15 Best Brewery Tours in the U.S. For Beer Lovers

When sipping on some excellent brews, it can be fun to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how the beer is made. 

With the growing popularity of breweries, more and more are hopping on the tour trend — offering packages that may include a sampling of different brews, food pairings, and more.

For the beer lovers out there, grab your favorite travel credit card and check out these 15 excellent brewery tours in the U.S.

Asheville has a hot brewery scene right now — so instead of picking one to see, it may be worth it to hop on a tour that hits several. The Asheville Brews Cruise takes cruisers to a few local gems, where they’ll enjoy plenty of samples over about four hours.

Bell’s offers two different tour experiences — one being its downtown Kalamazoo facility and the other being its larger brewing headquarters in Comstock, Michigan. Both give visitors a behind-the-scenes glance into how Bell’s delicious beers are created — and provide plenty of samples as well.

Brooklyn Brewery began the revival of the beer scene in the New York City borough — and its tours pack in plenty of information, from beer science to its own history.

The brewery gives free tours on Sundays and “Small Batch Tours,” where visitors get to taste some of their latest creations, throughout the week.

Anheuser-Busch offers a few different brewery experiences at its St. Louis campus — and it’s a must-see for Budweiser fans.

There’s a tour that lets guests get up close and personal with the famous Clydesdales, a food and beverage pairing tour, and another that takes you right to the lager cellars for tasting.

Coors, another giant in the beer game, also offers brewery tours at its location in Golden, Colorado. Guests get a glimpse into Coors’ history and its malting, brewing, and packaging processes — and can choose a full tour or a sampling-only experience.

Dogfish Head, which also distills spirits at its Milton location, offers a few different touring experiences to satisfy all tastes — from a $5, 25-minute “Quick Sip” tour to the $20, hour-plus long “Off-Centered” tour that takes guests through the brewhouse and includes beer and cocktail samples.

There’s plenty to get into at Deschutes in Bend, Oregon. The Tasting Room is open from noon to 7 p.m. every day and guests can sample brews, tour the grounds, or fill up a growler or two. It also offers tours of its small-batch pilot brewhouse and barrel house.

Goose Island’s brewery tour gives visitors an in-depth look into how Chicago’s original craft brewery came to be the industry giant it is today. It includes a peek into the brewing process, exclusive brew samples, and a custom glass and discount at the Goose Island Taproom.

Beer enthusiasts will want to check out Leinenkugel’s historic brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. If the rich history and vintage brewing equipment don’t convince you, the taproom full of delicious, seasonal brews certainly should.

Samuel Adams Boston Brewery offers a few different touring experiences.

The most basic, the “Sam Signature Experience,” is 45 minutes and costs $10. From there, tours get a bit pricier and more involved — like the “Artisan Beer & Cheese Experience” and the “VIP Pass Experience” (which gets you tasting access to a new, experimental brew).

Shiner’s Spoetzl Brewery offers a few different types of tours to cater to everyone from craft beer experts to newbies. The brewery’s signature tour includes a 45-minute guided walk through the brewery, some goodies, and, of course, some excellent beer samples.

Stone Brewing Company offers tours at its locations in both Escondido, California, and Richmond, Virginia.

The California tour in San Diego County is a particular hit. For just $15, visitors get a tour, a souvenir tasting glass, and an array of samples of Stone’s core and specialty beers.

Vermont has many breweries to choose from, so beer lovers may want to look into tours that hit a few — but the Alchemist’s is top-notch if you only have time for one. For $25, visitors are taken on an intimate tour of the brewery and get a can of beer and a commemorative glass.

The final two tours on our list are in Pennsylvania — and, of course, we had to include Tröegs, which has been voted the “Best Brewery Tour in America” several times.

The guided production tour offers an in-depth look at the Hershey facility, plus a welcome beer, a souvenir glass, and samples of Tröegs tops brews — all for $15.

Yuengling’s location in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, is America’s oldest brewery — and you can tour it for free! The tour takes about an hour, and guests are welcome to sample beer or purchase drafts or beer to-go from its tasting room.

A brewery tour can be an exciting and cheap way to spend an afternoon and step up your travel game — you really can’t beat Dogfish Head’s $5 quick tour.

When planning your visit, keep in mind that many popular breweries require you to make a tour reservation in advance (even some of the free tours).