Heading on a vacation or a day trip can look different for everyone, especially depending on interests. While any number of renowned museums, beaches, and popular tourist attractions would make any trip perfectly enjoyable, a stop at a craft brewery makes it one to remember. Vacations and nice, cold craft beers practically go hand in hand. Home to thousands of breweries, the United States is no stranger to beer – which is exciting, but also makes it extra difficult to decide where to go. Whether you’re looking for a pilsner, lager, IPA, ale, fruit beer or another varietal, from coast to coast, here are some of the top craft breweries to visit in the United States.
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Avery Brewery Co. – Boulder, CO
Whether you’re planning a trip to Colorado for its stunning natural beauty and adventurous outdoor activities or you’re going solely for the beer, Avery Brewing Company is one destination that you can’t miss. Founded in 1993, they have a little something for everyone’s tastes, from Belgian-style white ales to IPAs. In addition to their barrel-aged series, their bold and fruit beers are definitely worth trying. Your taste buds will certainly feel electric with their vibrant and colorful Electric Sunshine and with the sweet-and-sour Gose con Sandía sour pale ale.
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Samuel Adams Brewery – Boston, MA
You can’t have a list of beer stops without mentioning Samuel Adams. While not truly a craft brewery any longer because of its size, Samuel Adams is one of the leading independent breweries that helped start the craft beer revolution. You can now tour Samuel Adams in person in New England. Take one of their brewery tours and be sure to grab a couple of pitchers of the craft beer that started it all: the Boston Lager. This smooth German-style lager is slightly sweet, with notes of caramel and toffee, but has a rich hop flavor and a crisp finish to balance the sweet.
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Able Baker Brewery – Las Vegas, NV
If you’re planning a trip to Vegas but want a break from the usual attractions, Able Baker Brewery is the perfect spot for you. Located in downtown Las Vegas, this brewery features over 30 craft beers on tap, including their signature beer – the citrus-forward IPA known as the Atomic Duck. They’re a family-friendly brewery where you can enjoy food from their in-house kitchen after beer tasting.
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Jester King Brewery – Austin, TX
Everything’s bigger in Texas – including the Jester King Brewery, located on a 165-acre ranch in Austin. The award-winning brewery is home to plenty of beers for any craft beer lover, like their farmhouse ales, barrel-aged farmhouse ales, lagers, IPAs, and stouts. Since Jester King is a brewery, kitchen, and farm, feel free to bring the whole family (including your dog!). In addition to the brewery tour, they also have mouthwatering restaurants, special events throughout the year, and even a goat tour!
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Stone Brewing – Escondido, CA
While there’s no shortage of California vacation attractions, one that craft beer aficionados have to do is take a visit to Stone Brewery in Escondido. Stone Brewing doesn’t just offer your average tour. Learn about the culture of craft beer, the actual brewing process, and get a guided tasting to sample flavors like the lemon and hops character of their Stone Delicious IPA (a gluten-reduced ale) and the tropical notes and El Dorado and Azacca hops of their Hazy IPA. Not heading to the west coast anytime soon? Don’t worry, Stone Brewing has another huge brewing facility in Richmond, Virginia!
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Dogfish Head Brewery – Milton, DE
Touring the Northeast? Don’t forget to head to Delaware to stop by the iconic Dogfish Head Brewery! Take a tour and sample beers, including their 60 Minute IPA, a moderately sweet and crisp beer with straightforward hops bitterness. Dogfish Head also has a tasting room where you can give beer-infused food a go! This added bonus makes it one of our favorite breweries to visit.
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Brooklyn Brewery – Brooklyn, NY
After you’ve explored near Penn Station and all over Manhattan, head on the subway to Brooklyn to visit Brooklyn Brewery. Another pioneer of the craft beer revolution in America, it’s a must-see brewery in the States. You’ll find a tasty selection of craft beers like the Stonewall Inn IPA, Pulp Art Imperial, and seasonal choices, but make sure you try their classic Brooklyn Lager. It has a mild malt sweetness thanks to caramel and toffee flavors with a refreshing dry-hopped aroma. Head to Williamsburg and take the Brooklyn Brewery tour, have a guided tasting, head to one of their fun weekly events, or just drop by for a nice, cold beer – you’ll be glad you did.
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Grab a Pint: Craft Breweries to Visit in the U.S.
If you’ve ever wanted to visit a craft brewery in the United States but had no idea where to start, you’re in luck! No matter where you’re headed, or whether you want to visit a top brewery or a local gem, there’s a craft brewery to visit. Just pick your first breweries to visit and start touring the U.S., one craft brewery at a time.
For More:
- One our site: Like beer? Try our beer soup recipe.
-Cover photo by Gotta be Worth It on Pexels.com.
