Best Brewery Tour Experiences

I don't go too often, but I enjoy all of the tours (even though I'n not a home brewer). It's just nice to connect on a personal level and learn something about the brewery.

Since SN-Chico was one of my first, it will always be on the top on the list.

 

I don’t know how things work in the States and I don’t believe this happens anymore in Canada, but back in the day on the east coast they would take groups on a tour of the brewery and then put you in a room where you could drink all you wanted free for two hours. One of my Profs organized one for our class one day and came along with. He was a very cool, outside-the-box kind of guy.

 

I've been on around 40 tours-My favorites have been:

Lakefront, Milwaukee-Tour guides are hilarious! Go on Friday for the fish fry.

Half Acre,Chicago on Lincoln. Tour is kind of cramped but we had several beers and just kind of rotated in place as we got a different perspective on the brewing industry regarding marketing.

Confluence, Des moines. The owner was kind enough to give us a personal tour on a Sunday when he was working with his kids in tow. Great guy with a great perspective on the industry.

 

Bofferding. Luxembourg.

20 odd years ago while at college, our class toured the institutions of the European Union.

Drunk in 7 different countries in 7 days.

highlight of the tour was Bofferding in Luxembourg. At the end of a very standard brewery tour they had a bar that sat maybe 30 people.
Seemed like we were there for hours poring little 1/4 L lagers, or 33cl or whatever.

cold crisp Euro lagers With big frothy heads. Batman just let us have at it. Loads of fun

 

Coors Brewery, back when their distro basically ended in Kansas. I can't recall much about it except they gave you a small glass (about 4 oz) and you could fill it up right from the canning line. Gave me great bragging rights back at University that fall.

 

In either the late 60 or early 70s, I remember my dad talking about having Coors while on travel as it wasn't available in California at the time (at least in the SF Bay Area).

 

I went to DeGarde in Tillamook. Place was not busy, so I asked if I could see the place. A staff took me in the back and showed me around. It was awesome, especially seeing their coolship and all the barrels.

Sierra Nevada in Mills River was really cool. A self guided tour where my kids could safely walk around. The same for New Glarus.

 

I've only been on a few tours, but should take the time and join more as I tour the country breweries.

My first tours as a kid were of AB plants in Saint Louis and later Tampa Bay (Busch Gardens). I loved the smell then, a smell I love til this day (experienced last picking up beer at Revolution Brewery on Friday).

Of the other two tours, one was self guided (New Glarus @PapaGoose03 - The tour is free, they charge for a pour and glass (reasonable price) and also give you a token to enjoy a New Glarus pour in town. I like how they support the local community, and like even more they are an employee owned brewery. It is a beautiful place to visit in the summer, and all should check out their beer store before leaving and pick up a few experimental brews and fruit beers.

An impromptu tour of Lovelady Brewing in Henderson NV is my only other brewery tour given by one of the founders. It was nice seeing a smaller operation.

Dovetail gave an online tour for charity which folks can still access via youtube. I got as far as the half way point when they discussed their smoke beers, which are excellent (all their beers are good to great), and your post prompted me to return to watch the rest.

 

One tour you have to go on is Yuengling, if for no other reason than that it's the oldest brewery in the United States. While in the area, Troegs is great (my wife and I have done it 14 times, they give you a glass) Enjoy

 

Schell's ( the 2nd oldest brewery, I believe) is also a great place. It's nestled inside the very picturesque town of New Ulm, MN. If you haven't figured it out already, the German heritage is very obvious. September in MN can be a lovely month and of course Schell's has their very own Ocktoberfest.

 

I forgot about the Budweiser tour in STL. That was a good one. I hadn't realized when we (family) signed up for that tour that it would also include a tour of the stables with horses there and a Dalmation running around among the tour group. I had never even realized that there were horses kept at the brewery location (and I had lived in the STL area for two years before coming back on a visit with family maybe 10 years after moving away).

 

Lakefront in Milwaukee was fun.

Saint Arnold’s (Houston) is good - I’ve been on it a couple times when hosting guests and the only issue (with my guests) is it’s too hot. But I live here and don’t care about the heat

Overall I try to avoid brewery tours, but those two I’ve been on a few times and enjoyed

 

DFH and Tröegs.

Enjoyed that DFH let you pick the 4 tasters you wanted to try, which made the experience much better. The day we were there they had multiple NE style IPAs and BA beers on tap, so it was a great experience all around.

 

Sierra Nevada in Mills River, NC, Trip in the Woods Tour. By far the best tour I have experienced. A scenic trail walk throughout their property, about a mile and half total, highlighting their farms and resources. Beer samples included along the way.

 

Cigar City in tampa. Its free, you get plenty of beer, and they are super chill. And of course their beer is amazing.

 

I enjoyed the tour of the Guinness brewery in Baltimore.

 

Love DBT.

It was self guided, but I really enjoyed the Cantillon tour. There are few breweries that I feel are worth touring and that is one of them. Being able to see the coolship in use is a lifelong memory. The tour really brought the tradition to life.

 

Leinenkugel’s in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin is my favorite. The beer isn’t what it used to be- it’s all shandies and seltzers now, but the campus is beautiful, and the tour was more informative than any other I’ve been on. Can’t wait to go back!

 

+1 for SN in their original home.

+1 for Dovetail in Chicago (so much learning...) and on an intimate level.

 

Had a very similar experience at De Garde. John (I think) hooked it up huge there and when it was slow gave a private tour and it was a pretty amazing experience, wort cooling in the coolship from that morning no less!

Can't believe no one has mentioned Russian River Windsor. It's an incredible facility and they do such a great tour!

+1 on everyone's Anchor recommendation, I also had a sweet experience there, had a day off in SF for work, booked the tour and I was the only one that showed up! Pretty awesome.