As I’ve traveled around and sampled beer all over the world, I’ve definitely put together a list of places I would easily visit again. If you are one of the three people who follow this blog (lol), you will know that I was tracking the defunct magazine’s (All About Beer) “Growler List: 125 Places to Have a Beer Before You Die.” That list came out in 2008–but over time, it has become a little bit of a Circus. Many of the places closed or changed over time (especially during COVID period). If you follow the brewing industry, I think you would know that the emphasis always shifts–except for those precious few that remain consistent.

I was, at one time, using Untappd to track my stats … It became tedious to me because I was always trying to up my numbers and try different beers — even when they weren’t the beers I wanted! I think I started using it in 2013 and stopped in 2019. By that time, I had recorded over 2100+ beers and had been to 500+ places.

Interestingly, I still ended up drinking what I would consider my favorite beers anyway … the only one I would probably swap out on this list is the “Tripel Wit” at the bottom for a Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA.

By replacing the Tripel Wit with the Union Jack IPA, I can then say I’ve been to four of the five breweries associated with my five favorite beers: Orval, West Vleteren, Russian River, and Firestone Walker. My favorite place to visit was Orval (although you can’t drink a beer at the brewer). The only one I haven’t visited yet is the Leroy Breweries — and I hope to do that this year! 

Suffice it to say that when I pick my top 30 places, it is with much experience, enthusiasm, and pleasure–but the list will probably morph as I continue along my beer journey. As I’ve gotten “more experienced,” I find I like a quieter locale–plus I really like to dig into the history, character, and quality of the establishment and the (obviously)–the beers.

This is actually an update to this blog post from 2010. It, too, listed my “Top 50 Places” … up to that point. I’ve reduced my number to 30 — more manageable and it makes it more special. My criteria is still the same for my “30 Places:” 1) I can remember where the place was and can get back there, 2) it’s a place that you can get to to drink beer, 3) it will be a place that, no matter if you’ve been once or dozens of times, you will want to go back when the opportunity presents itself. The specific order to this list is my Top 5 … see that post here, Top 5 runner-ups, top 5 festivals, top 6 breweries, 4 most obscure, and 5 other?

	Beer Mentor’s 30 Places: Yes, I’ll have Another one!
1a	My House. IMHO, my brewery produces great beers (and my collection is growing!) … oh, and I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to get home after a couple of beers
1b	Bräustüberl Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany. (2010, 2012 x2) – to drink the beer produced here at the oldest brewery in the world! Plus you can sample traditional Bavarian cuisine as well … then walk around the halls and brewery–check out the history.
2	A la nouvelle Hostellerie d’Orval, near Abbaye d’Orval, Belgium (2009×2, 2012) – where to drink an Orval near the Abbey. Then head over to the Abbey for a visit to the museum and to pick up your beer. If you are lucky enough, maybe you can figure out a way to tour the brewery … Make sure to visit the Spring in the old Ruins — the source of the water for the brewery …
3	In de Vrede, Westvleteren, Belgium near Sint-Sixtusabdij Westvleteren (2009, 2010, 2012) – you can drink (and purchase) all versions of Westvleteren here … need I say more?
4	Staffelberg-Klause, Bad Staffelberg, Germany (2010) -You get the local beer on tap here and views that don’t stop … and when you are here, you’ll see why I rank it so high (in Summer/Fall only)
5	Ye Olde Mitre Tavern, Ely Court, Hatton Garden, London, England (2010) .. although a hole in the wall (basically in an alley) … it opened in 1546 …pouring Fuller’s beers. You can feel the history as you stand there drinking your beer.
6	Hofbraeuhaus, Munich, Germany (1997, 1998, 2001, 2012) — probably should be in my top 5, but there’s only 6 places there. haha. That’s how good I could count after having a few liters at the Hofbrauhaus.
7	The Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium (2010, 2012) — Any number of small cafes on the Grand Place will serve you a wonderful beer … a great atmosphere for people watching.
8	Kloster Andechs, Andechs, Germany (2010 x2, 2012) – Monks have been serving pilgrims here since 1455 … I have enjoyed each journey I’ve made to this beautiful locale …
9	The Long Valley Bar, Cork Ireland (2000) — As I was touring around Cork, I stopped in here for a pint of Beamish … and left with my favorite Beamish Glass. Family-owned Irish Pub … an awesome place.
10	Sloppy Joe’s, Key West, FL (Can’t remember all the times) – Let’s just say if the place was good enough for Ernest Hemingway, it’s good enough for me!
11	Fruhlingsfest, Bad Cannstadt, Germany (2010) (The second largest (I think) fall festival in Germany (after Oktoberfest) — I place it higher because it was less touristy)
12	Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany (1998, 2012) (It would be difficult not to include this festival — just for the sheer spectacle (look at the size of it on the map! … but it also has great beer in one liter steins. lol)
13	Aventinus Festival … Schneider Weisse Brewery, Kelheim, Germany (2010) – (this would be my number 1 festival, but it is a hard one to attend — I think it is typically for the employees and local people around Kelheim. We were very lucky to get tickets! If you can’t get tickets, the Weisses Brauhaus is awesome too!)
14	Wurstfest, New Braunfels, Texas (2013). Great locale, excellent food/music, and really good beer–still going string since 1961. Worth a trip!
15	Great American Beer Festival, Denver, Colorado (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009) –– How many different beers can you drink in 3.5 hours? A lot! Remember them all … probably not. You gotta like a lot of people to go to this festival!
16	Cantillon Brewery and Gueuze Museum, Belgium (2010, 2012) – The heart of the Gueuze … an absolutely amazing tour — will be crowded, but worth it!
17	Pilsner Urquell Brewery, Plzen, Czech Republic (2012) – Wow. The birth place of the Pilsner — go for the great tour, stay for the great beer! (Fresh from Fass!)
18	Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, CA (2019) – one of the original breweries of the Craft Beer revolution — still making great beer, and the tour is out of this world! Worth a visit!
19	Rogue Brewing, Newport, OR (2017) – When you get to ride the “beer train” over to the distillery, you know you’re in the right place! Great experience here …
20	Anheuser-Busch Brewery (St Louis, MO) (2012, 2013) / Coors Brewing (Golden, CO) (2011) — I know … big beer … but the absolute scale of these breweries is amazing, and the tours are both really good!
21	Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan, Bruges, Belgium (2012) – A great brewery tour — was here for my 49th birthday — they had a sign up for me — the full tour of this place. Incredible. And Bruges is a wonderful city …
22	Cellar Bar at the Breuberg Schloss, Germany (1998, 1999) – First of the obscure/hard to get to entries: only really open during the Bagpipe Association of Germany’s Summer School and ending festival. Do it!
23	Beer Tent. Glengarry Highland Games, Maxville, Ontario (2003, 2009) – Second Obscure Entry: Excellent during the games — fantastic when all of the Pipe Bands are there celebrating after the ceremony.
24	Selin’s Grove Brewing, Selinsgrove, PA (2009) – small out-of-the-way brewery in Pennsylvania that is worth a trip … or at least it was back in the day! I need another visit to check it out!
25	Mercury’s Bar, Stone Town, Zanzibar (2012/2013) – right on the beach looking out over the ocean … the beers are good enough with this view … just not an easy place to get to!
26	Irseer Klosterbrauerei, Irsee, Germany (2010, 2012) – since 1142 … lol. You can stay here and stumble back and forth to drink great beer! The church, Kloster, and surrounding area is beautiful!
27	Jack Quinn Irish Pub, Colorado Springs, CO (Too Many Times to Count) – What can I say about Quinn’s — I went through countless pints of Guinness, played a lot of bagpipes here, and have some awesome memories/stories … if I can just recall them …
28	Naturfreunde Haus, Vaihingen, Germany (Many Times) – this one could have been in the obscure list as well … so inviting … awesome food … great Kellerbier! Worth the walk
29	The Auberge de Poteaupre, near Chimay Brewery, Belgium (2010 x2, 2012) – Stayed here (I think) three times … excellent food and you can drink ALL of the Chimay beers … to include the Monk’s beer … Beautiful place and a short walk to the Abbey.
30	Cat’s Eye Pub, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD (2011) – this place has live music, a lot of character, and some great beers on tap … so much US History in this area. Worth a visit

Wow, this was a harder exercise than I thought it would be — a huge variety of places that were good that didn’t make the list–however, this list contains the places where I’ve been, with a beer in my hand, and said to myself “could this be any more perfect than this right at this moment?” My only caveat would be that, as time passes, places change. But I would say each of these places would be as special, because I’ve found each visit has always brought its own flavor. Enjoy!

Beer Mentor