Picture it: You’ve been walking around all day in the sweltering Florida sun at Walt Disney World. You’re having the time of your life but you need a cold one. Something to wet your whistle. You want, no you need, a decent beer.
You run from bar, to cart, to booth, to restaurant, getting more desperate as you search. Why is it so hard to find a good craft beer at the most magical place on earth?
At Walt Disney World Resort the name of the game is volume and consistency. With an average annual attendance of over 52 million visitors a year finding an exceptional brewery that can handle that kind of demand is hard. But if you know where to look you can find some excellent options sure to satisfy even the finickiest beer aficionado.
It can be frustrating to be on vacation and feel like you have to sacrifice your palate. It’s ok to be picky and hunt around until you find what you like. With more than 200 places serving food and drink at Walt Disney World Resort, you don’t have to settle. After all, Walt Disney definitely didn’t!
Here are our choices for the ten best beers you can order at Walt Disney World Resort with a handy guide on where to find them.
Erdinger Dunkel
Erdinger Weissbrau — Erding, Germany
Find it: Weinkeller in the Germany Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase
Dunkelweizen — Snag this wheat beer in an unexpected place, Germany’s wine bar. A hidden little gem overshadowed by the Biergarten, walk through the Christmas shop and head over to the wine cellar bar for this full-bodied beer with hints of caramel, nuts, and bread.
Jai Alai
Cigar City Brewing — Tampa, Florida
Find it at Magic Kingdom Park’s Crystal Palace
IPA — Want some hops while meeting Winnie the Pooh? This is your beer. A Florida native, it’s full of citrus and tropical fruits. Bitter, bright and crisp. Goes well with crying children.
Mo’ara High Country Ale
Terrapin Beer Co. — Athens, Georgia
Find it: Pandora – The World of Avatar restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Red Ale — Well balanced and drinkable, this red ale is brewed exclusively for Walt Disney World Resorts, so you won’t be able to find it anywhere else. Nutty and bready, ending with a clean finish.
Editor’s Note: Terrapin Beer Co. is a subsidiary of Coors Brewing Co. meaning it is no longer considered craft
Scrimshaw
North Coast Brewing Co. — Fort Bragg, California
Find it: Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Baseline Tap House
Pilsner — After a trip to Toy Story Land, you might want to feel like an adult again. Grab this crisp German Pilsner with a smooth and clean finish. (And a bonus? Only 2 grams of carbs!)
Last Snow
Funky Buddha Brewery — Oakland Park, Florida
Find it: Disney Springs’ Dockside Margaritas
Coffee Porter — This American Porter is another Florida local, layered with coconut and freshly roasted coffee. Tastes like a mounds bar and goes well with live music and water views, luckily Dockside Margaritas has both.
Editor’s Note: Terrapin Beer Co. is a subsidiary of Constellation Brands meaning it is no longer considered an independent craft brewery.
Saison Dupont
Brasserie Dupont — Tourpes, Belgium
Find it: Be Our Guest, in Magic Kingdom Park
Saison — Have you ever had a beer in a castle? With banana and clove flavors, this Belgian saison is complex and refreshing and will have you feeling like it was brewed in the master’s farmhouse outback.
Big Wave Golden Ale
Kona Brewing Co. — Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Find it: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Golden Ale — Light, refreshing, drinkable. Everything you would want in an American Blonde Ale. Sit in the sun and enjoy the tiki decorations. Close your eyes and pretend you’re in Hawaii.
Editor’s Note: Kona Brewing Co. is a subsidiary of Craft Brew Alliance meaning it is no longer considered an independent craft brewery.
Bad Motivator IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. — Chico, California
Find it: Oga’s Cantina in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
American IPA — Bad Motivator IPA has hints of citrus and pine and is another exclusive Walt Disney World collaboration. Stuffed full of Galaxy and Comet hops, it certainly belongs in a galaxy far, far away.
Reef Donkey
Tampa Bay Brewing Co. — Tampa, Florida
Find it: Harambe Market at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Pale Ale — Florida beer does it again. A flawlessly dry-hopped American Pale Ale with a lemon-lime aroma and a beautiful golden body. It pairs perfectly with Harambe Market’s delicious street food.
La Fin Du Monde
Unibroue — Chambly, Canada
Find it: Canada Beer Cart in the Canada Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase
Tripel — With a 9% ABV this Belgian Tripel knows what it’s doing. The beer is beautifully amber in color, ester-y, and malty with an excellent mouthfeel. This is a beer for a true beer lover.
Editor’s Note: Unibroue is a subsidiary of Sapporo.
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