If you’ve ever dreamed of a vacation where your main goal is to sip incredible beers and soak up chill vibes, welcome to your era: this is shaping up to the year for epic beercations.
With craft beer scenes exploding around the world — and a growing number of cities leaning hard into beer culture — there’s never been a better time to plan a getaway around good brews. Whether you’re craving mountain towns, beachy beer bars, or historic beer halls, we’ve got you covered. So grab a pint (or two) and let’s dive into the best beercations to put on your radar for 2025!
What Makes a Great Beercation?
Sure, any trip with a brewery stop is technically a beercation. But the truly great ones hit a few sweet spots:
- Brewery density and variety — because nobody wants to Uber 45 minutes between sips.
- A cool local vibe — laid-back small towns, buzzing city neighborhoods, or beachy beer boardwalks.
- Bonus beer experiences — think festivals, epic tours, or even sleeping at a brewery.
- Walkability or easy transport — it’s a huge win if you can brewery-hop without stressing over logistics.
- An awesome food scene — beer is great, but beer with killer pizza, tacos, or farm-to-table eats? Perfection.
Top US Destinations
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a mountain town with a beer soul. Its vibrant downtown is packed with breweries, and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains create the perfect laid-back backdrop for sipping some of the best brews in the Southeast.
- Burial Beer Co.: Burial is dark, mysterious, and endlessly creative. Their taproom is filled with metal music, gothic murals, and a rotating list of small-batch beers that lean heavy into barrel aging and experimental styles.
- Wicked Weed Brewing: Wicked Weed was one of the pioneers that put Asheville on the national craft beer map. Known for pushing sour beer boundaries, their Funkatorium is a temple to wild ales that every beer lover should visit.
Portland, Oregon
Portland practically lives and breathes craft beer. With more breweries than anywhere else in the country, it’s a playground for beer geeks and casual drinkers alike.
- Deschutes Brewery: One of Portland’s icons, Deschutes delivers classic Pacific Northwest flavor with beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale and Black Butte Porter. Their spacious brewpub downtown is a perfect starting point.
- Breakside Brewery: Known for winning just about every award possible, Breakside is where you go for IPAs that burst with bright hop character, along with quirky seasonal one-offs that are always worth a taste.
San Diego, California
Sunshine, beaches, tacos, and an absolutely bonkers craft beer scene? San Diego somehow nails it all without breaking a sweat.
- Ballast Point Brewing: Famous for their Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point helped put San Diego on the beer map. Their locations usually have waterfront patios, ideal for soaking up that coastal breeze.
- Modern Times Beer: Modern Times is hipster heaven, but in the best way. From their funky labels to wild, adjunct-packed stouts and hazy IPAs, every sip feels a little rebellious.
- Societe Brewing Company: For purists who want world-class IPAs and crisp, clean Belgian styles, Societe keeps things focused and absolutely top-notch. Their tasting room is all about good beer, no gimmicks.
Burlington, Vermont
Nestled on the shores of Lake Champlain, Burlington offers a cozy, New England feel with a beer scene that’s punching way above its weight.
- The Alchemist: If you’re a fan of hazy IPAs, you’ve heard of Heady Topper. The Alchemist’s flagship double IPA basically invented the style. Visiting their pristine brewery is like a pilgrimage for hopheads.
- Foam Brewers: Right on the waterfront, Foam Brewers pumps out juicy IPAs, tart farmhouse ales, and spontaneous fermentations with stunning lake views. The vibe is equal parts art gallery, music venue, and brewery.
Denver, Colorado
At a literal mile above sea level, Denver’s brewery scene is booming — and thanks to the altitude, your buzz might kick in a little quicker.
- Great Divide Brewing Co.: A Denver staple since the ’90s, Great Divide pours bold beers like the Yeti Imperial Stout and Hercules Double IPA. Their taproom is welcoming and perfect for starting your downtown brewery crawl.
- Cerebral Brewing: Smarts meet hops at Cerebral, where a science-themed aesthetic meets meticulously crafted IPAs and fruited sours. It’s a chill spot with serious beer geek cred.
- Ratio Beerworks: Ratio blends music, art, and brewing in the heart of the RiNo district. Their brewery is a community hub with punk rock roots, an awesome patio, and consistently delicious beers.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
Munich, Germany
For old-world beer lovers, there’s nothing quite like Munich. While Oktoberfest grabs all the headlines, the city’s rich beer history and cozy biergartens offer a year-round invitation to slow down and sip.
- Augustiner Bräu: Munich’s oldest brewery (dating back to 1328!) is beloved for its smooth, classic lagers. No trip is complete without sitting under the chestnut trees at their beer garden with a Maß of Helles.
- Giesinger Bräu: Representing the “new wave” of Munich brewing, Giesinger blends tradition with innovation, creating modern takes on classic styles in a laid-back taproom.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo’s beer scene is a fascinating blend of precision, creativity, and pure cool factor. Tiny bars, hidden taprooms, and funky brews make it a playground for adventurous drinkers.
- Baird Beer Taprooms: Founded by an American expat, Baird focuses on beautifully balanced ales and lagers brewed in Japan. Their taprooms across Tokyo feel like cozy community spaces.
- Coedo Brewery: Located just outside Tokyo, Coedo offers a uniquely Japanese take on beer, blending traditional techniques with local ingredients like sweet potatoes. Their beers are available in stylish Tokyo bars and are a must-try.
- YYG Brewery and Beer Kitchen: A microbrewery in the heart of Shinjuku, YYG serves up fresh pours with a great rooftop view. Perfect for ending a day of exploring the city.
Brussels, Belgium
Brussels is a dream for anyone who loves traditional brewing history mixed with modern innovation. From lambics and gueuzes to hoppy craft IPAs, Belgium’s capital is a beer lover’s playground.
- Cantillon Brewery: Step back in time at this living museum of lambic brewing. Tours reveal traditional methods unchanged for over a century, and their tart, funky beers are absolutely worth the trip.
- Brasserie de la Senne: A modern craft brewery focusing on flavorful, sessionable beers that still feel quintessentially Belgian. Their Zinnebir pale ale is a perfect intro.
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne’s craft beer scene is booming, fueled by a creative, experimental spirit. It’s a perfect spot to explore unique Aussie styles and soak in a laid-back, cosmopolitan vibe.
- Moon Dog Craft Brewery: Wild, colorful, and a little bit crazy, Moon Dog pumps out inventive brews like tropical stouts and lychee lagers.
- Stomping Ground Brewing Co.: A spacious beer hall vibe with an incredible rotating tap list, perfect for diving into Melbourne’s beer diversity.
Prague, Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is the birthplace of pilsner, and Prague balances old-world beer halls with a new wave of microbreweries ready to impress.
- U Flekú: One of the oldest breweries in the world, brewing dark lagers since 1499. The historic atmosphere alone is worth a visit.
- Pivovar Matuška: A leader in the Czech craft beer revolution, Matuška offers hop-forward ales that show there’s more to Czech brewing than pilsner.
Hidden GemS
If you want to venture a little off the beaten beer path, these under-the-radar destinations are ready to surprise you:
Wellington, New Zealand
A compact capital city with a huge craft beer heart. Expect dozens of quirky breweries and bars within easy walking distance downtown.
- Garage Project: Famous for bold experimental brews like salted white IPAs and lavender honey ales.
Ghent, Belgium
Often overshadowed by Brussels and Bruges, Ghent offers authentic Flemish charm and a buzzing beer culture with fewer crowds.
- Gruut Brewery: Brewing beer the medieval way, without hops, using spices instead for flavor and preservation.
Quebec City, Canada
Old-world European charm meets Canadian creativity in this increasingly impressive beer destination.
- La Barberie: A cooperative brewery serving up a rotating list of experimental and traditional styles in a cozy, friendly taproom.
Last call
This year is shaping up to be a golden year for beercations — full of new flavors, new friends, and unforgettable memories. Whether you’re hiking between breweries in Asheville, beach hopping in San Diego, or clinking mugs in Munich, one thing’s for sure: the world is your taproom.
Got a dream beercation you’re planning? Drop it in the comments — we’d love to raise a glass to you!