Brasserie Cantillon’s next Zwanze Day will take place in 2026 on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Once again, the event is planned for a full global scale.

What is Zwanze Day?

Zwanze day is a biannual event that Cantillon holds, in which they brew a small batch of an experimental beer and offer it for sale in a select group of pubs around the world.  This beer is usually a different style each time, and is something other than a traditional Cantillon lambic.  This allows the brewers to experiment and take part in the fun, semi-sarcastic humor of Brussels, the true meaning of the word zwanze.

Change to Biannual

In 2023, Cantillon decided to change the timing of frequency and timing of Zwanze Day in order to focus on the increased requirements to manage the production of their lambics during the autumn harvest period. Instead of hosting Zwanze Day every year at the end of September, the event will now alternate with Quintessence in April, with either Quintessence or Zwanze Day occurring each year.

Zwanze Beers

In 2026, Cantillon will do something new for Zwanze Day, with two different Zwanze beers being released on tap for the event. Both beers are vermouth blends in collaboration with craft vermouth producer Vermouth Sullivan from Besançon, France. There will be both a Kriek-Vermouth blend as well as a Lambic-Vermouth blend.

I visited the Cantillon brewery in Brussels a number of times throughout 2013, including a visit in September for their Zwanze Day event both at the brewery and at the Moeder Lambic pub in Brussels. One of the best benefits of visiting the brewery in person is that you can often sample beers that are not available for retail sale and take-home consumption, but only for sampling on site. You also have the opportunity to tour the working brewing facilities during your visit, which is quite a treat as this is a true visage of old-time brewing traditional methods.

Cantillon has seen a large amount of growth recently, including the use of Brussels’ old abandoned bomb shelter for cellaring their beers for up to thirty years and an expansion near their current brewing facility that doubled their brewing capacity.  They also recently purchased a large new addition of barrels in which to age their lambics.  This should lead to increased production of their current line of offerings, and hopefully new offerings in the future?

Cantillon Zwanze 2014 – Cuvee Florian

For 2014, the Zwanze beer was called “Cuvée Florian“, and is a blend of Cantillon Oude Kriek, with 40% less fruit, and Iris Grand Cru, aged for three years in a 400-liter cask, with no secondary fermentation.  This beer was initially made as a one-off for Jean van Roy’s son’s 18th birthday, and has now been elevated to Zwanze 2014.

Zwanze 2015 was a spontaneously fermented stout called Wild Brussels Stout.  The beer was initially brewed in March, 2013 and was a candidate for Zwanze 2014, but was held back in favor of the Cuvee Florian.

Zwanze 2016 was a fruity lambic blend of raspberry and blueberry, with the tartness offset by some natural vanilla. This beer seems to have been a predecessor of Magic Lambic.

Zwanze 2017 is going to be an Oolong Tea – Two-year-old Lambic blend, made in honor of the 18th birthday of Jean van Roy’s youngest son, Sylvain.

Zwanze 2018 – The 2018 Zwanze beer, Manneken Pise, is a blend of lambics aged for two years in Amarone, Chianti, and Sangiovese barrels. The barrels impart a woody, wine-like character, with flavors of mango and citrus. The beer is dedicated to the Italian friends of Cantillon who help them to protect the traditional Lambic heritage.

Zwanze 2019 – The 2019 Zwanze beer is a departure from prior years, and will be a unique new beer, a smoked lambic, made with a blend of classic pilsner malts and smoked malts. The beer was brewed in March, 2016 and kegged in January 2018.

Zwanze 2020 – The Zwanze 2020 beer is called Brettrave, which is a play on betterave, the French word for beet. This beetroot Lambic’s color is an intense, almost flourescent red, with a fruity yet quite earthy aroma. The palate is complex, balancing the acidity of the Lambic with the earthy roundness of the beetroot.

For 2021, the Zwanze beer was Parasol, a special blend of lambic and citrus, mostly oranges. This Zwanze is a throwback to a recipe attempted 70 years earlier by Paul Cantillon, the brewer of Cantillon in the 1950’s, and the great grandfather of the current brewing family. The beer will have a thirst-quenching mix of lambic acidity with fresh fruitiness from the citrus, contrasting with the bitterness of the citrus zest.

In 2022, Cantillon Zwanze was a blend of two-year-old lambic and Congolese black pepper. The pepper is called poivre de Gorilles and came from Misao: La Maison des Poivres in Brussels. The pepper is grown wild in the Likouala Forest in the northeastern region of the Republic of the Congo, The forest is home to a number of the endangered Lowland gorillas. As such, a portion of the profits from the year’s Zwanze event were donated to Gorilla, an organization dedicated to protecting the great apes. Poivre de Gorilles is aromatic, but not too spicy. The spice blends nicely with the acidity of the lambic. It will pair well with meat or fish dishes.

The 2022 Zwanze proved so popular that it has now become a regular release from Cantillon known as Ashanti Lambic, with a little more focus on the lambic than the 2022 Zwanze release.

The 2024 Zwanze was a new type of flavor profile for Cantillon. The primary addition to the Zwanze blend was a type of sea lettuce such as is used for abalone farming in Brittany in France. There is a special batch of a few dozen bottles of Cantillon Gueuze lying submerged, aging in the sea near Finistère. The beers are aging in harmony with the local mollusks, who feed on different sorts of algae. This sea lettuce is the best of these algae and seaweeds to bend well with a Lambic, resulting in a perfect reflection of the concept of Zwanze. The Cantillon Zwanze 2024 was a departure from normal lambics, offering more salinity and iodine reminiscent of oysters.

Zwanze Day Locations

The list of bars participating in Zwanze Day, 2024 was released on February 16, 2024. You can find the complete list below. Typically, there is an obligatory 9PM Central European Time start – but be sure to check the release time at the venue you plan to participate at,!

Jean van Roy, Master Brewer at Cantillon, typically leads the ceremonies from the Moeder Lambic – Fontainas pub in Brussels at 9 PM CET.

Here is the video of Jean van Roy introducing Zwanze 2013:

In 2017, the Cantillon, Moeder Lambic, and Magic Land Theater crews put on a rather ornate event surrounding the beer’s release:

Most of these bars will be selling tickets for the event, which often sell out quickly. Contact the pub where you wish to attend to see when tickets will be available and book yours as soon as you can.

Australia
• Wildflower Brewing and Blending – Sydney
• Belgian Beer Café – Westende – Perth

Austria
• Tribaun – Innsbruck
• Ammutson – Vienna

Belgium
• Moeder Lambic Fontainas – Brussels
• Moeder Lambic Saint-Gilles – Brussels
• Le Comptoir Mi-Orge Mi-Houblon – Arlon
• De Gebrande Winning – Sint-Truiden
• Café Pardaf – Antwerpen
• ‘t Brugs Beertje – Brugge

Canada
• Dieu du Ciel – Montréal, QC
• Birreria Volo – Toronto, ON
• Île Sauvage Brewing Co. – Victoria, BC

China
• Beer&Barrel谷木 – Shanghai

South Korea
• Coolship Korea – Seoul

Denmark
• Himmeriget – Copenhagen

France
• La Fine Mousse – Paris
• La Capsule – Lille
• Malt’In Pot – Viry
• Le Bièrographe – Toulouse
• Le Sur Mesure – Nantes
• Orgao Beer House – Lyon

Germany
• Café Herman – Berlin
• Mon Petit Café – Stuttgart

Great Britain
• six°north, The Marine Hotel – Stonehaven
• Moor Beer – Bristol
• That Beer Place – Chester
• Belgium and Blues – Southampton
• Hanging Bat – Edinburgh
• Beermerchants Tap – London
• Parish – Huddersfield
• The Free Trade Inn – Newcastle

Greece
• The Hoppy Pub – Thessaloniki

Italy
• Ma Che Siete Venuti A Fà – Roma
• Abbazia di Sherwood – Caprino Bergamasco
• LambicZoon – Milano
• The Drunken Duck – Quinto Vicentino
• Bluebeat – Lecce
• Birre & Mondo Crudele – Crema
• Storie di Pinte – San Lazzaro
• Mosaik Beer House – Catania
• Diorama – Firenze

Japan
• Cafe Lembeek – Nagoya
• Champ de Soleil – Tokyo
• Craft Beer Base Mother Tree – Osaka

New Zealand
• Garage Project – Wellington

Poland
• Biala Malpa – Katowice
• Szynkarnia – Wroclaw

Portugal
• Catraio – Porto

Spain
• Masia Agullons – Sant Joan de Mediona
• Chinaski Lavapiés – Madrid
• Homo Sibaris – Barcelona
• Cierzo – Zaragoza
• Desy, Donostia-San Sebastián

Sweden
• Zum Franziskaner – Stockholm

Switzerland
• Bière Café Au Trappiste – Bern

United States
• Armsby Abbey — Worcester, MA
• Beer Study — Durham, NC
• Beer Temple — Chicago, IL
• Bottlecraft Little Italy — San Diego, CA
• Brick Store — Atlanta, GA
• Craft Wine & Beer — Reno, NV
• Crooked Stave — Denver, CO
• De Garde Brewing — Tillamook, OR
• DeCiccio’s — Somers, NY
• Delaware Supply — Albany, NY
• Great Northern Bottle Shop — Bellingham, WA
• Holy Grale — Louisville, KY
• Lupulo — Santa Cruz, CA
• Monk’s Café — Philadelphia, PA
• Novare Res Bier Café — Portland, ME
• Pour Company — Moscow, ID
• Redlight — Orlando, FL
• Russian River Brewing — Santa Rosa, CA
• Sante Adairius Portal — Oakland, CA
• Schera’s — Elkader, IA
• Side Project Brewing Cellar — Maplewood, MO
• Silver Stamp — Las Vegas, NV
• Spuyten Duyvil — Brooklyn, NY
• The Sovereign — Washington D.C.
• The Veil Brewing Co. — Richmond, VA
• The Whale — Greenville, SC
• Village Beer — Honolulu, HI
• Yazoo — Madison, T

Long-awaited beer released by lambic producers and blenders such as Antidoot, Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen, Tilquin, and Bokke had to be moved online, or were even limited to local Belgian customers only. And events such as Cantillon’s Quintessence and the Night of the Great Thirst were postponed, with Quintessence being moved into 2021 and the Night of the Great Thirst currently being scheduled for September 11. Other events such as 3 Fonteinen’s Lambik Tastings from March and June have also been moved into September, surrounding this year’s Open Beer Days, while the BXL Fest scheduled for August has been cancelled for 2020 (though the Exclusive Beer Packs will still be released and will be available for pickup at Moeder Lambic Fontainas after August 24, 2020.

The fate of Cantillon’s Zwanze Day 2020 is still up in the air, with a final announcement expected by August as to whether there will be an event this year at all, and if so, will it be able to be organized globally or just more localized in Brussels or in Europe.

However, all is not lost for the lambic lover in Europe. Over the past month, restrictions have started to loosen, and many producers and blenders are now able to open their doors again for sales, and now even for tasting. Unfortunately, it is not quite as free and easy as it was before the pandemic. Hours are more restrictive than they were in the past, and reservations are required to visit some locations. If you are lucky enough to be able to get to Europe this summer, here’s some helpful information for planning your visits.

Cantillon Brewery/Brussels Museum of the Gueuze

On May 11, Cantillon reopened the doors of their shop for takeaway only on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, which until June 15 meant for Belgian customers only as the borders were closed between Belgium and the rest of Europe until then. As from June 20, Cantillon has also reopened their bar and the Museum of the Gueuze on Saturdays only, however reservations are required. Tours and the bar both start at 11AM, bar reservations can be made by email to info@cantillon.be, and tours can be booked on the Cantillon Website. The bar closes at 5PM, with the last orders at 4:15 PM.

I visited Cantillon for takeaway on Friday, June 26, and also the bar on Saturday, July 4. There was an excellent selection of bottles available for take away. the bottle list for on-site consumption on the 4th was nothing short of outstanding. the new upstairs bar area is set up for customers. There is adequate space for social distancing and it is marked you can see if you click here, and a maximum of 10 persons per table.

Cantillon does still recognize the social aspect of a visit to Cantillon. You are still allowed to share bottles with others, as long as you use clean glasses and limit the movement around the bar area. If your group does grow, they will also accommodate with a larger table (if available) to help limit the need to walk or pass bottles between tables. They require the use of a mask when you are not seated at your table, and request that only one customer walks up to the bar at a time to order.

Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen and lambik-O-droom

Also on May 11, Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen reopened their shop in Lot, again, at first only possible for customers within Belgium to Visit. As from Friday, June 12, the lambik-O-droom has also reopened for on-site consumption. The lambik-O-droom is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 Noon until 8:00 PM. Guidelines for visiting, as well as the current offerings available for on-site consumption, can be found on their website, however their on-site beer list is not always up to date, so you’ll want to scan the QR Code on your table to access the latest menu.

I visited the lambik-O-droom on Friday, June 26, and found it to also be quite well organized. Seating was only available outside on the grounds but it was covered and there was plenty of seating for a group (up to 10 people) to sit together and share. The beer selection was outstanding, with a number of the Twist of Fate (Spelling van het Lot) beers that would have been released in May being available for on-site consumption. Packs were also available for sale in the shop, with the same basic packs that were also made available on the webshop, as well as individual bottle sales.

Gueuzerie Tilquin

Gueuzerie Tilquin reopened their shop on June 6, and the shop and taproom are currently open on Saturdays from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, though they will be closed from July 15 to August 15. Tilquin has a number of interesting packs available for purchase, including their recently released Grape Lambic packs, with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Riesling lambics.

Visting a Belgian Lambic Tasting Room This Summer

We recognize this is a very unique time in the world right now, and our American readers cannot visit Europe under the current travel restrictions and ban. We are not advocating putting yourself at risk to travel, and we wholeheartedly believe in wearing a mask, and social distancing is still the best course of action. Our new cases in the Netherlands are minimal and some rules have relaxed even further as of July 1, 2020. We also drove to the brewery in our private vehicle and took proper precautions. We suggest following the regulations for the location where you live in Europe and adhere to all the rules that each brewery asks you to abide by. As the situation with COVID-19 is ever-changing, we also recommend you confirm the locations are open as you plan your potential visit to any Belgian brewery right now.

Lviv Ukrainian Beer Breweries

Pravda Beer Theater

Pravda Beer Theater is located at the northwest corner of Rynok Square. When we stopped by, they had a limited selection of their beers available on draft. They did, however, have quite a selection of bottles available. Bottles were available both cold for immediate consumption as well as for takeaway. They had their selection of political-leader themed beers, as well as a number of interesting brews. Pravda Beer Theater beers are also available at a number of other bars and gift shops around the city.

Pravda Beer Theater
Torhovyy Dim Tsipperiv, Rynok Square

Stargorod

Stargorod has an enormous beer hall and beer garden on the site of their brewery at the southeast of the main center. Their beers are German beer hall themed, with a collection of German beer styles available. They have a large menu of snacks and lunch/dinner dishes as well. The beer hall is open 24/7, though do note that it does seem that in the evenings, there is live entertainment that may be a bit more on the risque side.

Stargorod
Rymlyanyna St, 1

Kumpel

Kumpel is another very large beer hall, located right across Mytna Square from Stargorod.  Kumpel is also open 24/7, and is known for their large selections of local food offerings as well. They serve traditional beer styles as well as craft beers. Their beers are also available at a number of their restaurants around town as well.

Kumpel on the Mytna Square
Volodymyra Vynnychenka St, 6

Other Ukrainian Beer Breweries in Lviv

Tsypa – Stefana Yavorskoho Square, 1 — Tsypa has been brewing traditional beers since 2015. From the small village of Kvasy in the Hutsul region of Carpathian Ukraine, they are now also located in Lviv.

Royal Brewery – Староєврейська вулиця, 9 — Beer was an important part of the old royal customs of Lviv, and the tradition continues at the Royal Brewery in Lviv.
Booking.com

Lviv Ukrainian Beer Bars

Alongside the beer halls and brewpubs mentioned above, Lviv also has a nice collection of craft beer pubs. Most of the pubs focus on Ukrainian beer. Though a few also offered other beers imported from around the world.

Varka

Varka is a nice craft beer bar located at the northwest end of the city center, headed towards the opera hall. They offer eight taps of local Ukrainian beers as well as a decent selection of bottled beers as well.  Prices are quite reasonable…around $1.50 – $3.00 for a 0.33 l bottle or 0.3 l draft.

Varka Craft Beer Bar
Корнякта, 1

Choven / Човен

Choven seems to be one of the most popular craft beer bars in Lviv. We encountered quite a crowd on a Tuesday evening but were lucky to find a seat inside. The outside seating seems to be closed after 10 PM. Choven has 16 taps of mostly Ukrainian craft beers, with a nice variety of breweries and styles available.

Choven
Virmens’ka St, 33

Other Ukrainian Beer Bars in Lviv

Drunken Duck – Brativ Rohatyntsiv St, 45, 9 taps of craft beer and a patio.

Bierlin Lemberg – Chaikovs’koho Street, 18 12-15 taps of mostly Ukranian beers, all served at 0.5l for very affordable prices.

Beer Set – Open since June 16 at Kniazia Romana St, 6. This is a shop that also seems to have a nice selection of taps inside.

Beer Stone – Pekarska Street, 34 A good beer selection of local beers as well as local menu options.

Have you visited Lviv? What’s your favorite spot to grab local brews? We’re looking forward to hopefully going back again in a few months and adding more options!

Where to Stay in Lviv, Ukraine

There are lots of reasonably priced places within a few minutes walk of the center of Lviv. We booked the Etude Art Hotel. This hotel has 19 rooms with three different categories. We weren’t aware we booked the cheapest “economy,” but it was enough room for two people, had free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and the rate included breakfast as well. We used Uber between the airport and the hotel, and it’s even closer to the train station. There is English speaking staff on site as well.

Booking.com


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Here are some of the top craft beer bars in Tokyo, which I tried to break out by neighborhood.

Craft Beer Meguro / Ebisu

Nakameguro Taproom

This is the first Tokyo taproom for Baird Brewing Company of Numazu. Mostly serving their own beers, but a large selection to choose from, including limited releases and seasonal offerings. Plenty of seating is available, and a decent selection of craft pizza and other food offerings as well.

Hatos Bar

TBE Brewing

Craft Beer Shibuya / Harajuku

Goodbeer Faucets

Goodbeer Faucets is one of the largest craft beer bars in Tokyo. 40 taps and three handpumps pour craft beers from Japanese and foreign brewers. The staff is quite knowledgeable about the beers on offer as well. Look for their happy hours from Sunday – Thursday.

Goodbeer Faucets
1-29-1 Shōtō
松濤1-29-1
Shibuya, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Thursday 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Friday 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM, Saturday 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Sunday 3:00 AM – 11:00 PM.

Craftheads

An excellent selection of craft beers from Japan and America on their 20 taps, or by bottle. Prices are a little higher than average, but you can often find some difficult to obtain beers here. A decent bourbon selection and American-style pub fare as well.

Mikkeller Tokyo

Located up a bit of a hill, Mikkeller Tokyo offers 20 taps of Mikkeller, Japanese, and Foreign beers, with a hip Danish vibe. Some of the beers available on draft are rather hard to find, so it’s always worth checking out their beers on tap. Mikkeller also puts on the Mikkeller Beer Celebration Tokyo, which brings some of the world’s best brewers together for two days of craft beer heaven.

Mikkeller Bar
2-19-11 Dōgenzaka
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 3:00 PM – 12:30 AM. Friday 3:00 PM – 1:30 AM. Saturday 12:00 PM – 1:30 AM. Sunday 12:00 PM – 12:30 AM.

ØL by Oslo Brewing Co.

Gau’s

The Aldgate

A large selection of Japanese and British craft beers (along with the occasional other location) on offer from 20 taps in this British-style pub.

The Aldgate
3F 30-4 Udagawa-cho Shibuya-ku
Shibuya, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM, Saturday & Sunday 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Under Craft

A small basement izakaya bar and taproom for Spring Valley beers (owned by Kirin) located in the busy center shopping streets of Shibuya. With no smoking and no cover charge, a good place to duck in for a quick, cheap beer to get away from the crowded streets above.

Under Craft
26-9 Udagawacho Shibuya-ku Tokyo-to
東京都 渋谷区 宇田川町 26-9 メトロビル B1F

Hours: Monday – Saturday 3:00 PM – 3AM, Sunday 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Gremlin

Swanlake Pub Edo Cafe De Tete Shibuya

Beers from Swan Lake Beer of Niigata Prefecture along with other beers from Japan and around the world. Locations as well in Tamachi and Yaesu.

Villa Tanaka 1st Floor 46-9 Oyama Town, Shibuya- ku,  Tokyo 151-0065

Baird Harajuku Taproom

Another outpost of Baird Brewery in Tokyo since 2009, their Harajuku location features 15 taps and two hand-pumps and izakaya-style snacks (we had the Yakitori which was quite tasty). The Harajuku Taproop offers a lively atmosphere and diverse beer selection from Baird, both core beers and seasonals. The bar is located a very short walk from Harajuku station.

Baird Harajuku Taproom
2F 1-20-13 Jingu-mae
神宮前1-20-13
Shibuya, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Saturday & Sunday 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Craft Beer Shinjuku

Watering Hole

21 rotating taps featuring Japanese and import beers, and a decent food selection. One of the more popular craft beer bars in Tokyo, operating since 2012.

Watering Hole
5-26-5 Sendagaya
千駄ヶ谷5-26-5
Shibuya, Tokyo

Hours: Open daily from 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM

Tap Stand Craft Beer & Pizza

Tap Stand offers 22 taps nearby to the JR Line Shinjuku Station. The taps typically offer both Japanese and American craft beers. And naturally, pizzas round out the food side of the venue.

Tap Stand Craft Beer & Pizza
新宿3-35-3 森治ビル1F
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Daily 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM

Y.Y.G Brewery & Beer Kitchen

YYG Brewery is located in the Yoyogi area, between Yoyogi Park and Shinjuku. The brewery has a nice restaurant and an outdoor deck where you can enjoy their self-brewed and guest craft beer offerings. Their beers are more US styles: hoppy pale ales and IPAs.

Y.Y.G. Brewery & Beer Kitchen
代々木2丁目18番3号
Shibuya, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday, 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM – 11:30 PM, Sunday 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Vector Beer

Brussels Beer Project Shinjuku

Yona Yona Beer Works

Yo Ho Brewing operates a number of taprooms across Tokyo where you can enjoy some of the brewery’s fine range of craft beers. They are typically pouring their core range, as well as special limited releases.

Bakushu Kobo Takadanobaba

One of a series of Bakushu Kobo brewpubs, and the only one within the JR Yamanote line circle. Bakushu Kobo is a small craft brewery from Koenji in the western expanse of Tokyo. Sample Bakush Kobo craft beers as well as izakaya-style pub fare.

Bakushu Kobo
恒 栄 ビル 1F, 1 Chome-29-2 Takadanobaba
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 169-0075

Hours: Monday – Saturday, 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM, Sunday 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Craft Beer Ikebukuru / Toshima

Vivo! beer + dining bar

Kraft Work

PUMP Craft Beer Bar

Titans Craft Beer Taproom & Bottle Shop

A partnership between two beer importers who rotate their beers between the 10 taps. Some Japanese beers available as well. They also sell bottles which you can drink on-site for a corkage charge. When we visited, they had a tap takeover by Omnipollo going. A nice place to stop for a beer after a ramen pilgrimage to Nakiyru.

Titans Craft Beer Taproom & Bottle Shop
3-53-7 Minamiotsuka
南大塚3-53-7
Toshima, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Saturday 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Sunday 3:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

Craft Beer Ueno / Sumida / Adachi (Asakusa)

Craft Works

The World End

Campion Ale

Campion Ale is a British-style brewpub located in Asakusa. Enjoy British beer styles served in British measures, alongside British pub fare.

Campion Ale
西浅草2-2-2
Taito-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Tuesday – Friday 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM. Saturday & Sunday 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM. Closed Monday.

Popeye Craft Beer Tokyo

The godfather of Tokyo craft beer bars. In operation for over 30 years, and serving up 70+ taps on any given night, now including from their own brewery. The downside of this heritage is that the bar is often extremely busy. We lucked out on our visit getting a table right by one of the windows where we were able to sample a nice selection of Japanese craft beers.

Popeye Beer Club Tokyo
両国2-18-7
Sumida, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Saturday 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Closed Sunday.

Sakazuki Brewing

Sakazuki Brewing is located further to the north in Kita-Senju. It’s the first crowdfunded brewpub in Japan. They have four taps dedicated to the own beers, and one dedicated to Asahi, where their brewer honed his brewing skills. They also have a nice seating area looking out over the brewery.

Sakazuki Brewing
千住旭町11-10
Adachi-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Wednesday – Friday, 4:00 PM – 10:30 PM. Saturday 1:00 PM – 10:30 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM – 9:30 PM, Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Beer Ma

Formerly known as World Beer Market, they’ve moved and opened this Bar / Bottle shop, “Beer Mania”, on the other side of Kita-Senju Station. Two rotating taps and a large selection of bottles. No seating.

Beer Ma
千住2-62
Adachi-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Wednesday & Friday – Saturday, 2:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Closed Thursday, Sunday 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Craft Beer Chiyoda / Chuo (Marunouchi, Ginza, Akihabra, Kanda, Tsukiji)

Hop Scotch Craft Beer & Whisky

Located near Iidabashi station, Hop Scotch has been serving up craft beer and whisky since 2015. They have eight taps that rotate through Japanese and American craft beers regularly. Decent bar snacks are available as well.

Hop Scotch Craft Beer & Whisky
Inoue Building 1F
2-2-11 Fujimi
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday, 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM. Saturday 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM.

Delirium Cafe Tokyo

The Brussels-based Guinness Book of World’s Records holder for the number of beers available also runs a couple of bars in Tokyo. While they don’t have anywhere near the 2000+ beers available in their Brussels Delirium Cafe, they do have a decent selection of mainly Belgian beers both on draft and in bottles. They also have a bottle shop available for take-away bottles. There are a few locations now around the city, including in Shinjuku (Petit Delirium), Akasaka (Delirium Reserve), Ginza, and Ebisu.

Delirium Cafe Tokyo
霞ヶ関3-2-6 東京倶楽部ビル1階 霞ダイニング
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Tuesday, 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM. Wednesday – Thursday 11:30 AM – 12:00 AM. Friday 11:30 AM – 3:00 AM. Saturday 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM. Sunday Closed.

Petit Delirium Cafe

Delirium Cafe Reserve

Delirium Cafe Ebisu The Roast

Delirium Cafe Ginza

Beer Ma Kanda

A Kanda location of Tokyo’s premier bottle shop.

DevilCraft Kanda

Open since 2001, DevilCraft Kanda has 14 rotating taps from their own brewery, Japan, and import brewers. They serve Chicago deep-dish pizzas as well in their small, two level seating area. There are two additional locations, in Hamamatsucho and Gotanda.

DevilCraft Kanda
東京都中央区日本橋室町4-2-3 石川ビル 1F～5F(4-2-3 Nihonbashi-Muromachi)
Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Saturday 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Sunday 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM

TAPxTAP Kanda

Twenty taps rotate a selection of Japanese craft beers and some more mainstream imports. A very nice selection, with reasonable prices. They also had food on offer, but we had just finished a wonderful yakitori dinner before visiting.

TAPxTAP Kanda
2-9-18 Kajicho
鍛冶町2－9－18
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM, Saturday 1:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Sunday Closed.

Wiz Craft Beer and Food

Hitachino Brewing Lab (two Locations)

Tokyo is home to two taprooms of Kiuchi Brewery of Ibaraki Prefecture, who have been brewing the Hitachino Nest beers since 1996.

The main tasting room is also their local brewing operation, located in Kanda, just across the river from Akihabara. There are 10 taps, with both core beers as well as special releases from their Brew Lab line of Hitachino Nest beers. This riverfront location offers a nice seating area, a cool vibe, and views over the Kanda River.

Their other tasting room is on the roof of Tokyo Station’s GranSta shopping center, and has 10 taps and bottles of the Hitachino Nest beer line.

Hitachino Brewing Lab Kanda
神田須田町1-25-4 N1区画
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Hitachino Brewing Lab Tokyo Station
GRANROOF 2F
1-9-1 Marunouchi
Chiyoda-ku

Hours: Monday – Saturday 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Craft Beer Market (multiple locations)

A chain of popular craft beer bars located around the Tokyo area — there are 10 locations in all, six in the central city. Each location has a large selection of around 30 different beers on tap and decent food. One of the main differentiators of Craft Beer Market vs. the competition is their reasonable prices.

Craft Beer Market – Toranomon
西新橋1-23-3 SAグレイスビル１F
Minato-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Closed Saturday & Sunday

Craft Beer Market – Jimbocho Terrace
千代田区Kanda Nishikichō, 3 Chome−22, テラススクエア １F
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Saturday 4:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Closed Sunday.

Craft Beer Market – Jimbocho
神田神保町2-11-15
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Saturday 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Closed Sunday.

Craft Beer Market – Awajicho
神田司町2-9-1 第一高田ビル 1F
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Closed Saturday & Sunday

Craft Beer Market – Kanda
鍛冶町1-7-5 MISU BLDS KANDA 1F
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Saturday & Sunday 11:30 AM – 11:30 PM

Craft Beer Market – Mitukoshimae
日本橋室町1-5-5 COREDO室町3 1F
Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Saturday & Sunday 11:00 AM – 11:30 PM

Swan Lake Pub Edo Yaesu

Pub with 32 taps, featuring beers from Swan Lake Beer of Niigata Prefecture along with other beers from Japan and around the world. Check out their weekday happy hour.

Swan Lake Pub Edo Yaesu
Yaesu 5th, 5th Building 1F in Yaesu 
八重洲五の五ビル1F, 重洲2-6-5
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0028

Hours: Monday – Friday 1:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Saturday 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM. Closed Sunday

Towers Craft Beer Bar

One of Tokyo’s classic beer bars, dating back to 2004. Recently moved from it’s tiny old location to a new location near Kachidoki station.

Towers Craft Beer Bar
Lim月島 2F, 月島4-18-2, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday-Friday, 5:30 PM – 10:30 PM, Saturday & Sunday, 3:00PM – 8:00 PM

Craft Beer Bar iBrew
Craft Beer iBrew Wired

Two bars a few doors apart from each other, each with 10 rapidly rotating taps. Serve food as well.

Craft Beer Bar iBrew
八重洲2-11-7 東栄（旧ます美）ビル1Ｆ
Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Daily 1:00 PM – 11:30 PM

Gorigori Burger Taproom

This American burger joint features a football theme and 13 taps of Japanese and import craft beers. The burgers are the key, and they may close early if they run out of burgers.

Gorigori Burger Taproom
1 Chome-2-3 Nishiazabu
西麻布1-2-3-1F
Minato-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM. Saturday & Sunday. 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM.

Craft Beer Minato (Odaiba, Shimbashi, Shiodome, Hamamatsucho, Akasaka, Roppongi)

Shinshu Osake Mura

This is the Nagano prefecture satellite store, and literally translate to Shinshu Alcohol Village. Selection of beers (Shiga Kogen) and sake from Nagano with excellent prices.

Shinshu Osake Mura
1F Shimbashi Ekimae Building, 2-20-15 Shimbashi
Minato-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM. Saturday 11:00 AM – 6:30 PM. Closed Sunday.

Shimbashi DRY-DOCK

On the Table by Goodbeer Faucets

DevilCraft Hamamatsucho

DevilCraft Hamamatsucho
Hamamatsucho 2-13-12
Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 105-0013

Hours: Monday – Friday, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Saturday & Sunday 12:30 PM – 11:00 PM

Swan Lake Pub Edo Tamachi

Similar to the Yaesu location, with 18 taps. Small seating area with a good selection of both Swan Lake and guest taps.

Swan Lake Pub Edo Tamachi
Shiba 5-21-15 1F
芝5-21-15 芝三勝ビル 1Ｆ
Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0014

Hours: Monday – Friday 4:00 PM – 11:30 PM. Saturday 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Closed Sunday

Craft Meat

BrewDog Bar Roppongi

The Tokyo location of this popular Scottish brewery. Mostly Brew Dog beers available, but there are some local guest beers on their 20 taps.

BrewDog Bar Roppongi
六本木5-3-2 齋藤ビル 1F
Saito Building 1F
5-3-2 Roppongi
Minato-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Saturday & Sunday 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Two Dogs Taproom

25 taps serving up American and Japanese craft beers in this American-themed craft beer sports bar in Roppongi.

Two Dogs Taproom
Aries Building, 2F
東京都 港区. 六本木3-15-24アリエスビル2F
Minato-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Open weekdays for lunch, 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM. Evenings: Sunday – Monday, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Tuesday – Wednesday 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Thursday 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM, Friday 5:30 PM – 3:00 AM, Saturday 5:30 PM – 2:00 AM

Ant ‘n Bee

21 taps of all Japanese craft beers, including an excellent selection of harder to find brews. Open late, usually to 6AM. Downside is smoking is allowed, and the prices are on the higher side, even for Tokyo.

Ant ‘n Bee
六本木5-1-5
Minato-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Daily 5:00 PM – 6:00 AM

Lush Life

Craft Beer Shinagawa

T.Y. Harbor

Tokyo’s oldest brewpub, T.Y. Harbor and Restaurant is located on Tennozu Isle in Shinagawa, with views over Tokyo Bay. They offer five year-round beers and a seasonal offering from their own brewery, as well as an additional two guest taps. They also offer a full food menu and both bottles and growlers to go. You can try their beers in the restaurant and craft beer bar, or the River Lounge

T.Y. Harbor
東品川 2-1-3
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

Hours:
Craft Beer Bar: Monday – Friday, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
River Lounge: Monday – Friday, 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM. Saturday & Sunday, 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM

DevilCraft Gotanda

DevilCraft Gotanda
西五反田2-7-8 誠實（せいじつ）ビル 9F
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Monday – Friday 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Saturday 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Sunday 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Craftsman Gotanda

This bar features over 30 taps of hard-to-find Japanese craft beers and imports. Prices are quite reasonable. Food is available as well.

Craftsman
1F Grace Gotanda, 2-18-3 Nishigotanda
西五反田2-18-3 グレイス五反田1F
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

Hours: Daily 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Tokyo Bay

Roti’s House / Harvestmoon Brewery

For travelers to Tokyo Disney Resort, there are limited options for craft beer bars nearby. But if you’re looking for some locally-brewed craft beers, you don’t need to head any further from Disney than Ikspiari, the shopping area at Tokyo Disney Resort and Maihama Station. Located on the fourth floor, this large brewpub serves up seven taps of their award-winning beers, from both their core range of German-inspired beers as well as seasonal and one-off brews. A full range of food is also available, with their rotisserie menu being their most popular dishes.

Roti’s House Harvestmoon Brewery
〒279-8529 千葉県浦安市舞浜1-4 イクスピアリ4F シェフス･ロウ
Ikspiari – 4F – Chef’s Row

Hours: Daily 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM (last order 10:00 PM)

Antenna Stores

In addition to the bars mentioned above, one place I would recommend visiting to find Japanese craft beers would be the various antenna stores found throughout Tokyo. There is an antenna store for each region of Japan located here in the capital, each of which carries a variety of local products from the prefecture. While not every store carried craft beers, we managed to pick up a nice selection of beers from most of the prefecture antenna stores we visited.

Many of these stores are located in the Ginza / Yurakcho neighborhoods, with 14 in the Tokyo Koutsu Kaikan building near Yurakcho station alone!

Booking.com

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The raised first story of the bar offers a nice mix of covered and outside tables and a lounge area. There is a large bar area itself, and ample TVs for catching the latest sporting events which can be wagered on platforms such as bro138slot.

The second story, or top floor, will be reserved for meetings and private functions. Corporations, businesses, and wedding parties can reserve this space and enjoy a separate bar and seating area for their guests. I love this floor as you have 360 degree views from up here. It will be gorgeous when completely finished and open for bookings!

Signature Drinks at Crocs Sunset Bar

Aside from the usual menu of cocktails and local beers, Crocs is experimenting with a variety of homemade infused vodkas. We sampled a couple of the available ones that day, including a watermelon basil mojito ($18 BZ) and a rosemary Moscow mule ($16 BZ). The one I am most excited to try when it’s available is a tomato basil Bloody Mary ($18 BZ).

Other interesting drinks on the menu include the tamarind pineapple margarita ($18 BZ) and cucumber mint margarita ($18 BZ). The tamarind pineapple was served on the rocks and had a nice mix of heat and sweetness, while the cucumber mint was frozen and tasted refreshing and light.

Several drinks we didn’t try on the menu that I’d like to try in the future include:

• Peachy Margarita ($15 BZ)
• Pomegranate Fizz ($16 BZ)
• Vanilla Rose ($12 BZ)
• Jalapeño Margarita ($18 BZ)

Food Menu at Crocs

The soft-opening included a few bar snacks, appetizers, and small meals. Menu items included:

• Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
• Pulled Pork Tacos
• Lollipop Wings
• Shrimp Ceviche
• Loaded Nachos
• Cheesy Fries
• Onion Rings
• Cheese Sticks
• Chicken Caesar Wrap
• Philly Cheese Burrito
• Cheeseburger

We initially tried the shrimp ceviche and lollipop wings. The ceviche had a stronger lime flavor versus other ceviches you will find in Belize, which was great. The lollipop wings were crispy and well-cooked. They arrived with two sauces, one mild and one that packed some serious heat.

When the rest of our group arrived, they ordered bacon wrapped shrimp and cheese sticks. We ordered loaded nachos to finish off the evening’s tasting. The nachos were a decent portion size, with shrimp, beans, onions, tomatoes, and sour cream.

Owner – Ivan Luna

Ivan Luna, a local Ambergris Caye resident, is the owner of Croc’s Sunset Sports Bar. Ivan and his brother Abner both bring years of bar and hospitality experience to this new venture. Along with a strong team supporting him, Ivan effortlessly handled a completely full house from sunset onward for the soft opening.

Sports, Sunsets, and Friends

With a variety of TVs spread throughout the bar, it will be easy to find a good spot to catch the latest sporting events while betting on LUXURY333. And, as the sun goes down, the elevated bar is an ideal place to grab a cocktail and watch the sunset. We were pretty darn lucky after what seemed like an endless couple of weeks of bad weather and rain. We were treated to a pretty amazing sunset and a partial rainbow off in another direction for the soft opening.

Just remember, if you’re prone to becoming a meal for hungry mosquitos like I am, spray lots of repellent before heading up — especially if you’ll be there at dusk. Despite a thick coating of repellent, several mosquitos still feasted on me while everyone else around me didn’t get bit even once.

If you’re looking for a bar that can cater to groups (without reserving the top floor), it’s easy to pull tables together or take the lounge area in the back. I joked with my group that I think I saw almost every single person I know on the island at some point during soft opening night. It’s a great place to chill for a few hours or make it part of your northern Ambergris Caye pub crawl.

Get Your Crocs Merchandise

If you’re interested in buying Crocs Sunset Sports Bar merchandise, they have a built in alcove that features t-shirts and more. I am absolutely in love with the logo, so I couldn’t help but get a shirt for myself as well.

Women’s shirts come in pink and black while men’s shirts are available in black and grey. The grey one is probably my favorite, but the brightly colored logo really pops on the black shirt as you can see on Ivan here.

More Information on Crocs Sunset Sports Bar

To get to Crocs Sunset Sports Bar, drive north of the bridge (there is a toll – $5 BZ each way). Follow the “new” paved road and, as it curves and turns to the left, you’ll see Crocs Sunset Bar on the left. Can’t miss it!

Crocs is open seven days a week. Ivan says future plans include an expanded menu, live music one night a week, as well as a “jam night” session where local musicians can come play.

To find out more on the official full grand opening, or to book the top floor for a private event, like the Crocs Sunset Sports Bar Facebook page.

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Aside from the beautiful architecture and loads of history, Bruges is also one of the tastiest cities in Europe. The city boasts an excellent beer scene, wonderful food, and some of the best chocolate in the world. Here are some of our tastiest tips for visiting Bruges.

Where to Eat in Bruges

Bruges has hundreds of restaurants, including a number of Michelin-starred restaurants in and around the city. While the legendary three-star De Karmeliet has closed for normal service, remaining for special events only, chef Geert Van Hecke still runs restaurant Zet’joe and bistro Refter alongside the original location.

For a more casual dinner, check out Restaurant Cambrinus, where you can get traditional Belgian cuisine prepared with and paired with their large selection of Belgian beers.

For a fun dessert, stop by Go.fre, where you can grab a delicious Belgian waffle on a stick. You can get your waffle dipped in a variety of chocolates, and coated in a number of different toppings. Get it topped fresh, or buy some prepackaged waffles to take home as a souvenir.

And no visit will be complete without buying some chocolate to bring home to all of your friends and family. And there’s no better chocolate shop in Bruges than Chocolatier Dumon. You won’t be disappointed!

Where to Drink Beer in Bruges

Brugge has quite a lot of beer history, and there are plenty of beer-related activities in the city.

In the south of the old city, near the Minnewater, you’ll find the historic Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan, where the local Straffe Hendrik and Brugse Zot beers are brewed today. Here you can tour the old brewery, as well as enjoy traditional Belgian food and the house-brewed beers.

As you head from the Minnewater back towards the center, you’ll find the BeerWall, where you can see hundreds of Belgian beers on display, and stop in the shop to pick up some of your favorite bottles.

In the market square you can find the Bruges Beer Museum and Experience, with interactive exhibits on the history of beer in the city, as well as tastings of beers from nearby breweries like Rodenbach.

And right next to the Church of the Holy Blood, you’ll find the Struise Beershop, where you can buy the latest offerings from one of Belgium’s most creative breweries.

If you’d like to sample some of Belgium’s best beers, stop by some of the great beer cafes in the city, such as De Garre, Cafe Rose Red, and ‘t Brugs Beertje.

Where to Stay in Bruges

After a day of tasting your way through the city, you’ll need a comfortable hotel in the city to lay your head at night. One of our favorite hotels in Bruges is the Grand Hotel Casselbergh. I stayed there during the European Beer Bloggers Conference in August 2015, and truly enjoyed my stay there, especially the great breakfast!

When and How to visit Bruges

Bruges is one of those cities that is great to visit year-round. It’s many parks and canals are lovely to wander through on a beautiful summer evening, and winter brings a fairy tail charm to the city, with the Markt turned into a Christmas market and ice skating rink. Shops are open year-round, though many do close for at least a week in the late summer for their holiday.

If you are traveling to Bruges, unless you are renting a car, you will likely be arriving by train. the train station is located just south of the main walled city center, and is a nice walk, through the Minnewater and into the center.

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As Erin’s birthday is coming up this week, we decided to book a long weekend visit to our 70th country, Vilnius, Lithuania!

We fly into Vilnius, Lithuania on Thursday morning, and fly back to Eindhoven on Sunday, so we’ll have three full days and nights to explore the food and drink of the city.

Do you have any favorite restaurants, bars, or shops you would recommend in Vilnius? We’d love to receive some recommendations for places to find local foods, beers, wines, or liquors, both to sample, or to take home with us.

We’d love to find some great restaurants, pubs, and food stalls to try some of the most traditional dishes and drinks, like Cepelinai, rye bread (including Kepta duona), blynai, gira, Trejos devynerios, mead, zrazai, or cheese curd dishes. And of course, great cafes and pubs for coffee and local beer.

Below is a map we’ve pieced together of locations to check out so far. Are we missing any great spots? If so, please let us know in the comments. If a place has a specific dish we just have to try, we’d love to hear that as well.

If you’re looking to check out craft beer in Budapest, here is an overview of my recommended spots in order of my visit:

BeerOdalom sörszaküzlet – A nice, small bottle shop with a good selection of local beers and imports, located just off of the Rákóczi tér metro stop, where you can also find a number of very affordable apartment rentals for your visit. They also specialize in homebrew ingredients.

Csak a Jó Sörök – Bottle shop with an extensive selection of craft beers from Hungary and abroad. Some more exclusive bottle selections can be found here. They also have seating available where you can drink your bottles in the shop instead of taking them home.

Ganz Söröző – A smaller cafe located on the Buda side of the river. Nice beer selection, and very friendly owner and crowd.

Legenda Sörfőzde Pub – Decent beer selection, though I must admit, the staff was not as friendly during my visit as the other locations we visited during our trip. But it was also rather busy at the time.

Jónás Craft Beer House – Located on the Pest bank of the Danube river. A bit more of a tourist vibe, but still a decent selection of local Hungarian craft beers on draft.

Különleges Sörök Boltja (Special Beer Store) – A bit further north on the Pest side, another very nice bottle shop with seating for tasting your bottles in the shop.

Léhűtő – One of the premier craft beer pubs in Budapest. Definitely a must-visit on your beer tour.

Neked Csak Dezső! – Not so much just a craft beer bar, but a nice local bar with a fun crowd and some good local beers available.

Legfelsőbb Beeróság – A newer craft beer bar located across the street from Neked Csak Dezso. 10 taps and 70 different beers available.

Beer Company – A chain of craft beer bars around town, there’s a location in Buda nearby to the Rudas and Gellert baths, so a perfect place to stop by for a beer before heading back across the river.

Felni Sörbisztró – Small pub with decent beer selection. And ask for the fried cheese snack!

Hopaholic – in hop we trust – Another of the premier craft beer bars in Budapest. Great selection of taps, and bottles to choose from as well. If you get there too early and they’re not open yet, pop across the street for a burger at Tuning Bar & Burger.

Hops Beer Bar – With the entire bar covered in beer labels, you can’t help but feel at home in this cozy craft beer haven.

This is just a selection of the craft beer locations to visit in Budapest today. There are some other great pubs as well that I did not make it to yet, including some highly recommended locations such as the following:

• Macskakő Kávézó
• Élesztő
• Cake&Beer
• Start Craft Beer Bar-Kézműves Sör Bar
• Marionett Kézműves Sörház
• Wunder Sörművek
• Dunaparti Matróz Kocsma – Étterem
• Monyó Café
• Kandalló Kézműves Pub
• Bölcső Bar & Food
• Pepin Kézműves Söröző
• skål
• Szimpla Kert Ruin Pubs
• Szimpla Kávézó
• Sörspecialista.hu Kft.
• Práter Pub

Good to have something left to visit the next time!

The craft beer scene in the United States continues to explode, with more than 4,000 registered breweries as of 2015. According to the Brewer’s Association, this was the highest number of breweries on record since 1873 when the number peaked at 4,100. Not surprisingly, cities like Dallas and Houston are prime destinations for craft beer enthusiasts who are looking to try new beers when they travel.

If you’re looking for some specialty craft beer bars, they might not be as plentiful as you assume. Fortunately, many bars in Dallas serve a variety of local craft beers. Some good options include:

Craft and Growler

With a selection of more than 40 rotating taps, Craft and Growler is the go-to spot for many beers that don’t get bottled. Enjoy a glass or two at the bar, and bring your growler to take your favorite brew back home. If you don’t have your own growler, Craft and Growler offers a huge assortment to choose from!

Luck

Located in the Trinity Groves area, Luck serves up nothing but rotating local craft beers on tap. Look for menu items made with local brews as well. Many say the Texas-style pastrami sandwich is not to be missed.

The Meddlesome Moth

Located in the Design District, the name alone makes the Meddlesome Moth worth a visit. The locale offers one of the most extensive beer selections in the city with 40 drafts, two live ales, and more than 85 bottles to choose from. When the weather is nice, head out onto the patio to enjoy the charming ambiance.

If you’ve filled up a couple unopened growlers that will keep fresh for a few weeks, consider heading from Dallas to Houston via bus to check out even more craft beer in Texas.

Houston Craft Beer Bars

The Ginger Man

If you’re hoping to try both local and some imported craft beers, consider stopping by the Ginger Man, which has 68 beers on draft and 140-150 bottles at any given time. It’s also one of the only bars in the area that serves cask-conditioned ales.

Nobi Public House

Not only will you find some of the best craft beers here, you can also enjoy some incredible Vietnamese fusion cuisine as well. Some favorites include char siu pork nachos and butter garlic wings. Nobi Public House had an interesting start as a Shell station selling a variety of craft beer, but is now a freestanding pub.

Local Pour

Local Pour has an impressive array of local Texan beers, including some more rare finds. Of the 48 taps, half are Texas craft beers. Look for around 50 more in bottles, and Local Pour even has a great selection of Texas-made spirits, including Dash Handmade Vodka, TX Blended Whiskey, and Paula’s Texas Orange.

While most people would think first of food when it comes to the flavor of Texas, paying a visit to any of these craft beer hangouts in Dallas and Houston will definitely help you see that there’s much more to the culinary scene in Texas than just Tex-Mex and BBQ.

This post was in collaboration with Busbud, but as always, all views, opinions, and calories gained are my own! 

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Parmigiano-Reggiano at #Blogville, during #terrelambrusco. A 2012 vintage cheese, well aged. Perfection waiting to be consumed.

A post shared by Brett Domue (@metsbwd) on Jun 26, 2015 at 12:50am PDT

On our recent visit to Reggio Emilia in June, 2015, I wasn’t holding out too much hope for finding a great selection of craft beer. We were staying at the Albergo delle Notarie, just off the Piazza Camillo Prampolini in the center of the city. The only rated beer bar in Reggio Emilia on Ratebeer, Arrogant Pub, is over 3km away, not exactly an easy walk for a few pints. However, I was pleasantly surprised with what I ended up finding.

First, going back to that city center, it’s beyond beautiful. After settling into the hotel, I wanted to run out to find some bottled water for the room, and the first moment I set foot into the Piazza Camillo Prampolini, it took my breath away. And, then I wandered into the Piazza di S. Prospero with the Basilica, and Piazza Martiri del 7 Luglio 1960 with the Teatro Municipale Romolo Valli, and I was hooked! Reggio Emilia is a beautiful city! And if I couldn’t find anything else, I did see a shop that had bottles of Baladin in the window, so I had a feeling I’d be OK if nothing else popped up.

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After midnight here in Reggio Emilia, Italy and I'm unable to fall asleep – part excitement and part nerves! Our group of #Blogville bloggers have a big day starting in 7 hours. We head to visit a Parmigiano Reggiano factory, a local Reggio Emilia Balsamic producer, and then in the evening – the magic happens (and my nerves kick in a bit)! Each blogger was handpicked to be here this week for the Terre di Lambrusco Wine Awards being held in this gorgeous theater tomorrow evening. We will be handing out the awards on stage to each of the winning wineries. Talk about an honor! #terrelambrusco #inemiliaromagna

A post shared by Erin De Santiago (@erindesantiago) on Jun 25, 2015 at 3:36pm PDT

I spent some time sitting in the Piazza Camillo Prampolini to have a beer, and soak in the view. And as expected, the view was better than the beer, but still, I was able to find an Italian craft beer from Manabrea. That served me well for the first day, but I naturally wanted more!

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Tonight's #ottbeerdiary beer of the night. Birra del 150° Anniversario Ambrata by G. Menabrea & Figli. A wee bit sweet. But the view is to die for.

A post shared by Brett Domue (@metsbwd) on Jun 25, 2015 at 1:59pm PDT

And the next day, I found it. Just meters away from the hotel, heading away from the main Piazza. It was here, in the Piazza San Giovanni, that we found the Bottiglieria San Giovanni, a quaint wine bar, which not only had some Italian craft beer on offer, but local craft beer, from Birrificio Dada out of Corregio, in the Province of Reggio Emilia. They also had a number of bottles from Birra Toccalmatto, out of Fidenza in the Province of Parma. They had outdoor patio seating which was a great place for our entire group to settle down for some wine, beers, and snacks on the Friday evening.

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Tonight's #ottbeerdiary beer of the night. Rrose Selavy by Dada. Perfect summer terrace beer. Bitter funk. Very enjoyable. #Blogville #terrelambrusco

A post shared by Brett Domue (@metsbwd) on Jun 26, 2015 at 1:29pm PDT

I can never be happy with one great find though, so the next day, it was pointed out that right on the corner, between the hotel and the Bottiglieria, there was another craft beer shop! Le Mille e Una Birra just opened on May 9, 2015, and was offering a fine selection of bottles that you could drink in the shop or take with you to drink at home, or out on the streets with everyone else enjoying the evening in Reggio Emilia. On my visit, there were not too many truly local selections from Emilia Romagna, but there were beers from other provinces of Italy, as well as from the US and other European locations.

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Tonight's #ottbeerdiary beer of the night. Pink IPA by Almond 22. A nice Italian IPA with decent bitter flavor, and a little spice. #Blogville #terrelambrusco #inEmiliaRomagna #ViaEmilia

A post shared by Brett Domue (@metsbwd) on Jun 27, 2015 at 3:02pm PDT

So don’t fear if you find yourself in Reggio Emilia, concerned that you won’t be able to find a place to satisfy your craft beer craving. Reggio Emilia has you covered!

The team of Our Tasty Travels was in Reggio Emilia as part of the Blogville project, in conjunction with the Emilia Romagna Tourism Board and iAmbassador, however all opinions and calories gained are solely our own.