweries that are already worth a visit, and classic spots that remain worth the trip.<\/p>\n Baja Brewing in Cabo San Lucas<\/p>\n Baja BrewingThe Destinations To Build A Trip AroundBaja California \u2014 Mexico<\/p>\n San Diego’s popular craft beer scene has spread across the border into Tijuana, with Baja California and all of Mexico experiencing a surge in breweries. The Baja California Beer Route<\/a> connects the state\u2019s three main brewing cities: Tijuana, Ensenada, and Mexicali. Each has a distinct character; together they make a case for northern Mexico as a serious beer region.<\/p>\n Tijuana is where the energy is highest. Cervecer\u00eda Insurgente<\/a> was among the first and still sets the pace, with bold, experimental releases that have earned it a national following. Border Psycho<\/a> handles the maximalist side: imperial stouts, double IPAs, high-ABV experiments, and bar food that can keep up. In Cabo San Lucas, Baja Brewing<\/a> is located on the roof of the Coraz\u00f3n Cabo Hotel offering drinks with a direct view of the famous Arch. In Ensenada, the pace slows down and the Pacific view takes over. More than 30 taprooms line the route, over 100 styles between them. <\/p>\n Ideal Day: Use the Beer Route as the guide, then build meals around it.<\/p>\n Chao Phraya river and Wat Arun temple, Bangkok, Thailand<\/p>\n gettyBangkok \u2014 Thailand<\/p>\n Bangkok\u2019s beer scene did not politely mature. For years, Thailand\u2019s small brewers worked around rules built for industrial-scale production, including a 100,000-liter annual capacity requirement that effectively kept independent operators out. When that barrier was removed in 2022, the underground energy finally had room to grow.<\/p>\n The person most responsible for cracking that wall open is Wichit \u201cChit\u201d Saiklao, a former army colonel who set up a small microbrewery on the river island of Koh Kret and began teaching home-brewing classes. \u201cPeople want a choice, but in some industries, there isn\u2019t much,\u201d he told me. \u201cHow is it possible that there are only two or three main brands of beer for a population of more than 60 million?\u201d In 2018, Chit became the first person granted a license to open a legal Thai craft brewery, while keeping the original Chit Beer <\/a>on Koh Kret for those who want the riverside, outlaw-spirit experience. <\/p>\n The city now has the kind of confidence that comes from figuring out its own thing rather than importing someone else\u2019s. Vana Brewing<\/a>, SAMATA<\/a>, Underdog Microbrewery<\/a>, Eight Days a Week Homebar<\/a>, Call Me Papa<\/a>, and United Peoples Brewery<\/a> all point to a scene that no longer feels like it\u2019s borrowing from Portland or London.<\/p>\n Ideal Day: <\/strong>Start on Koh Kret to understand where all of this came from. Head to Underdog when you want to see where it\u2019s going.<\/p>\n Omas Haus Brewpub<\/p>\n Omas Haus Brewpub Blumenau \u2014 Brazil<\/p>\n Blumenau was founded in 1850 by Hermann Bruno Otto Blumenau. When the German settlers arrived, they brought hops and malt with them, and soon the city was on its way to becoming Brazil\u2019s craft beer capital. Today, the Vale do Itaja\u00ed region is known as the “Beer Valley” and is home to many independent breweries.<\/p>\n Omas Haus Brewpub<\/a> stands out for its character. Located in the former home of owner Gustavo Kielwagen\u2019s grandmother, it uses local malts, Brazilian hops, and native yeast. The kitchen is so good you might order another drink just to keep eating. Try the guava sour and hopped lager, and don\u2019t miss the smashed and smoked burgers, they might make you stay longer than you expected.<\/p>\n Eisenbahn<\/a> highlights the city\u2019s German-style brewing tradition. Meanwhile, Cervejaria Blumenau brings new flavors to the scene with passion-fruit sours, peach ales, double IPAs, and blonde ales that proudly embrace their Brazilian roots.<\/p>\n Ideal Day: Begin at Omas Haus and make sure to try the burger. Blumenau\u2019s Oktoberfest, the biggest in the Americas, is the event that puts the city on the world stage.<\/p>\n West Kill Brewing in New York<\/p>\n West Kill BrewingHudson Valley \u2014 New York, USA<\/p>\n An hour north of New York City, the Hudson Valley has turned into one of the country\u2019s most compelling beer regions with farms, river towns, mountain backdrops, and a concentration of serious breweries that keeps growing. <\/p>\n The \u201cNapa Valley of beer\u201d comparison gets used often, but for good reason. West Kill Brewing<\/a>, on a 128-acre former dairy farm, is where you go when the view is as important as what\u2019s in the glass. One of the most famous breweries Arrowood Farms<\/a> <\/strong>turns 48 acres into an afternoon of beer, food, music, and room to stay. Lasting Joy Brewery<\/a> in Tivoli adds a quieter farm-brewery mood, but the name on every serious list is Suarez Family Brewery<\/a> in a converted 1930\u2019s lamp factory on the Hudson River.<\/p>\n Some of the newest entries include Kingston\u2019s Blue Duck Brewing<\/a> and Union Street Brewing<\/a>, as well as Beacon\u2019s Pillow and Oats<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ideal Day: <\/strong>West Kill for the view; Arrowood when you want the day to slow down completely.<\/p>\n Queer Brewing Company in London<\/p>\n Queer BrewingLondon \u2014 England<\/p>\n London has always been known for its good beer. The difference now is that breweries have moved into neighborhoods, with taprooms and walking routes that let you spend an afternoon exploring, instead of needing cabs all day.<\/p>\n East London is leading the way. Queer Brewing<\/a>, the U.K.\u2019s first queer and trans-owned brewer, now has a permanent home for its popular label. Pillars Brewery\u2019s Malt Haus<\/a> brings a lager-focused bar, kitchen, and event space. Along the Blackhorse Beer Mile, 40FT Brewery<\/a> is close to Signature<\/a>, Exale Brewing and Tap Room<\/a>, and Pretty Decent Beer Co<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ideal Day: <\/strong>Spend the afternoon on the Blackhorse Beer Mile<\/a>, then finish at Guinness Open Gate.<\/p>\n Freestyle Hops sits at the top of Te Tauihu (the South Island) of Aotearoa, New Zealand in Nelson\u2019s iconic Moutere Valley.<\/p>\n Freestyle HopsNelson \u2014 New Zealand<\/p>\n Nelson is a top spot for beer lovers because you can actually see and walk the ingredient trail. Brewers value New Zealand hops for their citrus, tropical fruit, white wine, and gooseberry flavors, and the Nelson-Tasman area is the country\u2019s main hop region. German settlers first planted hops here, and those traditions are still going strong.<\/p>\n McCashin’s<\/a>, Eddyline Brewery<\/a>, Sprig & Fern<\/a>, and The Free House Pub<\/a> serve up the drinks, while the hop farms provide the key ingredients. In Nelson, the landscape isn\u2019t just scenery\u2014it\u2019s part of the beer itself.<\/p>\n There aren\u2019t many places where you can so clearly see the link between what\u2019s grown and what ends up in your glass. If you\u2019ve ever tried a New Zealand beer and wondered about its origins, Nelson is the place to go.<\/p>\n Ideal Day: <\/strong>Book a hop-farm visit before you plan anything else.<\/p>\n Brasseria Della Fonte in Pienza<\/p>\n Brasseria Della Fonte Pienza, Tuscany \u2014 Italy<\/p>\n Tuscany doesn\u2019t need beer to attract visitors. Pienza already offers hilltop views, Renaissance streets, pecorino cheese, cypress-lined roads, and vineyards that have travelers snapping photos nonstop. That\u2019s why its beer feels like a hidden discovery.<\/p>\n Brasseria Della Fonte<\/a>, founded by Samuele Cesaroni in 2015 on his grandmother\u2019s farm, is the name to know. Cesaroni grows his own hops and makes hop-forward ales, German-style lagers, English bitters, and barrel-aged imperial beers on land where the agricultural identity has long meant Sangiovese.<\/p>\n Birra Amiata<\/a> adds high-fermentation beers, some made with a honey base. Together, the two producers make a small but convincing case that Tuscan terroir has room for more than wine.<\/p>\n Ideal Day: <\/strong>Go for Brasseria Della Fonte, then stay for the view from Pienza\u2019s town center.<\/p>\n Nurme Brewery in Riga, Latvia<\/p>\n Nurma BreweryRiga \u2014 Latvia<\/p>\n Riga used to be a major brewing city, but war, Soviet rule, and years of industrial production took away much of its unique character. Today, the city\u2019s beer scene feels exciting again. It is not just about making new beer, but also about rediscovering old traditions.<\/p>\n Labietis <\/a>is a great place to begin. Since opening in 2013, it has become known for what its founders call \u201cpagan brewing.\u201d They use Baltic herbs, berries, honey, and botanicals like bog myrtle, meadowsweet, linden blossom, cranberries, and lingonberries. These flavors are not just for decoration. They help connect the beer to its roots.<\/p>\n Valmiermui\u017ea Beer Embassy<\/a> is the main spot in the city\u2019s Beer District. Walking between Valmiermui\u017ea, Labietis, Taka<\/a>, and Nurme<\/a> makes for one of the easiest and most enjoyable beer crawls in Europe.<\/p>\n Ideal Day: <\/strong>Order something herbal at Labietis, then take the crawl.<\/p>\n Brasserie Meteor in Strasbourg<\/p>\n Brasserie Meteor Strasbourg \u2014 France<\/p>\n Strasbourg\u2019s beer culture is shaped by its location on the border. In Alsace, French and German traditions have come together for centuries, sometimes blending and sometimes clashing. The best beers here show this mix, with German precision, French style, and a local pride that welcomes both.<\/p>\n Brasserie Meteor <\/a>is Strasbourg\u2019s historic brewery, and the recently updated <\/strong>Brasserie Perle<\/a> <\/strong>has a story of revival. Perle started in 1882, closed in 1971, and reopened in 2009. Now, it runs from a modern, eco-friendly site that links Strasbourg\u2019s brewing past to the present. Brassin des Frangins<\/a> offers something different, making cellar-aged beers that are closer to natural wine than most craft beers.<\/p>\n Ideal Day: Pair Brasserie Perle with Brassin des Frangins, and let Alsace blur the mix throughout the afternoon.<\/p>\n Rooftop at Guiness Open Space<\/p>\n GuinessNew Openings Worth the Detour<\/p>\n These six new breweries are special because they offer more than just extra places to grab a drink. Each one has its own story, whether it’s making a comeback, launching a big project, trying something new, or just giving you a great spot to relax for an afternoon.<\/p>\n Guinness Open Gate Brewery<\/a> \u2014 London, England<\/p>\n Having Guinness return to public brewing in London was headline making. Its Covent Garden project brings a microbrewery, restaurants, retail, and visitor experiences to Old Brewer\u2019s Yard. The draw is that the place is built around limited releases and experimentation, not just nostalgia.<\/p>\n Hidden Splendor <\/a>\u2014 San Rafael, California<\/p>\n Dave McLean played a big role in shaping Bay Area beer when he started Magnolia Brewing in San Francisco\u2019s Haight-Ashbury in 1997. Hidden Splendor marks his return, and the concept stands out right now: classic English-style pub beers made with care. Look for ESB, pale ale, and porter\u2014beers meant for conversation, not just photos.<\/p>\n Pattern Break Brewing<\/a> \u2014 Boulder, Colorado<\/p>\n Pattern Break is taking over the old Sanitas spot with a true Boulder approach: experimental beers, a Negroni IPA, and a strong focus on non-alcoholic options. The non-alcoholic program stands out the most. The best new breweries now see non-alcoholic beer as a creative choice, not just an afterthought.<\/p>\n Shelton Brewing <\/a>\u2014 Beaumont, Texas<\/p>\n Shelton Brewing started out quietly but soon caught the attention of hop lovers. Its Hopzy Ales are bright, full of flavor, and limited enough to make people go out of their way. This is the place for anyone who hears about a new pale ale and instantly wants to book a trip.<\/p>\n Suncatcher Brewing<\/p>\n Suncatcher Brewing<\/p>\n Suncatcher Brewing <\/a>\u2014 Chicago, Illinois<\/p>\n Chicago already had plenty of great breweries, so Suncatcher needed to stand out. Co-founder and head brewer Matt Gallagher, who came from Half Acre, brought plenty of experience. The brewery has made its mark with hop-forward ales that suit Chicago drinkers\u2014confident, straightforward, and memorable.<\/p>\n UPP Liquids<\/a> \u2014 Bend, Oregon<\/p>\n UPP stands out with a great backstory. When members of 10 Barrel Brewing\u2019s innovation team lost their jobs after an acquisition, they came together in Bend to start something new and more independent. Now, they make everything from hazies and pale ales to culinary sours, botanical beers, and creative fruit brews. <\/p>\n Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, Vermont<\/p>\n Hill Farmstead BreweryThe Classic Breweries Still Worth The Trip<\/p>\n Some breweries are more than just trendy. What matters is how they change the way people think about beer. Visiting these places still lives up to their reputation.<\/p>\n Allagash Brewing Company<\/a> \u2014 Portland, Maine<\/p>\n Allagash has been brewing Belgian-style ales in Portland since 1995. Allagash White remains one of America\u2019s favorite craft beers because it is easy to enjoy and genuinely interesting. Their other beers show how an American brewery can learn from Belgium without just copying it.<\/p>\n Brasserie Cantillon<\/a> \u2014 Brussels, Belgium<\/p>\n Cantillon is a refreshing alternative to flashy tasting rooms. It also serves as the Brussels Museum of the Gueuze, and its lambic, gueuze, faro, and kriek are still made using tools and methods from 1900. When you visit, you will see dust, barrels, copper, cobwebs, and feel that the brewery is alive.<\/p>\n Hill Farmstead Brewery <\/a>\u2014 Greensboro Bend, Vermont<\/p>\n Hill Farmstead remains a must-visit for beer lovers because the place and the beer are closely connected. Shaun Hill started the brewery on his family\u2019s land in Vermont\u2019s Northeast Kingdom, and it has been a top name in beer for years. The long drive matters because the setting shapes the beer. The remote location is not just for show; it is part of what makes the beer special.<\/p>\n Schilling Beer Co.<\/a> \u2014 Littleton, New Hampshire<\/p>\n Schilling has a naturally welcoming atmosphere. The brewery is in a small New Hampshire mill town by the river, with a fireplace and a Czech-inspired lager program. It has become a destination for people who appreciate both balance and bold flavors in their beer.<\/p>\n Brother Godfried poses by the crates full of Westvleteren beers at the shop of the Saint-Sixtus abbey, in Westvleteren<\/p>\n AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n Trappist Westvleteren<\/a> \u2014 Vleteren, Belgium<\/p>\n Westvleteren is known for being hard to find, the dedication of its brewers, and the way Westvleteren 12 is often called one of the world\u2019s best beers. The monks at Saint Sixtus Abbey only make enough to support their monastery, and buying it isn\u2019t easy. You need to reserve, wait, and visit when it\u2019s your turn.<\/p>\n Tree House Brewing Company <\/a>\u2014 Charlton, Massachusetts<\/p>\n Tree House proves that sometimes the hype is deserved. Its New England IPAs\u2014Julius, Juice Machine, and Green\u2014are soft, fresh, and full of flavor. They\u2019re so consistent that people still drive for hours to get them. The Charlton location has become a destination, and picking up cans feels like a day trip.<\/p>\n Weihenstephan<\/a> \u2014 Bavaria, Germany<\/p>\n Weihenstephan sits on a hill outside Munich in what used to be a Benedictine monastery. Guinness World Records calls it the world\u2019s oldest working brewery, with a license from 1040. Even with almost a thousand years of history, visiting is simple: arrive, eat, drink Hefeweissbier, enjoy the view, and let time slow down.<\/p>\n Wondrous Brewing<\/a> \u2014 Bay Area, California<\/p>\n Wondrous lets its beer do the talking. Founder Wynn Whisenhunt trained in Germany and worked at well-known Northern California breweries like Sante Adairius and Lagunitas. You can taste that skill in every glass. In a beer world that often rewards bold flavors, Wondrous is different because of its precision.<\/p>\n Traveling for beer used to mean looking for the best pint once you got there. Now, beer is often the reason for the trip. That\u2019s what connects places like Bangkok, Brussels, Blumenau, Boulder, Pienza, and Portland. In each place, the beer is part of the setting, and that\u2019s what makes the experience special.<\/p>\n That might mean booking a chance to buy beer from Belgian monks who like to keep things quiet, or relaxing on a Tuscan farm with a lager made from hops grown nearby. The journeys may be different, but the enjoyment is the same.<\/p>\n MORE FROM FORBESForbesThe World\u2019s 21 Must-Visit Wineries, According To The Wine Travel AwardsBy Jim Dobson<\/a><\/p>\n beer destinations<\/p>\n