Must Visit Craft Beverage Trails Across the Mid-Atlantic

The Mid-Atlantic Region boasts a number of fun and unique craft beverage experiences. From breweries to wineries, cideries to distilleries and meaderies, there’s something for every craft beverage lover in the Mid-Atlantic.

For more information on any of the following, contact the destination marketing organization listed below. For general information on the Mid-Atlantic, visit MATPRA.org.

Delaware

Greater Wilmington
Northern Delaware is home to nearly 15 breweries. If they don’t have food regularly on the site, most host food trucks on the weekends. Many also feature live music. Check these out and more on the Delaware Beer, Wine and Spirits Trail. Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jennifer Boes, VisitWilmingtonDE.com, [email protected].

 

Maryland

Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
In 2020 Forward Brewing nano-brewery opened in Eastport and Pherm Brewing opened in Gambrills. Together with the Crooked Crab Brewing Company and the nearby Guinness Open Gate Brewery, the breweries provide great beer and a ton of personality, offering everything from food trucks, free yoga, local artwork, and more. Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, Susan Seifried, VisitAnnapolis.org, [email protected].

Baltimore
With an impressive crop of breweries offering craft beverages with bold, original and exciting flavors, Baltimore is an undeniable beer town. A major standout is Mobtown in the aptly named Brewers Hill neighborhood where visitors can sample classic milk stouts alongside interesting concoctions like the golden sour with apricot. Visit Baltimore, Tracey Johnson, Baltimore.org, [email protected].

Charles County
Explore Charles County is a hidden gem 30 miles south of Washington, D.C. Patuxent Brewing Company recently released a craft beverage called “Sunken Sips.” The IPA is inspired by the “Ghost Fleet” abandoned ships at Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. Locals dubbed the beverage the Official Charles County Beer. Charles County Government, Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism, Catherine Herbert, ExploreCharlesCounty.com, [email protected].

Harford County
Come for the brews, wines, and spirits on Visit Harford’s Libation Trail, but stay for the good vibes. Music, games, food trucks, and special events await you. The Libation Trail takes you to eleven places that serve up a unique combination of locally produced craft beverages and atmosphere. Visit Harford, Mindy Schneider, VisitHarford.com, [email protected].

Montgomery County (MD)
Montgomery County Tastemakers are brewing, fermenting, distilling and roasting some of the best local libations in Maryland! From savoring a pint on a working horse farm to relaxing with a Cabernet Franc at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain, spend the weekend exploring the Tastemakers Trail. Visit Montgomery, MD, Cory Van Horn, VisitMontgomery.com, [email protected]

Talbot County
Grains and grapes become memorable beverages in historic Talbot County. Windon Distilling of St. Michaels makes the incomparable line of Lyon Rums. At Triple Creek Winery in Cordova, winemaking is a family affair. And Eastern Shore Brewing in St. Michaels is the oldest brewery on the Maryland Shore. Talbot County Office of Tourism, Cassandra M. Vanhooser, TourTalbot.org, [email protected].

Pennsylvania

Butler County
Grab your “Passport to Hoppiness” and navigate your way through the Butler County Beer Circuit, a self-guided trail of local brewpubs. This trail features 13 brewpubs, a taproom, and a canning facility; all offering a variety of unique and local craft beers year-round. Explore more on the Butler County Beer Circuit.  Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, Tiffany Hernandez, VisitButlerCounty.com, [email protected].

Central Pennsylvania
The Central Pennsylvania Tasting Trail was the first to bring together Happy Valley adult-beverage producers in a single trail that has the ability to please everyone, regardless of their particular tastes. Enjoy distilled spirits, wine, cider and craft beer all on one trail! Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, Edward Stoddard, Dispatch.HappyValley.com, [email protected].

Clearfield County
Visit Clearfield County and enjoy the many flavors offered throughout the Lumberjack Tasting Trail. Visit all 15 locations and enjoy their free tasting or purchase their lumberjack special. Don’t forget to get your passport stamped at each location so that you can earn your free t-shirt or hat for completing this wicked awesome trail! Visit Clearfield County, Josiah Jones, VisitClearfieldCounty.org, jjones@visitclearfieldcounty.org.

Columbia-Montour Counties
Hit the trail and bask in a plethora of fantastic brews on the River Rat Brew Trail, Central Pennsylvania’s original craft beer trail! Encompassing twelve enterprising craft breweries, it is home to award-winning beers and creative brewers who are always crafting unique flavors! Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, Linda Sones, ITourColumbiaMontour.com, [email protected].

Gettysburg
Discover the unique tastes of Adams County’s craft beverages with a self-guided journal along the Adams County Pour Tour. From small batch breweries and distilleries, to wineries, meaderies and famous Adams County cideries, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Pick up your passport at any participating location to get started! Destination Gettysburg, Rachel Wright, AdamsCountyPourTour.com, rachel@destinationgettysburg.com.

Laurel Highlands
From moonshine, rye whiskey, and IPAs to cider, mead, and fruit wines, get a taste for southwestern Pennsylvania on the newly expanded Laurel Highlands Pour Tour!  The passport-based trail showcases 45 craft beverage locations and the region’s stunning landscape. Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Anna Weltz, GoLaurelHighlands.com, [email protected].

Lehigh Valley
Did you know Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania is federally designated as a premier grape-growing region in the country? Established in 2008, Lehigh Valley’s American Viticultural Area covers over 230 planted acres and includes over 30 wineries. For more local flavor profiles and unique experiences, discover Lehigh Valley’s brewery and distillery scenes. Discover Lehigh Valley, Alicia Quinn, DiscoverLehighValley.com/restaurants/libations, alicia@discoverlehighvalley.com.

Montgomery County (PA)
Montgomery County has more than 30 craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries, including some of the most awarded in the state and country. Montco Makers is your guide to the craft beer, wine, and spirits that Montgomery County has to offer. Via the app, visitors and locals alike can check in and access a plethora of rewards. Visit Valley Forge, Emily Keel, ValleyForge.org, [email protected].
Pocono Mountains
The Pocono Beverage Trail is a craft beverage lover’s dream. It’s a beer, wine, and spirits trail in one. Craft your adventure as you explore the best wineries, breweries, and distilleries throughout the scenic Pocono Mountains. Hire transportation or experience the trail at your own pace, on your own time. Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, Brianna Strunk, PoconoMountains.com/Pocono-beverage-trail.com, [email protected].

Fredericksburg Region
Discover modern craft brewing and a little history along the FAB Trail. Grab a FAB Trail Passport and forge your way along the Fredericksburg Area Breweries Trail. Passports can be picked up at the breweries, the regional visitor centers (Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford) or downloaded from FABTrail.com. Fredericksburg Region, Danelle Rose, VisitFred.com, [email protected].

Hampton
We’ve rounded it up on our Toast the Coast: Beer, Wine and Shine trail to make enjoying our relaxing region that much easier. If you love craft beer and spirits, you’ll love our 4 Taps 4 Cities and 3 Barrels 3 Cities trails that take you through Newport News, Hampton, Smithfield and Williamsburg. Hampton Convention and Visitor Bureau, Leslie Baker, ToastTheCoastva.com, [email protected].

Lynchburg
Not even a pandemic can stop the golden nectar from flowing!  In late 2020, Lynchburg saw two breweries open Downtown: Starr Hill, the second oldest craft brewery in Virginia, serving The Love (donates $1 per pint sold to local charities), and Three Roads Brewing, serving seasonal flavors and flagship favorites. Lynchburg Office of Economic Development & Tourism, Krista Boothby, LynchburgVirginia.org, [email protected].

Norfolk
Sip your way through Norfolk, VA with the NFK Brew Hop pass to the city’s top breweries. Enjoy a three-day brew pass and take your time to savor the experience and tastes of Norfolk’s local craft beer scene. Passes are delivered through text and email, and instantly redeemable. Visit Norfolk, Nicole Nussbaum, Explore.VisitNorfolk.com/checkout/370/visit-norfolk/1824/brew-hop, nnussbaum@visitnorfolktoday.com.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge
A collection of breweries, wineries and craft spirits producers, the Virginia’s Blue Ridge Cheers Trail is a fun way for visitors to discover the unique flavors of the region. Download a free Cheers Trail Passport to receive special offers and deals while you experience the local craft beverage scene. Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, Taylor Spellman, VisitVBR.com, [email protected].

 

About the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance
The Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance (MATPRA) is a cohesive unit of regional tourism partners encompassing Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The group serves travel journalists by creating a regional resource that ignores geographical boundaries to  better promote common threads, offering story ideas about the Mid-Atlantic region as a whole. For more information, visit MATPRA.org.