Alrighty, Guys — it’s time for another fun Disney Food Blog Challenge. And this one is definitely for the grown ups! Everyone’s aware that craft beer has become increasingly popular. Sure, through the years, you always had the garden variety options…
Honey Bee Citrus Blonde Ale at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
…but these days, Craft Beers and International Selections are where it’s at. So we thought that it was high time we take a closer look at some of the interesting beer that you can get throughout Walt Disney World. In the interest of interactive fun, we decided to come up with another DFB Food — er, Beverage — Crawl, dedicated to the world of beer, and all that it encompasses!
We know that there are LOTS of you out there who are serious about your study and research of this important subject. We are in it for the fun. 😉 So we definitely want YOUR comments below on what you think the Can’t Miss Beers of Walt Disney World are!
Because this is a rather weighty subject, we’ll spread it out over a 3 day visit. But feel free to consolidate as your tolerance level allows.
Grab some beer nuts, and let’s go!
Day One: Explore EPCOT
We’ll start our 3-day Beer Crawl in the best place for sampling a wide variety of food and drink — EPCOT!
When beer is the main attraction of the day, it’s a good idea to get some sustenance first thing. We love to enter EPCOT via the International Gateway Entrance and start our day with a stop in Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in the France Pavilion for a petit déjeuner of French Pastries and Coffee or Chocolat Chaud.
We especially love the Quiche Lorraine!
Quiche Lorraine
Fueled up and ready to go, it’s time to hit World Showcase!
Moosehead in the Canada Pavilion
We all have our traditions, and one that we love to embrace is the First Beer of the Day in EPCOT. And that honor almost always goes to Moosehead as we begin our Drinking Journey around the World! Find it at the Canada Beer Stand located near the entrance to Le Cellier Steakhouse.
Moosehead
Stroll the area, making time to check out the Totem Poles before you head to your next stop.
Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room in the UK Pavilion
With a small breakfast and your first brew under your belt, it’s time to stop for lunch and more beer in one of our favorite EPCOT dining spots.
The Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room in the UK Pavilion offers a wide array of beer and cider from the British Isles. Make your advance dining reservation ahead of time for a sit down meal, or take a gamble with finding a spot in the pub (it can get pretty crowded in there). Note that you can also get beers at a counter outside the restaurant and pub.
Sampling British beers is your goal here, so we recommend the Imperial Sampler, which normally includes pours of Bass, Harp, Boddington’s, and Guinness.
Rose & Crown
Alternatively, you can choose from a long list of Pub Blends, which are half-and-half mixes of some of the beer on tap. You’ll never go wrong with a Black and Tan — half Bass Ale and half Guinness.
Of course, if you have a favorite beer among those on tap, enjoy a pint of that one instead.
Shamrock Design on Top of Guinness
We especially love to order a Guinness, served with its famous Shamrock Head!
Japan
With a little lunch under your belt, it’s time to hit up the Japan Pavilion for another unique stop on your beer tour. Kirin Frozen Beer comes with a fluffy, semi-frozen head that keeps your beer cold a little longer in that warm Florida sun.
You can find it at Kabuki Cafe (or YeSake Kiosk if you’re in Disney Springs)!
Frozen Kirin Beer in EPCOT’s Japan
Take in some time listening to the drummers or checking out the koi pond, or just relax for a bit in the shade of Mitsukoshi Department Store while you sip your refreshing beer.
Tutto Gusto/Via Napoli
Once you’re finished exploring Japan, continue to circle World Showcase until you arrive in the Italy Pavilion. Plan to stop into Tutto Gusto for your next beer tasting adventure.
The Italy Pavilion works hard to import some of the most interesting of the crop. You’ll find selections change up fairly quickly here and at the neighboring Via Napoli, so don’t be afraid to try something new. Italians take the same care in brewing beer that they use when crafting wine, so you’re likely to enjoy your selection.
At this location, we’ve tried beers like Moretti La Rossa.
Moretti La Rossa in World Showcase’s Italy
If you’re after a portable option, snag a Peroni from one of the kiosks in the Pavilion.
Sometimes You Can Find a Moretti in the Italy Pavilion
Once you’re done, make some room for Germany!
Germany
We’ve sipped and strolled and enjoyed cultures and beer from all over the world. And now we arrive at dinnertime! Of course, it makes sense that our next stop should be in a country especially celebrated for beer — Germany.
Make your advance dining reservation for dinner at Biergarten.
Eating at the Biergarten is an amazing experience. Sit at long tables and enjoy a meal of all you care to enjoy German favorites and lively entertainment. And for an authentic experience, order your beer in a liter mug, or grab a flight!
German Beer Flight
Finish your evening by enjoying EPCOT under the stars before tucking into bed in preparation of more awesomeness tomorrow.
Day Two: Hit Up Disney’s BoardWalk, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom
I hope you got a good night’s sleep, because we are ready to roll for Beer Crawl Day Two! Time to do some serious hopping.
Since we’re beginning our day at Animal Kingdom, we’ll start off at one of our favorite spots for breakfast — Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery. Choose the Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit for a less sugary option, or the Warm Colossal Cinnamon Roll if you have a sweet tooth and are in the mood to share. Then it’s time to head out!
Dawa Bar
Our first stop today takes us into Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a stop at the Dawa Bar in Harambe Village. This is a great place to kick back and do a little people watching while you enjoy a cold one.
If you’re looking for a draft beer, check out the Safari Amber, which is also available at Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Safari Amber
There are also seasonal beers, like the Honey Bee Citrus Blonde Ale and Tiger Tale Pale Ale we’ve seen at this location. Check what they’re offering when you’re there!
See What’s Available!
After a little exploration of the park and maybe a ride or two, head to Disney’s BoardWalk for our next stop.
Big River Grille and Brewing Company
Plan to spend lunch at Disney’s only working microbrewery, Big River Grille and Brewing Company at the BoardWalk Inn.
Brew Kettle, Big River Grille
Big River’s on-site, working brewery is the place to sample several handcrafted beers, including the award-winning Red Rocket Ale. Inquire about seasonal brews and check their schedule for tapping parties, too!
Beer Flight
Of course, we’re here for the beer, but the food menu complements it nicely — and even uses beer as an ingredient at times. We love the Beer Cheese Soup especially.
Take a stroll on the BoardWalk, spend the afternoon in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or take a nap!
Be Our Guest Restaurant
It’s a tough reservation to book, but if you can get it, our next recommendation is to head to Magic Kingdom for dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant.
Walt Disney World’s original Park was dry before the expansion of Fantasyland, when Be Our Guest Restaurant exploded onto the scene. Because the spot offers traditional French fare, it only made sense to include wine and beer.
Our recommendation is to keep it traditional, and order a Chimay Blue. For an occasion as special as a meal in Beast’s Castle, we think it’s perfect choice.
Chimay Blue at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Take in Disney Enchantment fireworks, and then get some sleep, because there’s more beer for tomorrow!
Day Three: Time for Disney Springs and the Resorts
Second only to EPCOT in its potential for beverage enjoyment, Disney Springs is a Beer Lover’s Haven. We’re going to find some great choices as we make our way through this part of Disney.
Raglan Road Irish Pub
After breakfast at the resort of your choice and some time by the pool, head over to Disney Springs for a hearty lunch at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant!
This is a great time to visit the Pub because it can help you avoid some of the crowds. Choose from their extensive menu of pub favorites. The soups here are killer, and the Fish and Chips — both traditional and gluten-free versions — are tops!
To experience the most variety, we’ll once again suggest a flight. We love the Cream of the Crop Flight, because it allows you to choose from all of the draft beers available — and that’s a pretty extensive list!
Cream of the Crop Flight!
You’ll want to do a bit of walking and window shopping next! Enjoy a leisurely spin through the shops of Disney Springs before we head to our next destination.
Baseline Tap House
Our final stop will be a celebration of beer and food! And what pairs best with beer? A Bavarian Pretzel, of course!
Beer Flight and Bavarian Pretzel
So grab a pretzel and order a Create-Your-Own Beer Flight, and celebrate completing the beer crawl!
And don’t forget — there are tons of wonderful watering holes throughout Walt Disney World. Take time to explore lounges and pool bars at each of the resorts. You could make a vacation from these spots alone!
Don’t Forget There are Special Beers Available during EPCOT Festivals too
So that’s just about all of the beer that we can drink in three days! We hope you’ve enjoyed this fun tour via the beers of Walt Disney World. And now it’s time to hear from you!
Will you complete the challenge? What beers are your favorite to enjoy while at Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
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Love it! I will give this a go on my next trip to WDW. This is a formidable crawl challenge – but someone has to do it 🙂 – given that it spans 3 days. In addition, I would be tempted to stop at La Cava to get a margarita or two. The Chimay Blue at BOG is my fave – great beer.
Just had to point out that Strongbow and Magners are ciders, not beer!
This is definitely a challenge I’ll try!
Fun idea, but please try more craft beers and a greater variety of beer styles. For example, try one of the Unibroue beers at the Canada Beer Cart. Try the Ginga Kogen wheat beer at the Garden House Sake Bar in Japan. (This is an extremely rare beer in the United States.) Try the unique Baladin Nora at Tutto Gusto in Italy. ( This beer is composed of a local Mediterranean unmalted grain, Kamut, and seasoned with fresh ginger, orange peel and myrrh!) In Germany try the Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Weizen-Mix(50% Schöfferhofer hefeweizen and 50% grapefruit juice), Erdinger Hefe-Weizen Dunkel, or Altenmünster Oktoberfest. The Safari Amber at Animal Kingdom is the same beer produced by Anheuser- Busch InBev for zoos all across America. For a Cuban flavor try La Tropical at Bongos Cuban Cafe instead of the Mexican Modelo Especial. Enjoy your beer crawl and check out the Beers and Ears App!
If you are going to Canada, Trois Pistole is a must… and the Einstock in Norway – delish!
Our next trip to WDW is going to be seven days. I’m going to print this post and follow it the first three days of our visit. Then we will ‘re-do the crawl on the next three days to make sure we did not miss anything. Then maybe we’ll go to the parks on the seventh day. Perfect.
Brian — Thanks for your your excellent suggestions! I’m looking forward to trying some of them. We are big fans of Beers and Ears, having featured them on Disney Food Blog in the past.
Third the Unibroue in Canada. My husband loves the Trois Pistole (nice dark Belgian ale) and I prefer either Blanche de Chambly or Ephemere, preferably Ephemere Cherry if they have it. But Apple or Cranberry is also very good.
This sounds great, we will definitely try this. We also do this when we are at Epcot for the Food & Wine Fest, we select a day or two of wine and a day or two for beer.
Few to almost no craft beers on your list unfortunately (I’m referring to draft options), Unibroue at the Canada cart is pretty much the only beer we drink at Disney these days. They still has a very long way to go beer wise. My advise at R&C would be to skip beer completely and get a double Hendrick’s and tonic (they do a very generous pour there).
My favorites are the Radeberger pilsner in Germany and draught Guinness in the Rose and Crown. The craft beer flights during the F&G festival this year at Florida Fresh and the Smokehouse were a bit disappointing to me, especially “Billy’s Chilies” and the “Maple Bacon Stout”.
Raglan Road has a very good beer selection. If I want something a little different different the Wells Banana Bread Ale from England is my choice. It smells exactly like it’s namesake and the Banana Bread flavor and malt has a slight nuttiness to it.
I will not do it, as I’m not a beer person.
We have done several “crawls” around Disney World. The Wave at the Contemporary also has some wonderful Organic beers. Thanks, this is a fun post.
One of my favorite is the craft beer imperial IPA made by Napa Smith call Hopageddon. It is available at Block & Hans in front of the American Adventure at Epcot, the California Grill at the Contemporary, and the Belle Vue Lounge at the Boardwalk. At the Wilderness Lodge’s Territory Lounge they have the world class Jai Alai IPA brewed in Tampa by Cigar City. However the my favorite at Disneyworld is the Hercules Imperial IPA brewed by Great Divide. You will find it at the Blue Zoo in the Dolphin. All this talk is making me thirsty.
I forgot to mention the Sierra Nevada Torpedo at Hollywood Studios Tune-In Lounge. I haven’t found a decent stout anywhere in Disneyworld. The Guiness at Epcott’s Rose and Crown is the best I’ve found.
Oh, please do not tell me that the La Fin Du Monde & Trois Pistoles are no longer on the menu from the Canada popcorn cart!! That has become one of my favorite stops in the World Showcase!
Stefanie… last time I was there (about 3 weeks ago) Trois Pistole and La Fin du Monde were alive and well at the Canadian beer cart – you an breath a sigh of relief
How old is that sign from Canada? Unless it’s so new and disappointing? I haven’t been in a couple weeks but my first stop is always a La Fin Du Monde from Canada!
Thanks so much, Annod! I just did. Haha
Yes, the grapefruit beer (or shandy… if its made with grapefruit juice?) YUM. A must have in Germany!
I see no “craft” beers on the list but they’re ok if anything. If you’re able to get it, The American Pavilion sometimes carries Golden Monkey from Victory from Downington, PA. With an ABV of 9.5, it’s not only delicious, it will knock you out after one or two. There’s also my favorite and close to home, Dogfish Head born in Milton, DE!! Known for their off centered brews, you’re sure to enjoy their hop centric selections.
Thanks for the recommendation, Venessa!
The standard disneyworld beer menu has improved tremendously. However it seems to be always changing. There is always a decent IPA or pale ale.
Others missing from the list, kona Fire rock at The poly, Abita Turbodog at Riverside, hövels (may not still have it) in Biergarten, saison DuPont at Kimonos. If you ever see Due South beers up there give me a shot. That’s my local brewery and they do an excellent job. Their Category 3 was featured in the BBQ kiosk during flower and garden.
@Dear AJ
Once I tasted Kirin Frozen Beer. It was a Japanese beer and I enjoyed it a lot. After that I always suggest it my friends. Do you suggest me some other testy Asian beers? I would be thankful for you..
Regard
Annabel
OMG .Its really to good spicy pics admin. Thanks for sharing 🙂
nice
We need an updated Beer Crawl. The beer scene has changed a lot and Disney Springs probably has a lot of cool places to check out.
Hi, really thanks for the info