Try these great cities for a beer-cation, from Minnesota to Memphis and in Missouri

Aarik Danielsen, Columbia Daily Tribune
·4 min read

Vacations revolve around all manner of experiences. Trips center on thrills and trust falls, landmark sites and scenic vistas. And some travelers choose to plan with great meals, unique wines or other refreshments in mind.

If you're a beer enthusiast, perhaps a beer-cation of sorts sits on your horizon line: why not visit an area with great breweries to check out between other stops — or hot spots you'll squeeze in between breweries? Here are just a few of the terrific beer destinations within a day's drive of Columbia.

Stick to Missouri with breweries in Kansas City and St. Louis

Spend less on gas or stay with a friend — saving more money for libations — by keeping your trip within Missouri's borders. Our Interstate 70 neighbors, along with the great beers right here in Columbia and elsewhere, help make this a great beer state.

St. Louis bears a number of excellent spots, including 2nd Shift, 4 Hands, Civil Life, Rockwell, Schlafly and Urban Chestnut.

To the west of us, Kansas City houses Midwest leaders like Boulevard, as well as promising places like Brewery Emperial, Casual Animal, Double Shift and Strange Days.

North to the Twin Cities and Wisconsin

The Twin Cities know good beer, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro is a lovely place to hang. In 2022, PorchDrinking.com's Adam Rozanas compiled his list of the area's best breweries. Among them: Modist Brewing, Fulton Beer ("one of the oldest and largest craft breweries in the state post-Prohibition") and Upper Midwest great Surly Brewing Co.

Of course, another of our northern friends, Wisconsin, is beer country too. Among TripAdvisor's recommendations are household names such as Miller and Leinenkugel's in Milwaukee and Chippewa Falls, respectively, as well as the glorious New Glarus in its namesake town and Lakefront, also in Milwaukee.

South to Memphis

Wiseacre OG is Wiseacre's original taproom at 2783 Broad Avenue.
Wiseacre OG is Wiseacre's original taproom at 2783 Broad Avenue.

Not just a great music city, but a quality beer city, Memphis features a number of spots worth checking out. Memphistravel.com points out the likes of Ghost River Brewing — which prides itself on brewing with local water, Wiseacre Brewing Co. and Grind City Brewing, among others. The site also offers guidance about how to visit other local landmarks while leaving time for some cold brews.

East to Indianapolis

Axios writer John Frank sold me on Indiana's capital with his brewery tour in words. Among the appealing options: the expansive Sun King campus; Metazoa — which Frank tabbed "possibly the most dog-friendly brewery you'll find with its own dog park and a pledge to donate 5% of its profits to animal and wildlife organizations"; Guggman Haus ("part racing museum and part brewery"); and Taxman City Way with its "old-world Belgian beers."

West to Denver

This photo taken on Dec. 7, 2012 shows a glass of beer being drawn from one of 16 taps at the Great Divide Brewery in Denver.
This photo taken on Dec. 7, 2012 shows a glass of beer being drawn from one of 16 taps at the Great Divide Brewery in Denver.

OK, we get it — Denver is a long day's drive (10 1/2 hours at the fastest, according to Google Maps, with a time change in the mix). But the mile-high beer is enticing. At denver.org, Visit Denver has created a beer trail map divided into neighborhoods; among the most intriguing options are classics like Great Divide and Left Hand as well as Latino-owned brewpub Raíces Brewing Co. and aviation-themed FlyteCo Brewing.

Farther-flung breweries to dream about

Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Some breweries might exist more than a day's drive from Columbia, but provide fodder for dream trips. If you're willing to plan a longer trek, feel free to pilfer from my running list:

  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., located across the country from itself in Chico, California and Mills River, North Carolina, creates standards and standouts, including their classic pale ale and seasonal Bigfoot barleywine.

  • A Midwest staple, Kalamazoo, Michigan's Bell's Brewery offers wondrous regulars such as Two Hearted IPA and Oberon, and limited-time brews like Hopslam.

  • Brewery Ommegang calls out for at least two reasons — the great beer and proximity to the Baseball Hall of Fame, sharing a Cooperstown, New York address.

  • With beer names over the years like ET Stay Home, Even More Jesus and Christmas Eve at a New York City Hotel Room, the folks behind New York City's Evil Twin Brewing just seem like a cool hang.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Plan your next beer-cation around breweries within a day's drive of Columbia