Top Places We Traveled for Beer in 2025

Discovering new places, beer cities, and meccas for craft is one of the best parts of our job. Undoubtedly, we went on some crazy beer adventures this year.

From the home of smoked beer to one of the most remote countries in the Atlantic, these are the top places we traveled for beer this year.

Where We Traveled for Beer in 2025

Nelson, New Zealand

The sunshine capital of New Zealand, Nelson Tasman, may not be at the top of everyone’s bucket list when they visit Aotearoa, the Māori word for this country, roughly the size of Colorado.

But it should be, especially if you drink craft beer.

Hopheads worldwide can thank Nelson Tasman for some of the industry’s most flavor-provoking green cones, including Riwaka, Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Nectaron, Superdelic, Wai-iti, Rakau, and more. Nelson Tasman and its surrounding areas are literally why your last hazy tasted like lollipops and candied fruits. The intense flavors produced in this hop-growing region are unrivaled anywhere else in the world.

Sitting at roughly 41° latitude, the region around Nelson Tasman is ideal for hop growing (you’ll commonly find hops grown between 32° to 50° latitude). “We’re literally smack in the middle,” says Zane Kennedy, the owner of a premier local tour company called Wine, Art & Wilderness, which, during the busy season, takes around thirteen small groups each day on excursions to breweries and wineries in the area. “You need about fifteen hours of sun per day in this region to get the right mix to grow hops well.”

According to an NIWA report on the climate and weather in Nelson and Tasman, this area on the top of the South Island receives, on average, approximately 2,400 hours of sun per year, among the highest recorded in New Zealand (which is also why you’ll commonly find tubs of sunscreen available for free at any venue with outdoor seating).

Because of its superior hop-growing climate, Nelson Tasman is home to most of New Zealand’s hop farms—many family-owned.

Those like Mac Hops, whose fifth-generation owner and farmer, Brent McGlashen, invited us out for a personal tour right in the midst of harvest.

On the day we visited, the farm, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, was knee-deep in Riwaka and Nelson Sauvin.

“We’ve got some incredible Nelson Sauvin up here,” McGlashen readily admits as he shows us around, often pausing to chat with his workers. Despite being in the middle of grueling work, every person smiled as he left. “We just get such a punchy flavor out of it.” He points to piles of dried hops preparing for baling in their warehouse. “There’s about eight tons of Nelson Sauvin in that pile.”

“If we do the math right,” Kennedy chimes in, “that’s about 800,000 liters of beer!”

And that honestly mirrors Nelson Tasman, a place as friendly as it is somewhat undiscovered outside of New Zealand.

“Crafty and sunny,” Kennedy says, the two words he’d use to describe Nelson Tasman.

Kennedy, who has been all over New Zealand, ultimately called Nelson Tasman home because of the climate and the outdoors. Home to some of the best mountain biking in the country, one of the most beautiful national parks, and countless breweries, wineries, and top-notch restaurants, Nelson Tasman has long been a vacation destination for Kiwis.

And we think they’re on to something.

“We call [Nelson Tasman] the Sunshine Capital of the World,” says Eddyline Brewery Owner and Brewer Michiel Heynekamp, who moved to the South Island from Colorado because he thought the area was just like his previous home state…but with a coastline.

Heynekamp admits that on his first trip to New Zealand, he never really looked at Nelson Tasman as more than just a place to pass through. “But it was such a cool town,” he recalls. “And I still think it’s the friendliest town in New Zealand. Like, really friendly locals.”

Plus, the love of the outdoors appealed to him. Along with top-tier mountain biking trails, Nelson Tasman has heaps of great kayaking and paddleboarding. “In the morning, you’ll see fifty paddleboarders out there,” Kennedy tells me.

And what’s better after a long day of biking or an afternoon of paddleboarding than a juicy, hazy beer in the heart of a hop capital?

From canyoning in a gorgeous national park to just sitting on the patio of the oldest pub in New Zealand and drinking a schooner, Nelson Tasman and the Nelson Regional Development Agency showed us a region full of little gems. You just have to be willing to travel a little farther to find them.

After just two days in Nelson Tasman, you might want to move here, too!

48 Hours Drinking and Eating in Nelson, New Zealand

Wellington, New Zealand

Coffee, culture, craft beer, and crosswinds. Described to Hop Culture Senior Content Editor Grace Lee-Weitz as the San Francisco of New Zealand, Wellington is genuinely its own vibrant, captivating city. Living in the Bay Area, she can see the similarities—city on water, hills aplenty, and more great breweries than clouds in the sky. Yes, there’s even a cable car. But, to her, Wellington has its own buzzing energy with distinct natural, historical, and culinary wonders to explore.

Situated at the bottom of New Zealand’s North Island on the Wellington Harbour, Wellington is only a three-hour flight from Australia’s East Coast. Albeit, it was a much lengthier fifteen-hour flight for Lee-Weitz from that other hilly city we mentioned. But one hundred percent worth it.

Known for its warm locals, Wellington welcomed Hop Culture immediately with crackly croissants, cracking cups of coffee, and beers that blew us away like the city’s famous crosswind.

For the uninitiated, Wellington winds can often reach 120 kph (74.5 mph). “When it hits you, it cuts your breath,” WellingtonNZ Communications Advisor Clarisse Christie told us over waffles and coffee flights at the popular breakfast spot The Hangar.

Having lived in Chicago—the Windy City—Lee-Weitz thought she knew gusty conditions, but Wellington is in a league of its own.

And not just when it comes to the weather.

“We’re quite unique,” says Christie. “We’re small compared to Auckland, but we have so much to offer. We have heaps to do.”

Christie says they often refer to the city as “The Compact Capital” because there is just so much to do in such a small space, whether it’s surfing, taking nature walks, visiting museums, drinking craft beer or coffee, or just eating your way through award-winning restaurants.

Shannon Thorpe, founder of Fortune Favours, a local brewery in Wellington, describes the city as “more about your individuality and creativity.”

Something you’ll definitely see in the breadth of craft beer across the city. From passionfruit miso sours to some of the highest-rated fresh-hop beers from one of the best breweries at the bottom of the world to an award-winning Scotch ale, Wellington has earned its stripes as New Zealand’s “Craft Beer Capital.”

While we wish we could have spent a little more time here, Wellington is one of those places we’ve tucked into our back pocket to return to someday…because two days certainly weren’t enough.

48 Hours Drinking and Eating in Wellington, New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

After a week immersed in the Australian hop harvest and relishing the High Country Hop festival, Hop Culture Social Media Manager Magic Muncie headed about an hour and a half north to a city celebrated for its rich blend of ancient Aboriginal culture, European influences, and a vibrant multicultural atmosphere—Sydney, Australia.

Sydney—Australia’s largest and most cosmopolitan city—is famous for that stunning shell-shaped landmark. However, Muncie was most excited to explore the blossoming craft beer scene, with its fascinating array of flavors and creativity.

The city has become a haven for beer enthusiasts, thanks to an ever-growing array of microbreweries and craft beer bars offering a wide selection of brews to suit all tastes. New South Wales, the state that Sydney calls home, leads Australia with the most independent breweries—112 in total. From hop-forward IPAs to elegant wild ales, Sydney’s breweries are known for their innovative approaches, often incorporating local ingredients that reflect the region’s unique character.

Ideally, to truly soak in everything the city has to offer, one should dedicate at least a week to visiting Sydney, but we only had a few days.

Based on research from Untappd and great conversations with several Aussies during Hop Culture’s travels through Melbourne, Bright, and Beechworth, Muncie spent forty-eight hours discovering Sydney’s best breweries.

48 Hours Drinking and Eating in Sydney, Australia

Helsinki, Finland

Two years ago, BeerAdvocate Founder Todd Alström dropped a bomb on us: He and his family had decided to move to Helsinki, Finland. We couldn’t fathom why our fellow West Coaster, living in the land of sun, sand, and surf, would want to move to a place where, for certain months of the year, it’s almost entirely dark and there’s this thing called cold and snow.

But during our recent visit to Helsinki, Alström shared a few reasons with us as we devoured blueberry pastries at the historic Ekberg bakery.

The general quality of living is very high. The Finnish government covers the cost of education from early childhood through general upper secondary, along with universal healthcare. And as Alström shared with us, there’s an outstanding work-life balance—most shops work lighter hours and get busy around lunchtime because Finnish companies provide free lunch to all employees.

Of course, you just want to know the best places to drink beer, but hey, it’s worth sharing why folks in Finland have such a high quality of life. You should understand the culture.

When it comes to beer, though, Alström fully admits that craft beer has had a tough time breaking into the Finnish market. Historically, Finns love light lagers, so craft beer hasn’t quite struck with the lightning it did in the States. One might call it more of a soft wind, blowing in slowly and gently.

Still, a few standout breweries in Helsinki have caught the attention of folks worldwide. Pair that with English-like pubs, oddball music-inclined dive bars (metal music is apparently huge in Finland), and cozy craft beer bars, and you can have a pretty good time in the Finnish capital.

As we did ourselves!

Alström showed us some of his favorite spots, and we hooked up with a group from Brewtopia, who take thirsty travelers to beer destinations worldwide. Started by Owen Ogletree, Brewtopia gives folks the backstage pass to breweries, pubs, and beer-centric restaurants in well-known beer countries like Germany, Belgium, and the U.K., as well as in some surprising places, such as the trip we took to Finland, Estonia, and Latvia (more on that below!).

Pro Tip: Check out all of Brewtopia’s upcoming trips here.

We’d never considered Finland a drinking destination before, but that was our mistake. From a brewery in an old greenhouse making some of the country’s best Nordic sours to a British-style pub hidden off the main thoroughfare with one of our best beers of the trip, we found some fantastic drinking spots in Helsinki.

The 11 Best Places to Drink in Helsinki, Finland

Tallinn, Estonia

A blend of Medieval charm and modern industry, Estonia’s capital city, Tallinn, is a thriving culture of contrasts.

You’ll find techno clubs right alongside small breweries and taprooms. Record and thrift stores next to Nordic bakeries.

Stroll through the cobblestone streets of Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, that winds through narrow alleyways with cosy cafes, unique art galleries, and Gothic structures, and you’ll think time’s stood still. But elsewhere around the city, you’ll find places like Telliskivi Loomelinnak or “Creative City,” an art-focused venue that houses studios, indie shops, bars, eateries, cafes, and theaters—all in former Soviet-era factory buildings.

Estonia-based Põhjala Head Brewer Martin Vahtra describes Tallinn as a “hidden gem with some rough edges,” where there’s plenty to discover for those willing to walk a little.

Lee-Weitz met Vahtra back in March when the Hop Culture team traveled to Australia with HPA to explore the hop harvest firsthand.

She already had plans to visit Tallinn with Brewtopia, so she agreed to let Vahtra know when she’d be in town.

Which is how Vahtra, who lives about a twenty-five-minute bike ride outside the city center, graciously agreed to pedal into town for the day to show Hop Culture around.

What did we find? One perfect day in Estonia’s breathtaking capital, from drinking at Untappd’s second-highest-rated brewery in an old Soviet naval yard to an award-winning taproom in a former Russian grain factory.

24 Hours Drinking and Eating in Tallinn, Estonia

Riga, Latvia

Latvia’s capital is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Nestled along the Baltic Sea, Riga is a city where centuries-old architecture mingles with hip coffee shops, bustling markets, and world-class beer. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Riga boasts the world’s most extensive collection of Art Nouveau buildings, with more than eight hundred in total—making just walking its streets a visual feast. And while the cobblestone charm of the Old Town draws many, the city’s real magic lies in its layers: Soviet remnants, Nordic influence, and a fiercely independent creative spirit.

Our third stop of the Brewtopia tour, following Helsinki and Tallinn, Riga was arguably the most beautiful and brooding. Prone to cloudy days, Riga has a reputation for being a Baltic beauty.

Whether you’re starting your day with a cardamom knot and coffee or ending it with a horseradish-spiked gose at a brewery known for its pagan brews, Riga is a city of unexpected riches.

Out of all the places we traveled for beer this year, the Latvian capital probably surprised us the most.

One Perfect Day Drinking in Riga, Latvia

Iceland

Hop Culture Senior Content Editor Lee-Weitz hadn’t seen the night sky or a sunset in nine days. For that matter, she hadn’t seen a sunrise. Each cloudy day blurred into the next on the back of a vaguely circular outline in the sky, like someone had turned a flashlight on underneath a sheet, preparing to tell a ghost story.

In the cramped quarters of a small four-seater Suzuki Vitara, which, as Lee-Weitz’s driving mate told her, should be parked at a certain angle when windy for fear of tipping over, we stared out at an ever-shifting landscape.

One day, we appeared to drive through the moon—all black pebbles and craters (our other passenger tells me astronauts actually train here)—another day, we encountered slushy roads with wind gullies that threatened to make good on that warning. On yet another day, we kept mountains company, where streams slipped into waterfalls which plunged into fjords.

We could go a steady 90kph but no more than 96kph, our companion and famous beer author, Tim Webb, told us from the passenger seat.

We were driving the entire length of Iceland’s Ring Road, which wraps around the circumference of the island country. Unlike any other trip Hop Culture had taken, we attempted to visit every single brewery in one country—Iceland.

In a country where it’s reportedly said the sheep outnumber the people (and indeed the breweries), we found a beer culture that was as warm as the Icelandic night is cold.

Brewery owners opened their doors to us—many in small, remote places, sometimes with odd hours. Each eager to share with us and a bit perplexed even to find us on their doorstep.

But together, a famous British beer writer and adventurer, and a West Coast magazine editor, typically miles apart and far from home, found something extraordinary in a place where the sun rarely set.

We found beer. Good craft beer.

Miles driven: 828 (1,332 km)

Breweries visited: 16

Beers drunk in liters: Unknown (psst: a lot)

Once-in-a-lifetime trip: Priceless

How to Visit All the Breweries on Iceland’s Ring Road

Bavaria and Fraconia, Germany

Nestled into Germany’s southeastern quadrant, Bavaria and Franconia are the country’s drinking soul—and both beat to the rhythm of clinking steins, sizzling sausages, and centuries-old brewing tradition. This is where beer isn’t just a drink; it’s a way of life. Over five unforgettable days, we journeyed through these storied regions with Trip’s Beer Trips, tracing a frothy path from bustling biergartens in Munich to smoky lagers in Bamberg, from hopping countryside cellars to medieval castle courtyards.

Our goal? To experience Germany’s beer culture the way locals do—slowly, joyfully, and with an empty stomach (and soul) ready to be filled. Whether it was raising a maß (pronounced mas, this is the German word for a one-liter beer mug) of golden Helles beneath leafy trees at Augustiner-Keller, discovering the underworld of Entla’s-Keller in Erlangen, or learning the difference between rotbier and rauchbier firsthand, each stop offered something more than just a pint: We found a story.

From Munich’s iconic breweries to Franconia’s hidden beer cellars and Bamberg’s smoky heartland, we discovered good company and some of the best beers on Earth.

Interested in hearing when we curate our next trip? Sign up here to get updates first.

SIGN UP HERE

How to Spend Five Days in Bavaria and Franconia

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

To be honest, we traveled a lot internationally this year and much less so within our own borders. We see this as a good thing. Every time we travel, we expand our comfort zone and our knowledge of other drinking cultures.

One place we did make it? And it’s probably a little unexpected…

Indianapolis, Indiana.

We know what you’re thinking: Indiana?

What we’re thinking is: Indiana!

The birthplace of Larry Bird, the boyhood home of Abraham Lincoln, the setting of the iconic movie Hoosiers, the birthplace of curiously oversized breaded pork tenderloin, and the site where cars race really fast around a track. In recent years, it has become an increasingly popular craft beer destination, particularly in its capital city of Indianapolis.

In April, we traveled to the Circle City for the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference, so you can bet we looked up everywhere we wanted to grab a beer.

According to the Brewers Association, as of 2023, Indiana ranks seventeenth, with 204 breweries inside its borders. At its center lies Indianapolis, the Crossroads of America and the intersection of outstanding craft breweries. From a 133-medal-winning brewery to one making picture-perfect pilsners, these places give us enough reason to give Indianapolis a pin on our map.

So stop giving in to those doubts; you should, too.

9 Best Breweries to Visit in Indianapolis, Indiana