Craft beer seems to be taking the world by storm and here beer sommelier Rod Jones, of brewer Meantime, suggests his top ten holiday destinations for lovers of good beer.

Seattle and Yakima Valley, Washington State

The Yakima Valley is one of the most celebrated hop growing regions in the world. A mecca for die-hard craft beer fans the world over, the region is the powerhouse of US brewing and the spiritual home for some of the world’s most innovative craft beers the world over.

A hop, skip and a jump from Seattle, home of a veritable cornucopia of some of the most exciting breweries, brewpubs and bars including the likes of Elysian Brewing – creators of local speciality brews ranging from ‘Immortal IPA’ to ‘Spacedust’ and ‘Dragonstooth Stout’.

Prague, The Czech Republic

Home to an unequalled selection of some of the very best golden, amber and black lagers in the world the city has gained an unfair reputation as a hotspot for stag weekends and cheap and cheerful city breaks. In reality, the Czech capital is arguably the equal of Paris and Rome in terms of history, architecture and natural beauty – but most important of all, it has the unique Czech brewing culture. Among the winding cobbled lanes and hidden courtyards is a mixture of traditional spit-and-sawdust Czech pivnice and the Tankovna pubs – which serve the beer fresh, unpasteurized and unfiltered from tanks in the bar itself (like drinking beer straight from the brewery). A must visit drinking spot has to be U Zlatého tygra (The Golden Tiger) – a 14th century tap house hidden away in the heart of the city centre, the archetype of a Czech beer hall. Filled with locals and serving beer and beer alone, you can live like a local and soak up the atmosphere whilst enjoying a half litre (or three) accompanied by fried pork schnitzel and potato pancake with cabbage salad and bread.

Brussels, Belgium

If you are after something a little different, Brussels is home to some of the most distinctive, quirky, profound, and even downright weird beers, in the world. With more styles than you can shake a stick at, the only way to truly get under the skin of the city is through some well-considered drinking. With no beer quite like the last, the many city bars, cafes and restaurants serve up glass after glass of beer styles that range from Amber and Blonde Ales through to Flemish Reds, Pilsners, Saisons, Trappist ales, fruit beers, Dubbels, Triples and wheat beers (to name but a few). With a couple of museums offering some cultural respite, the ultimate drinking spot is undoubtedly the Mort Subite - a classic Belgian beer café where very little has changed since it slung open the doors in 1928 - with uniform wooden tables, arched giant mirrors and amusingly abrupt service.

Munich, Germany

The Bavarian city of Munich most certainly comes top of many beer aficionados bucket lists and remains to this day one of the brewing capitals of the world, where everything beer-related is on a giant scale. Whether visiting during Oktoberfest, or any other time of year, you won’t be short of things to see do… and drink. Commonly referred to as ‘Germany’s second city’, the centre is walkable and manages to keep hold of its small-town charm with some classic cultural sights including galleries and museums such as the palatial Residenzmuseum that takes a good two hours to wander round. My top pick to stop for a Mass (litre mug of beer) has to be the Augustinerkeller beer garden, one of the oldest beer gardens in Munich. Surrounded by around one hundred chestnut trees this is a beautiful stop off to get away from the hubbub of the town and enjoy a litre of Augustiner Edelstoff from the traditional oak barrel.

Portland, Oregon

Portland is one of the key cities that played a major role in the development of American craft beer. A city of contradicting extremes the lively yet mellow vibe of this urban metropolis is features an outstandingly exciting downtown across the Willamette River featuring pretty neighbourhoods and its fair share of interesting characters. The mix of liberal left leaning inhabitants support everything from book clubs and coffeehouses to craft beer bars and brewpubs. A breeding ground for interesting breweries, Portland has housed the likes of Bridgeport Brewing and Widmer Brothers Brewing, as well as watering holes like the always outstanding Horse Brass pub that has been designed in the traditional ‘English-style’ pub aesthetic. Billed as serving ‘proper 20 oz. Imperial pints’ alongside some hearty British and American grub you will be spoilt for choice of beers to pick and enjoy at your leisure.

San Francisco, California

A big beery nod must of course go to San Francisco, one of the cities in which the American craft beer revolution began – as it is the sort of place where social revolutions of some kind or another generally begin. With the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Pier 39 and Coit Tower out of the way, time must be allowed for a couple of drinks at one of the many bars and restaurants scattered around the city. With the most restaurants and farmers markets per capita in the whole of the USA, gastronomes are never at a loose end; however the jewel in the foodie crown comes in the form of the Anchor Brewery Tasting Rooms. It’s here that you can really get a handle on the centuries-old craft brewing traditions with a big helping of San Francisco history - and flight of selected Anchor beers to boot. One way or another you will leave the Anchor Brewery with the craft beer ethos running through your veins.

London

The sheer number of bars, restaurants and pubs serving absolutely outstanding brews is something we should be immensely proud of. With places like The Old Coffee House in Soho, The Holborn Whippet, Brew Wharf in Borough Market and countless others serving any number of brews from all over the world – a little know how and a sense of adventure will set your head spinning with the sheer number of beers available to you. My favourite? Well call me biased but it’s a three-way tie between The Greenwich Union, The Old Brewery and the newly launched Tasting Rooms at our brewery in Greenwich – a place packed out with people looking to grab a quick pint, some food or even hop on a brewery tour.