Beer tourism: 6 craft breweries worth hunting down in 2026
The beer gets you there. The adventure keeps you hanging around.
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About Beer magazine once called Scratch Brewing one of the most beautiful places in the world to drink beer. With its beer garden tucked into the woods outside Ava, Illinois, it’s easy to see why.
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Scratch Brewing - Ava, Illinois
Irrigation Ales - Courtland, Kansas
Superior Bathhouse Brewery - Hot Springs, Arkansas
Side Project Brewing - Saint Louis, Missouri
Bridge Up Brewing - Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek, Wisconsin
Pulpit Rock Brewing - Decorah, Iowa
The first beer I ever actually liked was a craft beer: Fat Tire by New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado.
If you heard a record scratch after reading that, let me explain. This was the early 2000s, when New Belgium was growing rapidly but still independently owned.
Back then, craft beer felt like a treasure hunt. You had to know which grocery or liquor stores carried it. And a brewery visit meant driving to a forgotten corner of an industrial park and walking into a tiny storefront with maybe four chairs.
Today, the craft beer landscape looks a little different.
Many beloved breweries, not just New Belgium, that helped bring craft beer into the mainstream have been bought by larger companies. Some newer spots have a cookie-cutter feel. Together, those shifts make the magic seem harder to find — even though there’s more craft beer than ever.
But it’s still out there.
These six breweries capture what made craft beer feel special in the first place: the thrill of discovery, the people behind the pour and the sense of community. They’re worth hunting down for what’s in the glass and for the adventures waiting beyond the barstool.
6 places where the spirit of craft beer still feels alive
Scratch Brewing
Where the forest ends up in your glass
A little glimpse into Scratch Brewing’s wonderfully weird world, where James Beard recognition shares shelf space with turkey feathers, crystals and other curiosities.
Ava, Illinois
@scratchbeer
Why it’s Super Cool
The brewery isn’t just located in the woods outside a tiny Southern Illinois town of fewer than 600 people. It’s of the woods.
Founders Marika Josephson and Aaron Kleidon forage ingredients, such as tree bark and fungi, that most brewers would never think to use.
Scratch feels off the beaten path, but it’s far from off the radar.
The brewery has earned four James Beard Award nominations since opening in 2013. And in 2025, Outside magazine named it one of the country’s eight most scenic breweries. They weren’t wrong.
What to sip and savor
Scratch is one of the top destinations in the world for foraged beer, so expect lagers brewed with dandelions (one of our favs) and ales made with autumn leaves. And be sure to try the wood-fired pizza — in 2024, the New York Times named Scratch one of the 22 best pizza places in the U.S.
Best for
Beer garden
Foraged beer
Rustic vibes
Beyond the barstool
See the Little Grand Canyon and Pomona Natural Bridge, two highlights of Shawnee National Forest.
Sip your way along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, featuring 11 wineries.
Peruse the Amish-run Shawnee Country Store for bulk spices, soup mixes, baking supplies, soft-serve ice cream and ginormous sandwiches.
Irrigation Ales
A hyper-local brewery that feels 100% homegrown
Tulsa musician Tom Pevear strums the soundtrack to an afternoon at Irrigation Ales in Courtland, Kansas.
Courtland, Kansas
@irrigationales
Why it’s Super Cool
If you’ve ever wondered if Midwest nice is still a thing, spend an afternoon at Irrigation Ales in Courtland, Kansas.
This seriously small town of under 300 people is known for agriculture, not ales. But that changed in 2022, when Luke and Jennifer Mahin opened Irrigation Ales.
Luke's a Courtland native with deep roots in the area. At one time, he was the third generation of his family to work for the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District, which supplies water to more than 60,000 acres of farmland.
When we visited, the place was buzzing. Live music filled the taproom before moving to the town square, and a food truck was parked outside. It didn't feel like a brewery hosting an event. It felt like a town gathering around its brewery.
What to sip and savor
Start with their flagship Irish red ale, Red Trucks. It’s named for the Irrigation District vehicles that “ditch riders” drive to maintain canals and regulate water flow. And if their dill pickle lager is on tap, why wouldn’t you try it? It’s just too interesting to skip.
The brewery doesn’t serve food, but food trucks are often parked on Main Street outside.
Best for
Friendly atmosphere
Bragging rights for going off the grid for beer
Rural tourism
Beyond the barstool
Drive about 45 minutes west to the geographic center of the lower 48 states. Two markers, about 4 miles apart near Lebanon, Kansas, commemorate different historical calculations of the center. It's a do-it-just-to-say-you-did side quest.
Stop by Courtland's locally owned Deport Farm Market, open April through October. They grow a lot of the produce they sell and have a loyal following for their apple cider donuts.
Hop on your bike to explore seemingly endless gravel roads that feel remote and lonely in the best way possible. There are miles and miles of road for gravel biking in the area.
Superior Bathhouse Brewery
The only brewery on the grounds of a U.S. national park
Sit at the window and watch the people go by on Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Our IPA tasters came in the cutest little glasses.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
@superiorbathhousebrewery
Why it’s Super Cool
Anchoring the northern end of Bathhouse Row at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas is the always-bustling Superior Bathhouse Brewery. It’s in an actual former bathhouse, opened in 1916 as the smallest and simplest place for “taking the waters.”
Today, those thermal waters don’t go into bathtubs. They go into the beer.
Superior is the only brewery in the world to use natural thermal spring water in their brewing process. It’s also the only brewery in a U.S. national park.
Bonus: It’s woman owned. Rose Schweikhart led a nearly $1-million restoration to transform the bathhouse, which sat empty for 30 years, into a brewery, tasting room and restaurant that opened in 2013.
What to sip and savor
On a hot Southern day, the Super Sesh session IPA, brewed with Citra and Simcoe hops, is light and refreshing while still packing a decent bitterness. Want to turn up the heat? Try Spicy Ride, a jalapeno ale.
For a nosh, order the Bavarian soft pretzel with house-made bacon horseradish dip. And it’s hard to go wrong with a smash burger. The brewery sources its beef from Arkansas farmers.
Best for
Walkable area
National park tourism
Woman-owned brewery
Beyond the barstool
Soak in the thermal spring water at Quapaw Baths, a coed bathhouse for ages 14 and up. You’ll leave feeling rejuvenated, like you could float through the rest of your day.
Walk the roughly 1-mile loop along Bathhouse Row and the Grand Promenade. Take your time exploring the visitor center and gift shop, fill your bottles with spring water from the fountains and dip your fingers in the open-air hot spring at Hot Water Cascade.
Stroll Garvan Woodland Gardens to see the architectural marvel that is Anthony Chapel, feel like a kid again at Evans Tree House and lose your sense of time in the Garden of the Pine Wind, a 4-acre Japanese garden.
Side Project Brewing
A world-class brewery hiding in plain sight
Phase Rule 2023, a collaboration between Side Project in Saint Louis and Phase Three Brewing outside Chicago, is a 15% ABV imperial stout aged in bourbon, cognac and rye whiskey barrels.
Saint Louis, Missouri
@sideprojectbrew
Why it’s Super Cool
When you first walk into Side Project Brewing in Saint Louis, Missouri, look to your left. The cork map on the wall is dotted with push pins from visitors around the world. One of the first times we sat down at the bar, the woman pouring our pints told us Side Project is better known outside the U.S. than it is in its own hometown.
Maybe that’s because it shares a hometown with Anheuser-Busch, which started in Saint Louis in 1857. In a watered-down lager town, Side Project stands apart with worldclass IPAs, barrel-aged stouts and sours.
In the final RateBeer Best Awards in 2020, Side Project came in at No. 2 among the Top 100 Breweries in the World. Not bad for an operation that started as Cory King’s legit side project when he was head brewer at nearby Perennial Artisan Ales.
What to sip and savor
Check both the draft and on-site bottle lists before ordering. Their hazy IPAs are excellent, and their bottled sours, wild ales and stouts are legendary. Many limited bottles must be enjoyed on-site to discourage beer flipping — buying coveted bottles only to turn around and resell them at inflated prices.
At the tasting room, pair your beer with cheese curds, pretzels or a sandwich. The crispy chicken, smash burger and chili-garlic cauliflower are all solid options. They also have a pizza place across the street. Their first location, the Cellar, doesn't serve food.
Best for
Globally renowned IPAs, stouts and sours
Rare bottles to take home
Urban tourism
Beyond the barstool
Explore Gateway Arch National Park, where you can see — and ride to the top of — the iconic silver arch along the Mississippi River. It's the smallest of all the U.S. national parks.
Wander through Missouri Botanical Garden, the nation's oldest continuously operating botanical garden. Opened in 1859, the 79-acre garden is still a major center for plant research.
Spend an afternoon on the Delmar Loop, home to the St. Louis Walk of Fame, Vintage Vinyl record store and Blueberry Hill, a restaurant and music venue packed with pop-culture memorabilia. And be wary of Fitz's Root Beer. We got tip-jacked there once.
Bridge Up Brewing
Two taprooms for double the Door County charm
Bridge Up North Taproom at The Cherry Hut feels like stopping by your friend's garage — only with draft beer, firepits and Door County scenery.
Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek, Wisconsin
bridgeupbrewing.com
Why it’s Super Cool
Anyone with an affinity for bridges (they’re Super Cool, right?) will appreciate that this brewery’s name nods to the Sturgeon Bay Steel Bridge (aka Michigan Street drawbridge) in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Head brewer Trent Snyder coined the moniker while sitting in bridge-up traffic. It ties the brewery to its waterfront location, inside Sonny’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria, at the southwest end of the bridge.
But there's a second location deeper into the Door County Peninsula, a charming vacationland that swarms with visitors in summer. And it feels just as special — if not more so.
Bridge Up North Taproom in Fish Creek shares a space with The Cherry Hut, a farm stand that's been part of the community since 1950. The taproom feels like hanging out in your coolest friend's garage, while the beer garden is arranged around firepits with views of the woodsy landscape. Summer weekends bring live music, too.
What to sip and savor
Local ingredients inform the brews. When Seagulls Attack uses Wisconsin-grown white wheat, while U-Pick is a cherry ale made with Door County’s prolific summer fruit. In Sturgeon Bay, try the crab ravioli or a pizza from Sonny’s. At Bridge Up North, you can’t go wrong with a hot dog.
Best for
Summer vacation destination
Beer garden
Local ties
Beyond the barstool
Visit Peninsula State Park for beaches, 20 miles of hiking trails and the Sunset Bike Trail. Plus, climb to the top of Eagle Tower for views over Lake Michigan’s Green Bay.
Stop at Charlie’s Smokehouse in Gills Rock for delectable, slow-smoked Lake Michigan whitefish. The historic, family-owned staple has been smoking fish since 1932. Tip: Their t-shirts and sweatshirts are super cute.
Shop for goat cheese curds, goat’s milk gelato and ridiculously cute gifts at Door County Creamery in Sisters Bay. Bonus: They’re also a café that serves breakfast sandwiches all day.
Pulpit Rock Brewing
A little brewery with a taste for experimentation
Saftig, Norwegian for juicy, is a Citra-and-Mosaic IPA from Pulpit Rock Brewing in Decorah, Iowa. It was only in cans when we visited, but it’s often available on draft.
Decorah, Iowa
@prbrewing
Why it’s Super Cool
When Pulpit Rock Brewing opened its doors in Decorah, Iowa, in 2015, it surprisingly wasn’t the first brewery around. Toppling Goliath Brewing put the small college town of about 7,500 people on the craft beer map in 2009.
In fact, head brewers Robert Slack and Justin Teff were Toppling veterans.
The brewers intentionally leave room in the brewing cycle for creativity and experimentation, resulting in batches that may be made once and never again. Something they didn’t get to do enough of at Toppling.
What to sip and savor
Saftig, which means juicy in Norwegian, uses the dynamic duo of IPA hops: Citra and Mosaic. They’re also known for their experimental pastry sours, such as the strawberry-and-marshmallow Smarshmallow.
They don’t serve food, so bring something from the Whippy Dip with you.
Best for
Small town tourism
Experimental beer
Cute merch
Beyond the barstool
Don’t miss the chance to visit Toppling Goliath for a brewery two-fer. Arrive hungry, and if they’re still on the menu, order the cheese curds.
Head to Heritage Farm for hiking trails, display gardens, historic orchards, a gift store and, best of all, Seed Savers Exchange. Preserving more than 20,000 varieties of vegetable, herb and flower seeds, it’s one of the largest nongovernment seed banks in the U.S.
Another farm destination, Luna Valley Farm is known for wood-fired pizza made with local ingredients and paired with live music, local brews and natural wine.
The magic of craft beer is alive and well in these six destinations, where interesting beer, genuine community and a reason to explore converge.
So plan the beer-cation this fall. Hunt down the brewery. And then stick around long enough to discover what else is there.
