Seven Great Beer-Centric Hotels
From beer bus tours to cycle pubs to smart phone-savvy tools like the Ale Trail app in Bend, Oregon, beer tourism has already revolutionized the way people think about visiting cities, to say nothing about increasing the number of cities to visit. Former one-stoplight towns are now visited by legions of beer-lovers, some boasting jackets with patches from every brewery they’ve visited sewn onto the leather (trust me, I’ve seen ‘em). So naturally, hotels are following the trend, proffering beer-centric amenities and tours to attract hop-heads who already have a laser focus on spending several days imbibing in the best the region has to offer. Here are a few of the country’s best beer-centric hotels.
Dogfish Inn
Lewes, DE
Ideally positioned in the quaint, historic town of Lewes—right between the Dogfish Head brewpub and distillery in Rehoboth Beach and their production brewery in Milton—this new hotel should serve as a welcome refuge to those who make the pilgrimage to Delaware’s leading craft brewery. They’ve teamed up with designers from Brooklyn and a construction company from nearby Magnolia to imbue the 16-room property with a modern aesthetic that still echoes the charming vibe of Lewes, with contemporary furniture and fire pits, alongside a retro motel-style two-story structure. And yes, the hotel is dog-friendly.
McMenamins Old St. Francis School
Bend, OR
To think of this as just a hotel does this historic property a grave disservice. What was once a Catholic schoolhouse (one that dates back to 1936) has since been renovated into a veritable epicenter of hipness, right in downtown Bend. It boasts a bakery, movie theater, concert space, soaking pool, private meeting and event space, and 19 richly appointed rooms situated in the property’s former classrooms, as well as four cottages with room for up to 10 guests. Oh, and beer—of course, including an award-winning on-site brewery and a pub. McMenamins also have several other beer-centric properties in their roster of Pacific Northwest hotels, like the equally fantastic Kennedy School just outside of Portland, OR.
Hotel Teatro
Denver, CO
Photo: D’arcy Leck via Hotel Teatro/Facebook
A beer-centric package at this chill Denver hotel in the central music and theater district provides guests with arguably the best way to dive into the city’s more than 200 craft breweries. The “Brewery-by-Bike” package includes a custom charcuterie and cheese plate paired with two bottles of craft beer, a curated map of the city’s breweries (along with insider tips from locals), bikes, and—perhaps best of all—a “hair of the dog” room service breakfast.