Travelers Seek out Local Beer, Microbrewery Festivals
June 8, 2007. Luxury vacation rentals near wine producing regions have long hosted oenophiles from near and far. Now, with the microbrewery resurgence going strong, beer enthusiasts are also traveling for their drink of choice. The Associated Press reported on people whose vacation plans include touring microbreweries, tasting local ales, and attending microbrewery festivals.
The article didn't cite any hard facts other than mentioning the attendance at the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado. Last year, 41,000 people spent an October weekend sampling 1,600 different beers from 380 breweries. In support of the movement's popularity, tourists reported planning entire vacations around microbrewery tours and brewhouse managers gave credit to out-of-towners for a significant part of their business.
Luxury vacation rental owners can capitalize on this trend by familiarizing themselves with their local breweries and providing information to clients via their websites and in the rentals.
In addition to reading the article, those who appreciate fine beer will find several helpful websites. BrewPubZone.com and RateBeer.com are among two of the best. Both offer lists of breweries from Maine to Oregon.
