By Peter Minkoff

How far are you willing to travel for a good pint of beer? If you’re a true beer lover, there’s no distance that can keep you away from trying a new type in a new country! So, if you’re really crazy about good beer, here are the top destinations you must visit this year that will quench your thirst.

Seattle

Seattle has an amazing brewery-count with over 60 breweries doing business and serving beer lovers from all over the globe. Each year, we get a new addition to the scene, and this year we got one of the best: Future Primitive Brewing. This little brewery specializes in “little beers” as their inventors like to call them. They are making an effort to rediscover old and forgotten methods and outdated styles and employ them in making something new and delicious. Other must-visit breweries include some cult faves like Reuben’s Brews, Cloudburst and Pike.

Tokyo

Beer is rarely the reason why people decide to visit Tokyo, but even if that’s not your main mission, don’t leave this city without sampling some of Japan’s best crafts. Tokyo has a pretty good scene filled with both local- and expat-owned breweries that serve everything from Japanese crafts to American favorites. For instance, make sure to visit Watering Hole in Shibuya that serves a fun mix of Japanese craft (Onisdensetsu, Minoh) and American Burley Oak and Upslope. A relatively new addition to the scene is Øl—a Scandinavian-Japanese bar opened up in partnership with Oslo Brewing. They serve everything from Oslo’s beers to Kyoto Brewing beers to Ballast Point lagers to house-made ginger ale!

Sydney

One thing is for sure, Australians love their beer! Craft breweries are popping up all over the country, especially in Sydney which is a must-visit beer destination. There’s not much to say about the scene that will make your brewery choice any easier: wherever you see beer, feel free to grab a pint, especially when in Marrickville, the country’s beer capital. Marrickville also has an excellent craft beer store that offers around 1000 beers from just about every beer brewing region in the world including local crafts. This means you can bring a taste of Australia with you and surprise those waiting at home with a bottle of best Aussie craft.    

Prague

The Czech Republic not only consumes the most beer per person, but they also produce some of the best brands of lager. Staropramen, Kozel, Pilsner Urquell, Krusovice and Budweiser are some of the most popular beers in Europe. Kozel is very masculine and strong with its dark foam and thick taste while Pilsner Urquell is known for its “hoppy” taste. If you want to try something light and sweet, opt for Matuska, one of the country’s youngest crafts and try their Zlata Raketa with undertones of citrus and tropical fruit. All in all, drinking beer, especially crafts, is a valid pastime and hobby in the capital of Prague, so there are a plethora of different bars where you can sample some of the country’s best crafts. And there’s just no best or worst bar to visit in Prague. Each is completely unique and offers what they think is the best example of Czech beer. So, don’t hesitate to visit them all!

Berlin

It’s just impossible to leave out Germany when talking about beer. So, when in Berlin, make sure to go straight to Markthalle Neun, an urban market filled with everything one hipster might need: Good coffee, fresh and farm-raised food and craft beer. Heidenpeters is the place to go if you want to try amazing Pale Ale, IPA and Brown Ale (sometimes they also offer Porters and Stouts). In Kreuzberg’s Wrangelkeiz neighborhood search for Hopfenreich that serves local beers from producers like Berliner Berg, Stone Berlin and Spent Collective. And Brlo Brwhouse is a modern beer playground that serves around 20 beers on tap from house-brewed Helles to other local, national and international beers. It’s really a place to be. And, if you’re visiting Berlin in July, make sure to visit Berlin Beer Week, a 10-day celebration of beer experience with numerous events taking place throughout the capital.

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