The Ultimate Guide to the American Craft Beer Road Trip

The craft beer sector swept the United States in the early 2000s. Years later, there are over 7,000 breweries active across the country, each producing distinct and vastly varied versions of their own beers. The classic American Pale Ale, rich stouts and porters, and everything in between are all available. Since then American Craft Beer road trips have become a go to for a lot of tourists.

Cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Detroit, and St. Louis have all contributed to the American craft brewing movement. With a rich beer culture and world-renowned breweries in every state, the only way to get a genuine taste of the country’s alcoholic offerings is to tour them the classic American manner—via a craft brewery road trip. With that in mind, here’s how to arrange your beer-themed excursion.

If you are a Swiss lover of craft beers, remember you do not have to apply for a tourist visa. You can plan your trip to the US without the hassle by applying for an ESTA visa waiver.

Tailor the Trip to your Taste

With new breweries opening every month, it’s impossible to sample all of the country’s best. As a result, you’ll need to personalize your craft brewery road trip to your preferences.

When it comes to beer, everyone’s tastes differ. While a grapefruit IPA may be the gold standard for one fan, it may be unlikely to satisfy you. Craft beers have distinct flavors that are not one-size-fits-all. In the same vein, your perfect brewery road trip itinerary should be suited to your preferences.

Those who enjoy IPAs will have the best luck in the western side of the country. Washington, for example, is one of the nation’s top hop producers, making it a hotbed for the original American IPA. The Bay Area’s craft beers will most likely cater to people who enjoy a little of hops in their brews, however California’s thriving brewery culture is sure to have something for everyone.

Meanwhile, if your love of a good craft beer is only rivaled by your love of a good glass of whiskey, you should consider visiting Kentucky to try the state’s many whiskey-barrel-aged beers.

Pin Down the Best Breweries

Once you’ve decided on a region, it’s time to focus on the greatest breweries in that area. There are plenty of review and rating sites that will help you find an area’s best breweries, thanks to the internet and developing social networks centered on the love of craft beer.

TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook, and Yelp will all present a variety of reviews based on various criteria. RateBeer, the community brewery review site for craft beer fans, has more concentrated and specialized ratings that speak directly to an establishment’s beverage quality and brewery characteristics. RateBeer’s annual Top 100 Brewers in the World List, for example, is a fantastic tool for assisting beer fans in selecting and locating an area’s top places.

While you’ll probably want to spend the majority of your beer road trip visiting well-known and well-reviewed breweries you know will blow your socks off, don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new.

The brewery scene is still relatively new in many places around the United States, and many young and great establishments are just getting started. Getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new and less-reviewed could be your chance to discover the hidden beauties of a fantastic new brewery.

Making Preparations

It’s essential to finalize your road trip plans after deciding on an area and locating your target establishments. The first point to consider is transportation. Given that beer and driving don’t usually mix well, you’ll want to arrange your itinerary carefully in terms of driving time and brew-tasting time.

Unless you possess a car, you’ll need to arrange for a rental. Fortunately, many American car rental businesses offer multi-city rentals, which allow clients to pick up a vehicle in one area and quickly return it in another, removing the need to double-back or lose time.

International travelers should also be aware that, while the legal drinking age in the United States is 21, many car rental businesses refuse to hire vehicles to anybody under the age of 25. If you’re between the ages of 21 and 24 and plan on hiring a vehicle for your vacation, phone auto rental businesses ahead of time to ensure you meet all rental conditions.