What goes well with traveling? Why, beer, of course! True beer connoisseurs travel the world to taste a variety of brews, each unique to the country it was crafted in. So while you're studying abroad, volunteering abroad, or just hanging out abroad, take the time to visit some breweries!

Rather than check out any old brewery, you could treat yourself to a microbrewery, the in-thing for hipsters and beer lovers alike. Here are a few suggestions to get you started, but don't tell your hipster friend that microbreweries are trending.

BrewDog

Scotland

Located in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, BrewDog is a hipster disguised as a microbrewery.  BrewDog was started in 2007 by two 24-year-olds who were sick of drinking traditional beers. In an effort to stick it to the mainstream corporate world, these two started their own brewery in which only cool, progressive beers are brewed. This microbrewery prides itself on being far from commercial, and on their website they describe themselves as, "a beacon of non-conformity in a increasingly monotone corporate desert." Escape your monotonous desert by visiting one of BrewDog's six bars, located throughout the UK.

Brouwerij 't IJ

Netherlands

Peace, love, Brouweij 't IJ Brewery. This brewery, located in Amsterdam, is more hippie than hipster. The microbrewery prides itself on brewing organic beers, and whatever isn't sold in the pub is distributed to off-license health food chains. Along with selling organic beer, Brouwerij 't IJ's pub also sells snacks such as peanuts, boiled eggs and salami. They sell a special type of cheese as well, called Skeapsrond, that comes from sheep located on a nearby farm. If you feel guilty about taking from the sheep, don't. They're fed malt dregs left over from the brewing process. Everyone wins! By the way, if you need help finding the brewery, it's located near the highest wooden windmill in the Netherlands.

Mountain Goat Brewery

Australia

Mountain Goat Brewery was started by two Aussies named Dave and Cam. Cam was backpacking through Canada after quitting his job with the music industry in Melbourne (typical hipster), when he was inspired to start a microbrewery with his friend, Dave. Dave had been brewing beer in his backyard since the '90s, so he didn't take much convincing. And that's how Mountain Goat Brewery, located in Richmond, was born. The brewery's bar is open to the public on Friday evenings, and free tours are given on Wednesday nights. Like most microbreweries, Mountain Goat Brewery is very earth friendly and loves bicycles. They encourage you to ride your bike to the bar and take it inside with you!

Franciscan Well Brewery

Ireland

Franciscan Well Brewery, located in Cork City, has a fun historical fact that makes it worth the visit. The brewery was built on a Franciscan monetary and well that date back to the year 1219. The well attracted people from all over the world because it was believed that those who drank from it were cured of all ailments. The brewery was constructed in 1998, 700 years after the well, and it only brews beers without chemical additives or preservatives. According to their website, the lack of preservatives makes Franciscan Well Brewery's beer vegetarian-friendly. They must have hard-core vegetarians in Ireland. The brewery is open daily, gives tours and has free WiFi. Welcome, hipsters!

Frog Island Brewery

England

Some may think that beer labels and logos are for people trapped under the iron fist of society. Luckily, Frog Island Brewery realized this and decided to do something about it. At this microbrewery located in Northampton, you can create your own label. That's right, Frog Island Brewery allows people to buy customizable beer in packs of three, six or 12. Choose the type of beer, the wording and the image to make your own, individualized beer and labels. Hipsters rejoice! Frog Island Brewery also sells their beer in firkins, or kegs in U.S. English. This is perfect for U.S. hipsters who want a large amount of beer but think kegs are too mainstream.

New Belgium

U.S.A.

New Belgium's story starts with co-founder Jeff Lebesh exploring the breweries of Belgium on his mountain bike. After accumulating a number of recipes he returned to Fort Collins, Colorado, ready to brew. Maybe we're partial to this brewery because it's located in the same city as one of our GoAbroad offices, or maybe it's because tours are offered daily and include free beer and a slide. Either way, New Belgium Brewery deserves to be mentioned. This company is all about environmentalism, from being the first wind-powered brewery in the United States to designing the brewery's interior with wood from beetle-infested trees. And everyone knows that caring about the environment is a hipster requirement.

What are some of your favorite breweries around the world? Share them with us in the comments below!

Tagged as: adventure travel, Amsterdam, Australia, beer, beer abroad, beer tasting abroad, BrewDog, breweries abroad, Brouwerij 't IJ, cultural experience, education abroad, England, experiential travel, Franciscan Well Brewery, Frog Island Brewery, hipsters, international brewery, international education, international experience, Ireland, microbreweries, microbreweries around the world, Mountain Goat Brewery, Netherlands, New Belgium Brewery, Scotland, student exchange, study abroad, study abroad programs, United States of America (USA)