So beer isn’t exactly a new thing. In fact, several of the oldest known recipes discovered around the world are for beer. The Roman historian Tacitus even made special mention of a fermented drink made from barley or other grain in his cultural survey of Germanic tribes. It’s been a staple in many cultures for a long time. But while the latter half of the 20th century was dominated by large breweries taking advantage of mass-marketing, the new millennium is all about craft and microbrews. Some destinations have been in on the act for a while, and others are just getting started. Here’s a sampler of some of the top vacations for beer loversl
The long Belgian brewing tradition dates to at least the crusades, when monks sold their creation to raise funds. Think of it as a medieval bake sale. Over the centuries, the Belgians have perfected the craft and the nation of about 11 million people has approximately 180 breweries and 1,600 different beers. UNESCO has even included Belgian beer culture on its list of “intangible cultural heritage of humanity.” The world’s first beer pipeline went into action last year, connecting Bruges’ De Halve Maan brewery with its suburban bottling plant. Virtuoso-preferred G Adventures has created a weeklong Belgian Beer Tour featuring a visit to the Delirium beer hall in Brussels, a visit to a Trappist abbey/brewery in Rochefort and a tasting of brews normally reserved for monks near Chimay. In Bruges, the tour pays a visit to the home of a master brewer for barbecue and a private tasting. The best part is how well the beers pair with those famous fries.
The Anchor Brewing Company is credited with reviving the craft beer scene in America, right in the footprint of wine country. It was soon followed by the likes of New Albion Brewery, Sierra Nevada and Mendocino. Now the city is crawling with microbreweries, and newly Virtuoso-preferred Urban Adventures packs plenty of them into its North Beach Pub Tour. You can start of with an Anchor Steam, the granddaddy of them all, and get to know the eclectic North Beach neighborhood through its watering holes. Gold Rush sailors, Italian immigrants and Beat poets have all bellied up to the bars, and you’ll get a taste of history along with some fine local brews.
Cheating a bit here with multiple countries, but there are just so many great beer destinations in Europe! Plus, with select beer enthusiast river cruises on Virtuoso-preferred Avalon Waterways, you can cover several hop stops without having to repack. The 10-day Danube Dreams for Beer Enthusiasts itinerary includes a pub crawl in Prague, a visit to Aldersbach Brewery in Passau and a guided pub tour in Vienna with a stop at the Ottakringer family brewery. Onboard, there’s a lecture from a beer experts and recommended pairings at dinner. Urban Adventures offers beer tours in Budapest, Krakow, Prague and Bratislava. If your travels take you to Heidelberg, Germany, be sure to try Vetter 33 (named for its whopping alcohol by volume percentage) once the world’s strongest but since surpassed by a 68 percent ABV Scottish beer appropriately called Snake Venom.
After establishing itself in the world of wine, New Zealand is now taking on the craft beer scene. Tourism New Zealand endorses the Capital Craft Beer Tour in Wellington, with tastings at four breweries and a chat with a head brewer about food pairings. The Auckland Craft Beer Tour is another favorite, featuring samplings of a dozen or more brews with cheese and another snacks in an afternoon. In Christchurch, Scoff & Quaff introduces visitors to the tastes of the South Island with its Adventures in Beer, Dietary Requirements and Road to Hoppiness tours.
Though the caipirinha is still the national drink, beer consumption has gone up about 40 percent in recent years, and the population of more than 200 million consumes nearly 70 liters of beer per capita yearly. Virtuoso-preferred Blumar has culinary tours featuring the likes of established brands Skol, Brahma, Antarctica and Cerpa. Originally influenced by a large German immigrant population, the microbrew scene is now setting its own trends. So-called gypsy brewers make and package their own concoctions borrowing equipment from big breweries. With tropical fruits not found elsewhere, Brazil’s breweries (which number more than 200) can play with unique flavors. In recent years, Cervejaria Morada has introduced Brazil’s first cider and a brew inspired by the hallucinogenic ayahusca.
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Topics: Culinary Travel