The 10 Best Flight-free Destinations for Beer-lovers
For the discerning beer enthusiast, sampling the goods from some of the best and most unusual breweries is worth travelling for. And what better way to embark on a beer pilgrimage than by ferry? With numerous ports that can be reached from the UK coastline, a wealth of incredible beer destinations is just a ferry crossing away.
Here are Discover Ferries' top 10 picks, including some lesser known spots. So, drink responsibly and raise a glass to the open water and the promise of a perfect pint in a new and exciting location!
Idyllic views on The Isles of Scilly
The St Martin’s Vineyard and Winery has been declared the most idyllic spot in Britain to raise a glass and toast the view (Countryfile). Beer-lovers will be pleased to hear the winery has also started brewing. Its range of five beers are named after the Eastern Isles, an uninhabited group of islands that are part of the archipelago. Exclusive to the Isles of Scilly, these ales are only available from the vineyard, local shops and cafes. But they are undoubtedly well worth the journey.
Choose from: Ganilly, a light and refreshing American Cream Ale; Gainick, a malty amber beer brewed with five different malts; Innisvouls, an old-school amber ale that is perfect for those who love classic British styles; Menawethan, a traditional dark English ale made with Chocolate and Crystal Malts; or Nornour, an easy-drinking golden ale designed for refreshment. Best enjoyed under the warm Cornish sun whilst overlooking the white sandy beaches and picture-perfect azure waters!
Travel to the Isles of Scilly with Isles of Scilly Travel, day trips are £35 per adult.
Pure perfection on the Isle of Man
If you’re a lover of traditional beers, head to the Isle of Man. It established its own beer purity laws in 1874, dictating that beer can only be made with water, malt, yeast and hops. While the Pure Beer Act regulations have since been relaxed slightly to allow for fruit beer, wheat beer and lager production, the Manx still take brewing seriously. The rules were brought in by Okell’s, the oldest brewery on the island and this year it celebrates its 175th anniversary.
Beer-lovers must sample the Manx Pale Ale, which started life as a special edition, but popular demand made it a permanent cask beer. For designated drivers and those looking to try alcohol-free options, Okells Zero should not to be missed.
The brewery tours run on Wednesday evenings and infamously end in the Okell’s in-house bar, but the brews are served in many pubs across the island. Sail to Douglas with The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and you can sink a pint at one of the traditional pubs just a stone’s throw from the beach and ferry port. Foot passenger travel starts from just £26 each way.
Brasserie brewhouses in Brittany
Brittany’s brewing tradition dates to the 1600s but the creation of Lorient’s Interceltic Festival revived the craft. Today, there are more than 200 Breton breweries making different styles of artisan ale, many feature ingredients native to the region such as seaweed and buckwheat to add unique flavours. Look out for local "brasseries" serving farmhouse-style ales and cider.
Brasserie La Fréhéloise produces unfiltered, unpasteurised beers all made locally. Near the pink cliffs of Cap Fréhél, this brewery pub is a fantastic refreshment stop after the hike to one of the largest medieval Breton castles, Fort La Latte. It also offers a range of organic beers including an IPA with mango and apricot flavours and an amber ale inspired by triple beers that is made with three malts of barley and rye. Enthusiasts can even participate in beer workshops to discover the secret to microbrewing.
Sail to the Breton ports of Roscoff and St Malo with Brittany Ferries, crossings start from £90 for a car and two passengers.
Sink a pint in the oldest pub in the world?!
It doesn’t get more historical than a visit to Sean’s Bar in Athlone, the oldest pub in Ireland and possibly even the oldest pub in the world as nothing older has been found. Documents date Sean’s Bar back to 900AD and during renovations in the 1970s, some of the wattle and wicker walls were from the 9th century. Sit back, soak up the history and sip while looking at the pub’s Guinness world record entry. Athlone is just an hour and 20 minutes on the train from Dublin or an hour and three quarters by car.
Sail to Ireland from £119 for a car and driver each way with Irish Ferries or Stena Line.
Beer tours in Belgium’s Oostende
Known worldwide for its wide selection of beer styles, Belgium should be the number one destination for beer-lovers. Dodge the crowds of Bruges and Brussels to sip a beer by the sea in Oostende. The town has some of the most interesting and varied bars including Café Botteltje, which has at least 16 beers on tap and a range of genevers, perfect for those who love a G&T.
Beershop t’Koelschip is a must-visit, it has 900+ artisan beers in stock and is perfect for souvenirs as it specialises in tailor-made gifts. Beer restaurant Heerlijk serves delicious beer-based dishes such as pork stew cooked in Rodenbach or a sabayon made with Rochefort beer and the bar has all the different Trappist beers. Try La Trappe Nillis and La Trappe Witte the first alcohol-free and white Trappist beers in the world!
Sail to from Dover to Dunkirk or Calais with DFDS, Irish Ferries or P&O Ferries from £92 for a car and up to 9 passengers each way.
The Ale of Skye
World-renowned for whisky, the Isle of Skye also knows a thing or two about brewing. Authenticity, flavour and freshness are prized when it comes to Skye Ales, the brewery even mills its own grains. The brewery creates a range of different styles from an IPA and golden ale made from fine porridge oats to the Skye Black, a dark ale brewed with roast oatmeal and honey or the Tarasgeir a smoky, dry ale using peat smoked malt from the local Ardmore distillery.
Enjoy a pint of Skye Ales at The Old Inn, Carbost. Voted the best pub on Skye this cosy inn is the best place to unwind after a day exploring the island. Accompany your beer with some hearty fare from the pub classics menu or the outstanding dishes from the daily specials board.
Sail to Skye with Caledonian MacBrayne from just £3.85 per person.
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Feeling crafty in Rotterdam
Kaapse Brouwers has its craft beer taproom, Kaapse Kaap, in the historic Katendrecht neighbourhood in Rotterdam. The bar overlooks the waterfront, and the view inspired the owners to bring great independent craft beers to the city. Choose from local brews and beers from across the globe, when travelling by ferry, you can even bring a few bottles of your favourites back or, stock up on duty free.
Sail to Rotterdam with P&O Ferries from £144 each way or from £81.42 for a car and driver each way with Stena Line.
Bar hopping in “Beer-bao”
Beer and pintxos – the Basque country’s equivalent of tapas – are a perfect pair and part of Bilbao’s drinking and dining culture. The city is dotted with small bars making a walking beer tour an ideal evening activity. Food options range from the traditional Iberican ham, croquettes and regional cheeses to the more contemporary falafel with shitake mushrooms at Irrintzi, but all bars will serve excellent Spanish draft and craft beers as well as regional wines and soft drinks. For a fancy experience head to El Globo, with Michelin-Starred pintxos including spider crab gratin, tuna ceviche or artichoke tempura.
Sail to Bilbao with Brittany Ferries from just £206 for a car and 2 passengers.
The freshest pints in London
Situated in the iconic Battersea Power Station, Battersea Brewery has a taproom on site so visitors can sip beer that has come directly from the brewery into the tanks – there won’t be a fresher pint. The menu features a variety of different styles of craft beer including the brewery’s specially developed German-style lager, Aura. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is the best way to get there as you can enjoy the sights of the embankment and even grab a drink (beer is optional) on board. The brewery is only a few hundred metres from the ferry pier.
Drinks on the deck
A short hop across the Solent, the Isle of Wight boasts a burgeoning craft beer scene. Goddards Brewery is a must-visit as the island’s oldest brewery and one of the first independent craft beer producers in the UK. Traditional beers include Ale of Wight, Fuggle Dee-Dum and Wight Squirrel, or try small batch craft beers such as Riptide Red Ale, Barista Breakfast Stoutand South Island Pale Ale. Planet Lager is even vegan-friendly!
Many pubs across the island serve Goddards ales but it’s well worth heading to the brewery’s Firkin Deck. Part of the new purpose-built brewery and visitor centre in Hale Common, which opened in 2023, the bar and restaurant has a south-facing terrace so you can enjoy a pint al fresco. Brewery tours run every weekend and include a flight of beers to sample at the Firkin Deck bar. Sail across with Hovertravel, Red Funnel or Wightlink. Take flight on the hovercraft with a day return for £22.60 per person. A day return from Southampton to the Isle of Wight is from £13.50 with Red Funnel. A day return from Portsmouth is from £23.40 with Wightlink.
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