Dublin, Ireland

All the stereotypes you have heard about Dublin? Accurate. Pubs galore. Whiskey galore. Irish accents galore. You don't need anything more to enjoy this fantastic city!

Dublin Tips: 

• One of the things I like most about Dublin is that it feels like a "lived in" city. There are people hustling to work every morning while you're off for a day of sightseeing, and personally I think that makes a city so much better. This does mean be aware of trying to go places during rush hour!

• Bring your raincoat/umbrella everywhere you go, you never know what the Irish weather will bring.

Adventures & Ales Top Dublin Recommendations: 

• Guinness Storehouse Brewery: Obviously a must! It's a pretty cool experience overall. You get to learn to pour a Guinness, check out the historical Guinness advertisements, and more!

• Grogan's Pub: Grab a beer and a toasty in this traditional Irish bar

• Library Bar: This secret little bar is super cute and very Sherlock Holmes

• JW Sweetman Brewery: Right on the river, this brewery has solid brews and a full food menu

• Mulligan's Pub: Another traditional Irish pub, definitely worth checking out!

Touristy Spots in Dublin Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Trinity College: Tour the college, gape at the library, and catch a glimpse of the Book of Kells

• O'Donoghue's Bar: Beer and a toasty, but with quite a few tourists

• Ha'Penny Bridge:Just a super cute old bridge!

• Christ Church: Simply stunning

• St. Patrick's Cathedral: THE St. Patrick y'all. Check it out! Lounge on the greens as well

Other Things to do in Dublin:​

• St. Stephen's Green: A cute park with lots of space to hang out in and enjoy a nice day

• Porterhouse Brewing: A large selection of beers

• Breakfast at Fumbally: Adorable little cafe with delicious food and coffee

Skip: ​

• Dublin Castle: When you hear Dublin Castle you picture something stupendous. Dublin Castle is not in fact anywhere near stupendous. 

• Temple Bar: Wow that's a lot of tourists. And extremely expensive drinks. Wander in, listen to the music, but don't stay for long

Cliffs of Moher

Day Trips from Dublin: ​

• Cliffs of Moher: A must. Absolutely AMAZING.  

  • I took the Paddywagon tour because it was the easiest way to deal with transportation for me. We went to Kinvara to see the Dunguaire Castle, then to the Baby Cliffs of Moher, stopped at a brewery—Fitzpatrick's—for lunch, then onto the Cliffs of Moher, and lastly Bunratty Castle​. It was a great experience!

• Howth: A cute little town just north of Dublin. A must if you are a seafood fan!

London, England

London is one of my FAVORITE cities I've been to. I would highly recommend it. London is absolutely huge so make sure you plan enough time! I would recommend at least 4 days. 

London Tips: 

[strangely both related to safety for this city] 

• Look both ways! That may seem obvious now but when you are just walking down the street your natural habits kick in and you forget you're in a country that drives on the opposite side of the road from most countries. I almost got hit by a car twice while meandering through London because I didn't look in the proper direction when walking--especially look out for the double-decker buses! 

• Mind the gap: you'll hear it 7,000 times on the underground, but there actually is a sizable gap sometimes when entering/exiting the train so be careful​

Adventures & Ales Top London Recommendations: 

• Camden Market: a hugeeee market filled with food, shops, antiques, all the things. Great spot for lunch, right on the river.

• High Tea: this is a classic afternoon to-do in England and I can't recommend it enough. Awesome experience and incredibly delicious. It can get very pricey though so be sure to pick a place that is in your budget--there are hundreds to choose from.

• Euston Tap: a beer bar right outside the underground station. Tons of options from all over the world with a small inside area and outside seating as well. 

• Craft Beer Co.: hopping beer bar popular with the after-work locals. Lots of options, good prices

Westminster Abbey

Top Touristy Spots in London Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Tower Bridge: wander along the bridge checking out the view

  • Be sure to snag the view of Tower Bridge from the London Bridge (the London Bridge is actually super unimpressive, but it provides a nice look of Tower Bridge)​

• Borough Market: a great place to get lunch! Warning: it will be crowded. Persevere and wander the stands, it is worth it! ​

• Big Ben & Westminster Bridge: walk along the bridge between the London Eye and Big Ben for great photo opportunities of both

• Westminster Abbey: a gorgeous church that is a must see!

King's Cross Station

Harry Potter London Tips:

• GO TO THE WARNER BROTHER'S STUDIO TOUR!!! All caps + 3 exclamation points = I cannot recommend this enough. It was one of the best days of my life and I quite literally cried at the end.

• King's Cross: Platform 9 3/4: I was there in the evening and waited approximately 15 minutes to get to the front of the line, but the folks working said they've seen the line take over an hour, so be prepared. Get your picture pushing your trolley into the wall! 

• Millennium Bridge: the bridge getting destroyed during the opening from the Half Blood Prince

• Tour For Muggles: Harry Potter Walking Tour. I had extremely high expectations and it didn't quite measure up, but it was still very cool. The Ministry of Magic, Millennium Bridge, and inspiration for Knockturn and Diagon Alleys are just a few of the stops along the way. 

Other Things to do in London:​

• Granary Square: go sit by the river and hang out with the locals. There are food trucks nearby usually as well!

  • You can walk along the river from Granary Square to Camden Market! 

• Shakespeare's Globe: either see a play or just check it out! You can't go inside without tickets but it is still cool to see. It is located right between the London Bridge and Millennium Bridge.

• Picadilly Circus: London's version of NYC's Times Square. Lots of restaurants and shops, very busy area. If you're on a budget avoid eating in this area.

• The British Museum: Free, but mediocre in my opinion. Extremely large and covering a vast expanse of time. You can see the Rosetta Stone here! 

• The Grapes: Classic English pub owned by Gandolf from the Lord of the Rings. Very local and cozy.

• The Shoreditch Neighborhood: artsy, 'hipster' area with art on the walls, coffee shops, and all things trendy.

• The London Eye: London’s giant Ferris wheel that is definitely worth seeing, but quite pricey if you actually want to jump on for a ride.

• St. James Park: near Parliament Square, a very large park to enjoy a picnic in.

• Buckingham Palace: the changing of the guards and the changing of the horse guards are both incredibly popular, be prepared to get there very early to get a spot that you can actually see from!

The Best Cities for Beer Vacations

I have explored the beer scene in a lot of cities both domestically and abroad, and it’s time to share the absolute best places for a craft beer vacation.

To make the list you have to have a high quantity of breweries, but also some fantastic breweries. There are a lot of cities with a ton of breweries that make average to mediocre beer. These cities all have folks absolutely crushing the game.

In no particular order, here are the best cities in the United States and abroad for beer vacations:

The Best US Cities for Beer Vacations:

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond has a ton of breweries and some that are truly fantastic. Scott’s Addition itself is jam packed with breweries but the rest of RVA has some great beers to offer as well. Highlights here include Triple Crossing, The Veil, The Answer and Tabol for breweries and Mekong for a great beer bar. Check out my Richmond beer and travel guide here.

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville has long been deemed one of the best beer cities in the country, so it is no surprise that I would agree. This picturesque city is home to some huge breweries like Sierra Nevada, Highland, and New Belgium, but also more localized spots like Burial, Dssolvr, Zillicoah, and New Origin. Don’t miss The Whale for a great beer bar! Check out my Asheville beer and travel guide here.

Denver, Colorado

Of course Denver is on the list. With superb breweries like Cerebral, Bierstadt, Our Mutual Friend, and TRVE it’s hard to beat the brew scene here. Pair that with everything else the city has to offer and the surrounding scenery and you’re absolutely in for a good time. Check out my Colorado beer and travel guide here.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

As a Michigander this addition should be no surprise, but it’s not just me and my home state biases—Grand Rapids is constantly in the running for any “beer city” competition. Don’t miss Speciation Artisan Ales, Arvon, and City Built for breweries and for Seven Monks for a beer bar. The city is exploding with breweries to explore. Check out my Grand Rapids beer and travel guide here.

New York City, New York

I’m sure most “normal people” wouldn’t think of New York as a hub for craft beer, but the city that never sleeps is indeed a great spot for craft beer lovers. The beer bar scene here tends to shine brightest with spots like Torst, Beer Street, and Proletariat, while breweries such as Other Half, Fifth Hammer, and Evil Twin absolutely crush it. Check out my NYC beer and travel guide here.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago has a wide array of breweries throughout their many neighborhoods and suburbs. Heavy hitters include Maplewood, More, Mikerphone and Revolution, plus don’t miss Phase Three in the northern suburb of Lake Zurich. Check out my Chicago beer and travel guide here.

The Twin Cities, Minnesota

The Twin Cities are exploding with breweries! Highlights include BlackStack, Barrel Theory, Fair State, Modist, and Falling Knife. The beer scene here tends to be somewhat IPA heavy, but the beers are superb and there are plenty of spots to explore. Check out my Minneapolis and St. Paul beer and travel guide here.

Portland, Maine

We all know New England is chock full of great breweries and particularly Hazy IPAs, but Portland’s beer scene is unmatched. With OG spots like Allagash, Maine Beer Company, and Oxbow alongside newer (and hazier) breweries like Mast Landing, Belleflower, and Bissell Brothers, you can find an absolutely superb beer of any style. Don’t miss the killer beer bar Novare Res Bier Cafe as well! Check out my Portland beer and travel guide here.

Los Angeles, California

LA might not seem like a great beer city at first glance but this sprawling metro is home to some of the country’s best breweries. LA’s southern neighbor San Diego gets all of the praise for craft beer, but LA’s scene is far superior. Monkish, Bottle Logic, Green Cheek, Homage, and Highland Park all call LA home, along with a ton of other great spots. Windsor Home Brew is a fantastic beer bar and bottle shop that is not to be missed either. Check out my LA beer and travel guide here.

Portland, Oregon

Portland’s beer scene has been exploding for decades. The city is overflowing with breweries and it seems a new one opens almost weekly at this point. There are some solid spots in PDX, and topping the list are Great Notion, Cascade, Ruse, and Wayfinder. Check out my Portland beer and travel guide here.

Charlotte, NC

I wouldn’t live in Charlotte if I didn’t think the beer scene here was superb! There are a ton of breweries in the city, but Resident Culture, Burial, HopFly, and Fonta Flora top the list. CLT is also home to some fantastic beer bars—Salud and Pop The Top should not be missed. Check out my Charlotte guide here.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa absolutely crushes the dark beer game. There are a lot of breweries that make great other styles of beer, but if your a Stout person Tampa is for you! Brewery highlights include Angry Chair, BarrieHaus, Woven Water, and Magnanimous. Check out my Tampa beer and travel guide here. Neighboring St. Pete is also full of great spots!

Notable Mentions:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—Check out my Philly beer and travel guide here! I am excited to be back in May 2024!

Burlington, Vermont—This is the one beer city that I believe will be stupendous that I have not yet visited, but I do think it is probably one of the best cities for a beer vacation. My plans to visit have been foiled numerous times now, but I will finally be there in June 2024!

The Best Cities Abroad for Beer Vacations:

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is a gorgeous city with a booming beer scene, especially for Oceania. Stomping Ground, Fixation, Mood Dog, and Mountain Goat are the best of the best here, but there are a ton of spots to visit. Check out my Melbourne beer and travel guide here.

Munich, Germany

Is it possible to think of “beer cities” and not think of Germany? Munich is home to some classic gems like Augustiner Keller, Lowenbrau, Hofbrauhaus, and Paulaner. Pair a cold mug from any of their breweries with a pretzel or sausage and it’s impossible to have a bad time. Check out my Munich beer and travel guide here.

Brussels, Belgium

Another classic beer city! Personally I think the not-so-classic Belgian beers here outperform the dubbels and tripels. Cantillon is obviously the top choice here, but Moeder Lambic and Delirium should not be missed either! Check out my Belgium beer and travel guide here.

Wellington, New Zealand

My beer expectations for New Zealand were low, but the country as a whole is making some killer beers. Wellington in particular has a stand out beer scene. It is home to Garage Project, the country’s best brewery hands down, but Parrotdog is also a must-visit. Check out my North Island beer and travel guide here.

What are your favorite cities in the world for beer travel? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

How to Plan a Trip Abroad

Planning a trip out of the country can be overwhelming at first, so let’s break it down into a step-by-step process. My brain is very systems and type-A, so this is full of nitty-gritty details. Even if you don’t replicate this exact process, steal some nuggets to make your next trip overseas a breeze.

How to plan a trip abroad:

1) Book your flight first

I almost exclusively plan trips around flight deals. I keep a running list of places I want to visit and when I see a deal pop up for one of the spots I book it! If I know there is a particular time I want to be traveling (i.e. late May over Memorial Day) I set up flight alerts and/or have a weekly remind to check flight prices. Read more of my cheap flight tips below.

2) Figure out your priorities

What do you want to see and do? What are your “musts” for each area? What are your “would be nice, if there is time/logistically it makes sense” items for each area? I create a spreadsheet with columns for each location and make a list of all of the things I find that I want to do and then prioritize them.

For example, if I am visiting Argentina and Brazil my spreadsheet has one sheet for Argentina and one sheet for Brazil. On the Argentina tab I have 3 columns for each destination within Argentina—beers, eats, activities. So the first column might say Buenos Aires beers, second column Buenos Aires eats, third column Buenos Aires activities. Then I will skip a column to leave some white space before starting with Patagonia beers, Patagonia eats, and so on.

Within those individual columns I will make notations as I am researching—if a restaurant is a “must”, for example, I will italicize it. If it is a “maybe” I will add a question mark after the name. This continues for all three categories of beer, eats, and activities. If you have different interests your columns might look a little different—maybe you are a big museum person and you want to dedicate more time to those so you create a column specifically for museums instead of adding them to your activities column.

3) Make your itinerary

Now that you know what you want to do, plan out what makes the most sense to do when. You can make your itinerary as detailed or as loose as your style is—for me I like to plan out almost every detail, but leave some flexibility in case something else pops up that I hadn’t originally planned to do or I stumble across a delicious restaurant, for example. This ensures I actually enjoy my trip instead of spending my time researching what I want to do next or where to spend my time. There is nothing worse than being on a trip and spending your time on your phone or computer looking things up instead of soaking it all in.

I create a new google sheet that has each day at the top of the sheet and outline the day underneath. One example column would read from top to bottom: Monday—January 1st—Buenos Aires—Breakfast/Coffee ideas—Morning activity—Lunch ideas—Afternoon activity—Dinner ideas—Beer spots—Lodging. I include any travel in there as well (i.e. 2 hour drive from x to y or flight at x time). Then repeat this for each day of the trip.

Within your itinerary be sure to plan out the logistics as well—Do you need a rental car? Are there any ferry tickets, train tickets or in-country smaller flights to book? Do you need tickets or reservations for any activities or trails? Are there any restaurants you want to make reservations for?

I would recommend marking all of your itinerary items on Google or Apple Maps as you go so that you can then see what is close to each other and it’s easier to navigate once you land. I use different symbols for different types of activities—my method is: trailheads are the green flag in Google Maps, breweries that I must visit are hearts, breweries that are on my “if there is time or it is convenient” are starred, restaurants are the blue suitcase, activities are the teal icon for lists. This makes it easy for me to zoom out of an area and see what order it makes sense to do things in versus crisscrossing across town multiple times.

4) Book your lodging

Now that you know where you’ll be spending your time, it’s time to book where you’ll stay. Compare prices and neighborhoods for hotels and Airbnbs. If you marked things on Google Maps it’s easy to see how far away things are from your potential lodging spots. Make note of check-in and check-out times on your itinerary and if you will have a car what the parking situation is.

5) My Pre-Trip Checklist:

It’s almost time to go on your adventure! Here are the things I think through before leaving:

1. Schedule a mail hold (for longer trips)

2. Do you need a visa? Is your passport expiration date far enough out?

3. Double check flight seats are ideal

4. Confirm meal requests on flight (when needed)

5. Charge everything—phone, Airpods, Kindle, portable charger

6. Confirm phone plan details—what’s included, any potential extra costs

7. Download offline maps for each area

8. Download Kindle books, Netflix shows, podcasts

9. Confirm travel alerts on credit cards, get any needed foreign currency

10. Set your out of office—my favorite part :)

11. Hiking? Clean your boots and any gear to prevent spreading any pests/seeds

12. Bump up the air conditioning temperature or bump down the heat on your thermostat, season dependent.

13. Unplug most electronics around the house to save energy

14. Water your plants

15. Clean out your fridge

16. Take out the trash/recycling

17. Pack! I love packing cubes to stay organized. Don’t forget a plug converter when needed, plane snacks, and old-school wired headphones for long flights to watch movies.

Happy Adventuring! Let me know if anything else would be helpful! Cheers —Alexis

The Best Craft Beer Bars

Obviously I love exploring breweries, but craft beer bars are always fun to hang out at as well. I love getting to try hard to find or obscure beers from breweries across the world!

My favorite craft beer bars each offer a little something different, but they all have delicious and unique beers! Check out my top picks globally below:

The Avenue Pub in New Orleans

The Avenue Pub

Located in New Orleans, Louisiana this craft beer haven is open 24/7 365 days of the year! The Avenue has a fantastic tap list at both their main bar downstairs and their balcony bar upstairs.

The balcony is one of the best parts of The Avenue, it is a fantastic place to kick back and watch the streetcars roll by and soak up some Louisiana sunshine. Their location right on Saint Charles Avenue makes it a prime spot to watch parades during Mardi Gras season, but beware of beads flying into your beer!

The Avenue also has a full food menu that is typical bar food. The cheese fries are fantastic, especially after a beer or two. If you’re local to New Orleans their Mug Club is a fun feature to earn discounts on beers and get invited to special events.

Polly and her team do a fantastic job at The Avenue so be sure to show them some love the next time you’re in The Big Easy! Take note that The Avenue is 21 and up only.

Check out all of my New Orleans recommendations here!

Salud Beer Shop in Charlotte

Salud Beer Shop

This Charlotte, North Carolina beer bar and bottle shop opened its doors in 2012 and has been crushing the game ever since. Located in the NoDa neighborhood, they’ve got 16 taps and a plethora of cans and bottles for consumption both on and offsite.

Salud’s owners Jason and Dairelyn Glunt host frequent events such as tap takeovers, porch parties, and special releases in the bottle shop. They’ve also got natural wines, meads, and a food menu featuring Neapolitan-style pizzas.

Salud also won the top spot for Best Beer Bar from USA Today in 2019 and 2020 so don’t just take my word for how great they are! Be sure to check out their brewery upstairs too, Salud Cerveceria.

Liquiderie Bottle Shop in Paris

Liquiderie Bottle Shop

Liquiderie is located in Paris, France. It is a tiny little spot with a just a few bar stools, but it is full of some incredible beers. They’ve got three beers on taps and a slue of cans and bottles for sale to drink in-house or take to-go.

They’ve also got a small food menu for snacks. Liquiderie’s staff is super nice and friendly so don’t be afraid to ask questions or just hang out!

This cute little spot is located right in the heart of the Folic-Mericourt neighborhood.

The rest of my Paris recommendations are located here!

Torst in New York City

Torst Bar

Torst is located on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn, NYC. With so many beer bars and breweries in The Big Apple, Torst sets itself apart with its killer tap list and unique environment.

Torst is classier than your average beer bar, with a sleek set-up and intimate atmosphere. They have 21 taps, a large list of can and bottle beer options, natural wines, and cocktails as well.

Torst also has a small food menu with snacks and a few sandwiches. They offer Happy Hour from 4-7pm every weekday.

Beer Street is another one of my favorite NYC craft beer bars with more of a dive bar atmosphere, cheaper prices, and still a fantastic tap list. Check out all of my NYC recommendations here!

The Whale in Greenville

The Whale Craft Beer Collective

The Whale has locations in Asheville, North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina. Each location has 20 taps and a large can and bottle list to enjoy.

On tap at each spot you will also find Whale Exclusives, which are beers they collaboratively brewed with local breweries for release only at their taprooms.

The Whale is dog-friendly and also offers, wine, mead, sake, and non-alcoholic craft beverages. Be sure to stop by next time you’re in AVL or GVL!

Check out my Asheville recommendations here and my Greenville recommendations here!

The Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta

The Porter Beer Bar

Located in the heart of the Little 5 Points neighborhood of Atlanta, The Porter Beer Bar is a mecca for ATL’s craft beer nerds.

The Porter has been open since 2008, before the craft beer scene in the US really took off.

They have over fifty taps, a large selection of cans and bottles, wine, and cocktails. Be sure to bring your reading glasses with you to this beer bar—the tap list is a novel but it is worth the effort!

The Porter also has a full food menu to keep your appetite at bay while you peruse and enjoy your many drink options.

The rest of my Atlanta recommendations are located here!

The International Beer Bar in Zurich

The International Beer Bar

Located in Zurich, Switzerland, The International is a cozy little spot with indoor and outdoor seating options. They have craft Swiss, European, and global beers available.

Their staff is super friendly and they have truly delicious beers to try. They do tap-takeovers and also have cans and bottles available.

Check out my Zurich guide here!

State of Beer in Raleigh

State of Beer

State of Beer is in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. It is from the team at Trophy Brewing which has three taprooms as a part of their brewery as well.

State of Beer is a bottle and sandwich shop with 12 taps, a plethora of bottles and cans, small plates, salads, and sandwiches. You can also buy beer to-go here.

They have a nice outdoor patio to enjoy your beer and food on as well, it gets busy when the weather is nice. Check it out next time you’re in the area!

Pop The Top in Charlotte

Pop The Top Craft Beer Shop

Another gem in Charlotte, North Carolina, Pop the Top is located in the South End neighborhood. Ketan and his fantastic team have 24 taps, cans, and bottles for sale to consume on or off premises.

Pop The Top does not have a kitchen so they are dog-friendly and you can bring your own food. They host frequent tap takeovers and you’ll frequently find a bottle share happening as well.

They’ve also got an outdoor patio for those sunny days, board games, and TVs.

Local Option in Chicago

Local Option

Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Local Option is—as you might guess—where the locals go!

They have 24 taps, a few of which are usually their own beer they brew as well. The food at Local Option is delicious, so be sure to come hungry and eat up!

Their taproom has some punk-esque vibes but is still welcoming and friendly to everyone.

They partner with AJ Maka Distributors to get some amazing craft beers and meads on tap and in the bar, so be sure to stop by next time you’re in the Chicagoland area!

Check out my Chicago recommendations here!

Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia

Monk’s Cafe

Monk’s Cafe is in downtown Philly and advertises itself as “The soul of Belgium in the heart of Philadelphia”.

They have 25 beers on tap and a bottle list, both with an emphasis on Belgian beers. The vibes are more pub-like with a full food menu and servers, but I would recommend just sitting at the bar to get the full beer nerd experience.

Monk’s Cafe also has a lot of special events, such as a special tapping of Pliny the Younger from Russian River that happens each year. Check it out next time you’re in Philly!

My guide to Philadelphia is located here!

What’s your favorite craft beer bar? Let me know in the comments!

The Best Breweries I've Visited Abroad

I’ve been to over 550 breweries in 30 countries exploring the global craft beer scene. These have been some of my favorite breweries I’ve visited outside of the United States!

I base this on beers, atmosphere, and overall experience when visiting. These aren’t in ranking order to be clear, it’s organized by continent.

Cantillon Brewery: Brussels, Belgium

The G.O.A.T.! Cantillon is a lambic brewery making some of the best beers in the world.

It is quite unlike any other brewery you’ll visit, I definitely recommend it! You can book a tour in advance or do a self-guided tour of the historic facility, both come with a tasting afterwards.

Their Gueze is their most popular but everything they offer is unique and fantastic.

The rest of my Belgium recommendations are located here!

Brouwerij’t IJ: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

A brewery in a windmill, can you get more Netherlands?!

Brouwerij’t IJ is adorable and is cranking out some amazing beers. There is also a basic food menu of snacks to accompany your beer.

The taproom has very chill vibes and friendly staff to help you decide what you’d like to have!

Check out my guide to Amsterdam here!

Jopen: HaArlem, The Netherlands

Located in an old church in the center of Haarlem, a small town outside of Amsterdam.

Jopen has a full food menu with a variety of dishes. For a fun twist, Jopen also offers High Beer, in the spirit of High Tea. It has a pairing of 3 beers and 6 snacks.

The vibes at Jopen are a little more restaurant-esque than what I normally like but the beautiful setting makes up for it!

Eggenberg Brewery: Cesky Krumlov, The Czech Republic

A traditional Czech brewery in the little town of Cesky Krumlov. This location first started making beer in 1561!

It has super fun beer hall vibes and you can expect your waitress to slam your overflowing beer down in front of you while holding 10 other beers at the same time.

They’ve also got traditional Czech food to enjoy after a day of sightseeing.

My Czech Republic guide is here!

Augustiner Keller: Munich, Germany

I know, you’re thinking I am crazy because we’re talking about beer in Germany and I didn’t say Hofbrauhaus! Don’t get me wrong, Hofbrauhaus is great, but the atmosphere at Augstiner Keller was fantastic.

They have a huge beer garden that was my favorite part of my visit, along with their delicious traditional German beers. They have a full restaurant as well (but let’s be real you just really want a pretzel).

Check out all of my Munich recommendations here!

Abirradero: Barcelona, Spain

Most people think of Spain for their wines, not beer, but Abirradero is working to change that reputation with their brews!

They have a large beer menu and a food menu with a plethora of tapas to choose from. My cheese board was delightful!

They have a nice outside patio to enjoy your food and drink in as well. Abirradero is a bit pricey but I found it to be worth it!

The rest of my Barcelona recommendations can be found here!

Stomping Ground Brewery and Beer Hall: Melbourne, Australia

I loved the bright and spacious vibes of the beer garden at Stomping Ground! They have a retractable roof, a ton of plants, and a really fun atmosphere.

Their Smash series of sours were my favorites, but they have a large variety of beers to choose from. Stomping Ground also has a full food menu.

Check out my guide to Melbourne here!

33 Acres Brewing Company: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

A brewery coffee shop combination with amazing beers and delicious food! Located in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of Vancouver and is in walking distance to several other breweries.

The wood fired pizza from the truck out front is incredible and I cannot recommend it enough! They’ve also got a breakfast menu for weekdays, an all day menu, and a weekend brunch menu.

I was thoroughly impressed with their beers, especially the juicy IPAs. Their taproom is pretty small so I would try to visit when it’s not peak hours to guarantee you’ll find a seat!

Check out my full guide to Vancouver here!

La Rana Dorada: Panama City, Panama

Panama’s first microbrewery! Right as you enter the Casco Viejo neighborhood this cute little brewery greets you.

They make great beers and it is a fun place to hang out and soak up the culture on the outside patio.

Check out my Panama guide here!

What are your favorite breweries outside of the United STates? Let me know in the comments!