If you like beer, this vacation is for you

by Aimee Heckel · May 29, 2013

By Aimee Heckel

Beer lovers, stand guard. It couldn’t be easier to plan a vacation around your hoppy hobby.

Every month, there are literally dozens upon dozens of beer festivals around the world. Check beerfestivals.org for a month-by-month list that you can coordinate with your travel plans.

Here are some highlights for June:

1. The Rochester Real Beer Week 2013 in New York, June 14-23. This is a full week of craft beer tastings, dinner pairings, launches, plus dinners and concerts and even a 5K race. You know, to burn off all of those empty carbs you just downed.

Check CheapOAir for inexpensive tickets to New York. Use the promo code DEST15 and save up to $15 on New York flights. Book through ShopAtHome.com and get an additional $12.50 Cash Back on your CheapOAir purchase.

2. The Green River Brew Fest in Greenfield, Ma., June 21 and 22. In its ninth year, this annual festival features more than 70 beers from 30 breweries. Beyond live music and food vendors, you can also find a cigar bar and a raffle for your own tap system for home brewing.

If you don’t win the raffle, you can still pick up your own home brewing kit online. Check out the home brew kits from Midwest Supplies. Use this coupon code from ShopAtHome.com and get 10 percent off beer recipe kits.

3. The Chicago Craft Beer Festival, June 21-23. This event in Old Town is modeled after an authentic Belgium brew fest. Sample more than 100 specialty beers: microbrews, seasonal, specialty, small batch — you name it.

Or for an authentic beer tour in Belgium, sign up for a beer tour from Beertrips.com. These trips are designed to be “more than just beer” tours and are also great for foodies and history buffs. In fact, Beertrips was featured in the book “100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life,” by Pam Grout. (Find it on Amazon.com for $15.54.)