- A new report by online travel company weloveholidays ranks and reveals the best European countries for beer lovers.
- Germany takes the top spot, responsible for the largest beer production in Europe and boasting a great choice of breweries and beer-related activities.
- While the Netherlands is the leading country for beer exports, beer fans in the Czech Republic drink nearly three times as much as the European average.
From centuries-old brewing traditions to trendy craft beer scenes, Europe is home to an extraordinary beer culture that caters to any taste and attracts beer lovers from all over the world. In 2022, a whopping 516.5 billion litres of beer were produced across Europe1, which accounts for more than one-fifth of global production. And a considerable part of it is exported to be enjoyed not only in Europe but worldwide.
But where’s the best place to go for beer aficionados? To find out, online travel company weloveholidays has conducted a new study to reveal the best places for beer enthusiasts to visit.
By looking at factors like beer consumption, production, and export rates in each country, plus the number of breweries, available beer tastings and tours, and the average cost of a pint, 32 countries were ranked against each other. The results show that Germany is officially Europe’s number one destination for beer lovers, followed by the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
Check out the top 15 hotspots for beer lovers below:
| Rank | Country | No. of Breweries | Beer Exports (in litres) | Consumption Per Capita (l) | Beer Production (in billion litres) | Beer Tastings & Brewery Tours | Cost of a pint (EUR) | Total Score |
| 1 | Germany | 1512 | 14.884 | 92.5 | 87.832 | 93 | 4.00 | 4.068 |
| 2 | Czechia | 599 | 5.572 | 181.7 | 20.55 | 112 | 1.87 | 3.582 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 910 | 24.79 | 67.1 | 22.50 | 65 | 5.00 | 2.940 |
| 4 | UK | 1810 | 4.97 | 60.2 | 37.409 | 76 | 5.24 | 2.693 |
| 5 | Poland | 346 | 3.944 | 96 | 37.80 | 51 | 2.68 | 2.401 |
| 6 | Spain | 296 | 3.458 | 81.6 | 41.10 | 56 | 2.50 | 2.371 |
| 7 | Belgium | 408 | 15.744 | 53.1 | 25.00 | 57 | 4.00 | 2.363 |
| 8 | France | 2500 | 4.438 | 30.4 | 22.50 | 40 | 6.00 | 2.166 |
| 9 | Romania | 99 | 0.52 | 95 | 15.80 | 17 | 1.62 | 1.734 |
| 10 | Hungary | 75 | 0.459 | 68.3 | 5.640 | 35 | 1.80 | 1.568 |
| 11 | Italy | 827 | 3.743 | 31.2 | 18.00 | 39 | 5.00 | 1.537 |
| 12 | Austria | 324 | 0.888 | 96.8 | 10.288 | 18 | 4.00 | 1.502 |
| 13 | Portugal | 110 | 1.927 | 48 | 7.787 | 31 | 2.00 | 1.471 |
| 14 | Ireland | 77 | 4.406 | 81 | 4.00 | 39 | 5.50 | 1.371 |
| 15 | Croatia | 101 | 0.909 | 72.1 | 3.343 | 17 | 2.50 | 1.348 |
Germany, renowned for its rich beer culture, secures the top spot as Europe’s premier beer hotspot. The country produced a remarkable 87.832 litres in 2022, which makes it Europe’s largest beer producer. German beer is popular all around the globe, but especially with Germany’s citizens, who delight in a hearty beer consumption of 92.5 litres per capita. With €4 per pint, German beer prices are mid-range.
In the Czech Republic, which comes second in our ranking, beer fans get a pint for as little as €1.87 on average. The low prices might contribute to the fact that the country has the highest beer consumption in our ranking: the Czechs enjoy an average of 181.7 litres per person a year, which is almost twice as much as the Germans. Accordingly, the country promises an immersive experience for beer enthusiasts, being the home to 599 breweries and offering the highest number of beer tastings and brewery tours on the continent.
Completing the top three is the Netherlands, which stands out with a remarkable beer export of 24.790 litres annually. Some Dutch beers are popular all around the world, like the Pilsener beer Heineken, which is still crafted in Zoeterwoude. The country offers the fourth-highest number of beer-related activities (65), beckoning enthusiasts to indulge in its brewing traditions.
Other regions in the top 15 beer hotspots include the United Kingdom (4th) with 1,810 breweries, and Poland (5th), which is the number three in beer production with 37.80 litres per year.
For more information about the top beer countries, please visit https://www.loveholidays.com/de/blog/bier-reiseziele-europa/
