The beer tourism industry has grown from a trendy and niche hobby to a more mainstream market as craft breweries have gained more popularity. Beer tourism is now being seen on par with the long-standing tradition and popularity of wine tourism.
An estimated 10 million people visit craft breweries across the U.S. every year now. There are over 4,100 craft breweries in the US, and that number is growing rapidly. Being so prevalent, it makes the beer tourism industry much more accessible to regional and local travelers. Not surprisingly, 5 of the top 6 metro areas for beer tourism are located on the west coast where there is also a thriving wine tourism industry.
Source: BeverageDaily.com, January 2017