Chris O’Leary has meticulously tracked the breweries he has visited and tasted beer at since 2003, with dedicated record-keeping beginning in 2011 after a self-imposed challenge to visit 30 breweries in 30 days—a goal he successfully met.
O’Leary’s journey has now spanned all 50 U.S. states, completing his collection in Mississippi in 2018, and expanded internationally with visits to breweries in 33 countries across five continents.
To qualify for O’Leary’s count, two strict criteria apply: the brewery must produce beer on-site (excluding satellite locations that only serve beer) and he must drink beer brewed at that location. Multiple locations of the same brewery are counted separately if each brews beer and is visited individually. Notably, if a brewery closes and the same physical location hosts a new brewery, visits there count as separate entries. O’Leary has recorded multiple visits at the same addresses in Portland, Oregon, and Providence, Rhode Island, reflecting the evolving brewery landscape.
Brewing exploration has become more than a hobby—it is a passion and a sport. O’Leary’s career as a media strategist frequently takes him to new cities, allowing for brewery visits, while his extensive airline travel—holding Delta Air Lines’ Platinum Medallion status and Million Miler recognition—supports his relentless pursuit. A notable moment of his travel notoriety occurred a decade ago when he was the sole passenger on a flight from Cleveland to New York City.
In addition to his advertising role, O’Leary writes Brew York, a New York City-focused beer blog and newsletter that also chronicles his beer travels beyond the city.
On June 19, 2025, O’Leary marked a major milestone by drinking a beer at Thirty Eight O Six Brewing in Berwick, Australia—the 3,806th brewery where he has enjoyed a locally brewed beer. This achievement was carefully planned, factoring in travel schedules and his typical brewery visitation rate.
The journey was not without obstacles. Days before the milestone, a broken lock key delayed his brewery visits in New Jersey, and a Memorial Day weekend trip to Buffalo, New York, limited brewery access due to closures. Yet, perseverance prevailed, culminating in a celebratory sip of Thirty Eight O Six’s NEIPA.
To put this feat into perspective, Max Finnance, America’s most credentialed beer judge and Master Cicerone, has visited 998 breweries, while John Holl, a prominent beer podcast host and publisher, has recorded 2,638 brewery visits.
O’Leary’s passion for beer began during a 2004–2006 stint in Burlington, Vermont, where he frequented established breweries such as Magic Hat, Long Trail, and the newly opened Alchemist, now a craft beer icon. A 2011 work trip to Portland, Oregon, inspired him to track his visits systematically, leading to 52 breweries visited that year alone. Subsequent years saw a steady increase, with 54 more breweries added in 2012 and 121 in 2013. By 2015, O’Leary hit a personal record of visiting 12 breweries in a single day in Denver and Boulder, Colorado, and in 2021, he visited an astonishing 455 breweries.
O’Leary’s brewery visits are not only numerous but thoughtfully curated. He highlights breweries with thematic or numerical significance, such as Phase Three Brewing in Illinois (#333), 1717 Brewing in Iowa (#1,717), and Fibonacci Brewing in Ohio (#1,235). He also pursues “extreme” breweries—traveling to the furthest brewery in Fremantle, Australia, over 11,600 miles from home, as well as the easternmost brewery in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the northernmost in Fairbanks, Alaska, and the highest altitude breweries in Colorado and New York City (both now closed).
When asked about his favorite brewery, O’Leary cites Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa, California, brewery number 641 on his list. Despite his extensive travels, he describes it as a timeless favorite that never loses its appeal.
Chris O’Leary’s dedication to exploring the global craft beer scene is a remarkable testament to passion, persistence, and a deep appreciation for the evolving culture of brewing.
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