(NAPSI)—Americans, it seems, are in love with craft beer. According to the Brewers Association, a national trade association dedicated to promoting American craft brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts, craft beer sales rose by 12 percent to about 24 million barrels last year—roughly 700 million more pint glasses of beer in 2015 than in 2014. With about 4,800 craft breweries operating across the country today, there are plenty of quality brews from which to choose.
However, some of the best beers are available only within a limited radius of the brewery—which has led to a new travel trend: beer tourism. In fact, when a recent Travelocity survey asked people whether they’d like to visit craft breweries and sample local beer, more than three-quarters agreed they would.
Recognizing this interest in beer tourism, the travel company enlisted the expertise of the Brewers Association to find America’s best beer destinations for the first-ever Beer Tourism Index.
To determine the best destinations for beer tourism, Travelocity investigated thousands of breweries and considered availability of rideshare services, accessibility via air and the average cost of lodging. The index identified the best large and small metro areas to sample some of the nation’s best craft beers. These are:
Top 5 Large Metro Areas
1) Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA
2) Denver-Aurora, CO
3) Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
4) Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME
5) Colorado Springs, CO
Top 5 Small Metro Areas
1) Bend, OR
2) Boulder, CO
3) Fort Collins-Loveland, CO
4) Corvallis, OR
5) Missoula, MT
“Small and independent craft brewers are part of the DNA of their communities. They are becoming mainstay attractions for travelers,” said Julia Herz, craft beer program director for the Brewers Association and publisher of CraftBeer.com. “Whether as part of a backyard getaway, a break from a business trip or as the main reason for a beer-focused vacation, we encourage everyone to broaden their knowledge of beer by visiting these local brewers, to experience firsthand the advancing beer culture across the country.”
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a beer connoisseur to enjoy a tour. The Beer Bloggers and Writers Conference estimates that seven out of 10 beer tourers are not experts, though most do want to improve their palates.
The travel company, which encourages travelers to “Wander Wisely,” also has special offers on hotels and hotel-flight packages to make it easier for adults to visit these beer destinations. You can find them at www.travelocity.com/beertowns. It’s even curated a selection of beer-related activities found at www.travelocity.com/brewerytours, including beer tours, beer cruises and even beer trains, that can be booked directly on the site.
Learn More
For further facts on travel trends, go to www.travelocity.com.