Looking at planning an international trip within the next year and was looking for some recommendations on great old world breweries that do good tours and, obviously, have good beer. To me, a few come to mind from seeing them online; Fuller's in the UK, Cantillon in Belgium, and Plzensky Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell) in the Czech Republic. Any suggestions?
Though I've not been to any, and can't name any offhand (6 ounces of bourbon will do that to you) research German breweries.
Purchase The great beers of Belgium by Michael Jackson and confirm what locations are still in business! I know that is what I would do if I was fortunate enough to travel.
Cantillon is self guided, show up , pay the fee. It is best to have reservations at Fillers. You can find that contact onfo on the web site. Most places you will need reservations. Some only do group commercial guided tours. Good luck.
Augustiner Brau (in Salzburg) http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1787/ Not so much for a brewery tour as for the atmosphere of the gigantic beerhall they have located in their former monastery/brewery with people dressed in the traditional attire from the region drinking litres of beer from big unlabelled ceramic mugs. Not to mention that the beer itself is phenomenal. http://www.augustinerbier.at/?id=5&L=1 You're also essentially in the middle of the alps here and just a couple hours drive from Munich, Aying, Weihenstaphan, and 3 or 4 hours from Bamberg and Plzen.
Harveys - they have a long waiting list for group tours (as in, years) but I think if it's just one or two of you they can tack you on Hook Norton - another classic victorian tower brewery Jennings - not the best beer but it's in Cumbria/ lake district and there are lots of good breweries around there
Jennings are good old fashioned brewers who remain in their comfort zone. What exactly do you want from a brewery visit? I ask because I have memories of visiting Bass in the days when it was still a major player- I could just as well have been touring a petfood factory for all I could see. The predominant smell was lavender floor polish as we walked along the corridors looking through tiny portholes at stainless steel pipes and sealed up vessels.The brewers sat at a large console as if they were church organists. I've visited dozens of small breweries which probably don't show on the US radar but in which I got the full experience such as handling the malt and hops , looking in the copper and all the works plus a generous amount of the beers.
Any small brewery in Franconia is worth visiting. Not really tours, but if you ask them nicely they'll show you the brewhouse. And it might well be the brewer showing you around.
