Responsible drinking tips for brewery tours start with one core principle: it’s about quality, not quantity. By pacing yourself, staying hydrated, and planning sober transportation, you’ll enjoy every sip while staying safe and respectful.
Most brewery samples are 4–6 oz. You don’t need to finish every pour—spit buckets or dump buckets are always available.
Drink at least one full glass of water for every brewery you visit. Dehydration amplifies alcohol’s effects.
Never tour on an empty stomach. Most breweries offer food or allow outside meals—take advantage of it.
Designate a driver, use rideshare, or book a guided tour. Never drive after tasting.
One person stays sober and rotates on multi-day trips.
Uber and Lyft are widely available in urban areas (Boston, NYC, Chicago).
Many cities offer hop-on-hop-off beer buses (e.g., Brew Bus in California).
For rural routes (Pennsylvania, Midwest), rent a car but assign a non-drinker or use a local taxi service.
"I always carry a small notebook to rate beers as I go—this keeps me focused on flavor, not volume. And remember: the goal isn’t to get drunk—it’s to discover beers you love enough to seek out again. If you’re visiting 3+ breweries in a day, consider skipping samples at one or two and just enjoy the atmosphere."