America's Best Cities For Beer & Brewery Tours, According To Travelers
No matter what’s on tap for your next vacation, a brewery tour may be near the top of your list. That's why TripAdvisor has distilled the best beer-related experiences in America, according to our traveler community. These brewery tours and beer-tasting activities are among the fastest-growing on TripAdvisor in some of the country's best beer cities. And with traveler trends showing an increasing tendency to book local experiences, beer and distillery tours will likely continue to grow in popularity.
USA’s Best Beer Cities & Brewery Tours
These brewery tours are located in some of America’s best beer cities, and travelers can’t get enough. Rankings were dictated by a proprietary TripAdvisor algorithm which considers bookings, traveler reviews, and traveler ratings. Each of these great tours is available to book on TripAdvisor!
1. Nashville Pub Crawl
Nashville, Tennessee
Tennessee may be known for whiskey, but this Music City pub crawl will have you looking at Nashville as one of the best beer cities, too. A fun pub crawl combines games, drink specials, and Nashville trivia into a single night out on the town for a good time guarantee.
Book the Nashville Pub Crawl on TripAdvisor!
2. Alcatraz & Walking Craft Beer Combo Tour
San Francisco, California
This tour provides an unlikely solution for those who didn’t book their Alcatraz ticket far enough in advance (we’re talking months here). A last-minute booking with this Alcatraz and San Francisco craft beer tour will get you entry to the famous Alcatraz prison in addition to beer at three top San Francisco breweries—all in a small-group tour of 12 people or fewer.
Book the Alcatraz Walking & Beer Combo Tour on TripAdvisor!
3. Alcatraz Admission & Small-Group Craft Brews & Bike Tour
San Francisco, California
Travel by bicycle to see more of San Francisco en route to three popular watering holes on this Alcatraz and craft brewery tour. This tour provides an identical solution for last-minute Alcatraz tours as its walking tour counterpart, but brings you to parts of the city that are farther afield with the included bike rental.
Book the Alcatraz Small-Group Craft Brew & Bike Tour on TripAdvisor!
4. Portland Brewery Bike Tour
Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon is one of the best beer cities in the United States, with over 40 microbreweries in the city alone. Take the guesswork out of deciding which ones are worth a visit with this Portland brewery and bike tour, which doubles as an introduction to the city’s top neighborhoods, including the Pearl District, Nob Hill, and downtown.
Book the Portland Brewery & Bike Tour on TripAdvisor!
5. Boston Brewery Tour Plus Lunch Or Dinner
Boston, Massachusetts
Up to 18 craft beer tastings plus a hearty meal make this Boston brewery tour one of the best beer tours in the United States. Behind-the-scenes facilities tours and chats with the brewers themselves, in addition to a super knowledgeable guide, leave even amateur beer drinkers with a greater appreciation for the craft.
Book the Boston Brewery Tour on TripAdvisor!
6. Lower Downtown Denver Craft Beer Tour
Denver, Colorado
Affectionately nicknamed the “Napa Valley of Craft Beer,” Denver makes our list of best beer cities in the United States because of this wildly popular tour. A craft beer expert leads the group on this guided tour of Denver’s historic Lower Downtown district, covering four breweries and 10 tastings to learn about the city’s rise to craft-beer fame.
Book the Lower Downtown Denver Craft Beer Tour on TripAdvisor!
7. Burlington Brewery Tour With Lunch Or Dinner
Burlington, Vermont
This Burlington brewery trip shakes up the standard history tour by incorporating ample tastings at four favorite breweries. Chat up the brewers to learn what makes their craft beer special, and learn about Burlington history as your guide safely drives you among locations. Lunch or dinner at a local restaurant rounds out the trip.
Book the Burlington Brewery Tour on TripAdvisor!
8. Brewery & Beer-Tasting Tour In Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New York
Learn the full 200-year history of Brooklyn brews on this Brooklyn craft beer tour. Make your way to a favorite brewery for an inside look at the brewing process, followed by a tasting with their classic and fresh pours alike. True to Brooklyn style, a New York pizza lunch is also included.
Book the Brooklyn Brewery & Beer-Tasting Tour on TripAdvisor!
9. New York Beer & Brewery Tour
Brooklyn, New York
Even locals rave about this New York City beer and craft brewery tour, which takes you to four breweries across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. A super knowledgable tour guide answers all of your questions and fills you in on local industry history, while still keeping the tone light so everyone has a great time. Whichever Brooklyn tour you choose, you’ll agree this is one of America’s best beer cities.
Book the New York Beer & Brewery Tour on TripAdvisor!
10. Philadelphia Pub Crawl
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A small-group tour means you can squeeze into the nooks and cranny’s of Philadelphia’s historic pubs and breweries. Enjoy an included full-sized beer at each location—and learn about the city’s local brew scene from your guide as you go. Plus, your guide completely customizes the three stops on the tour to suit your group’s preferences, making for craft beer tasting that’s sure to please all.
Book the Philadelphia Pub Crawl on TripAdvisor!
Methodology: Best beer tours were ranked using a proprietary algorithm which considers bookings, traveler reviews, and traveler ratings.
The Beer Tour Trend
From 2016 to 2017, bookings of beer experiences on TripAdvisor grew 154%, while distillery bookings grew 161%. (Category growth based on beer-related tour bookings on TripAdvisor.)
While well-known beer hubs like Munich, Prague and Brussels dominate the global list, the best beer tours in the USA include some surprising destinations. Craft beer hubs like San Francisco, Boston, Brooklyn and Denver made the list—and furthering their stance as some of the best beer cities in the country—but travelers are also loving tours in Nashville and Burlington, Vermont.
“It’s no surprise we’re seeing more travelers booking beer experiences this year,” said TripAdvisor spokesperson Laurel Greatrix. “Across the board, travelers are adding more local experiences to their trips, and especially beer, food, and wine tours. You may even leave your destination with a new favorite beer—and a good reason to plan a return visit.”
TripAdvisor features over 100,000 bookable experiences, offering travelers the right experience no matter your taste. Visit TripAdvisor.com to start planning your in-destination itinerary.