Many decades ago, seniors may remember a time when there were only 20 or so breweries in the country, along with some small regional ones. Now, there are more than 6,000 breweries, according to the Brewers Association, with most of them being craft beer makers.

Going to brewery tours and tastings has become popular. It has even been given a name — brewery tourism.

Why do people go to breweries?

People go to breweries for different reasons. Some want to go on a tour to get a behind the scenes look at the beer brewing process. Some may go because they want to sample some of the beer the brewery produces. Some want to do both.

In a tour/tasting you might find the serious beer drinkers. These purists might talk about innovation, seasonal flavors, style, execution and other things. But, there are also probably people there who only say they like beer because it is refreshing.

Many breweries offer more than just beer. They may have a beer garden, restaurant or tasting room on the premises. There may also offer merchandise like T-shirts and engraved/etched beer glasses. Beer enthusiasts say these things add to the whole experience.

Below are some breweries in the greater Houston area. Specific information about the types of beer they brew can be found on their websites:

Buffalo Bayou Brewery, www.buffbrew.com, 5301 Nolda St., 713-750-9795. Combining cutting-edge technology and technique with wildly sourced flavors, their innovative offerings create new narratives for how they think about beer.

8th Wonder Brewery, https://8thwonderbrew.com, 2202 Dallas St., 713-229-0868. In 1965, the Astrodome opened. It was called the “8th Wonder of the World” because it was the first air-conditioned domed stadium. The brewery took its name from that. It’s a good pre-game destination, since it is only blocks away from Houston’s professional baseball, basketball and soccer venues.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company, www.saintarnold.com, 2000 Lyons Ave., 713-686-9494. Saint Arnold is Texas’ oldest craft brewery, with its first keg of beer shipped in 1994. Their goal is to brew world-class beers and deliver them to customers as fresh as possible. A major attraction for area beer lovers, it just opened an outdoor beer garden and restaurant.

Karbach Brewing Company, https://karbachbrewing.com, 2032 Karbach St., 713-680-2739. Although it has only been around since 2011, it is one of Texas’ fastest-growing breweries. Has tours, tastings and movie nights.

Budweiser Brewery Experience, www.budweiser.com, 775 Gellhorn Drive, 713-675-2311. Visitors can learn about Budweiser’s 7-Step Brewing Process that was created and perfected more than 100 years ago. It offers an immersive experience and has advanced brewing technology and history displays.

Bakfish Brewery, https://bakfishbrewing.com, 1231 Broadway St., Pearland, 281-993-8658. Guests can enjoy fresh beer while playing games, watching TV or just hanging out. It has a friendly neighborhood vibe. It doesn’t serve food, but guests can bring their own, or try the rotating food trucks that stop by.

Craft beer popularity

The building of all the new breweries shows that more people are drinking craft beer. One thing that is helping to fuel that growth is that craft beers are now readily available in many stores. Also, brewery tourism is increasingly popular, and the visitors are potential customers.

The Brewers Association, the trade industry group for craft beer, describes craft breweries as small, independent and traditional. They brew beers using traditional ingredients like malt barley. Their brewers like to experiment, and the result involves new hops and beer flavors.

Before going to a brewery, either call or check website to get information about times of tours, tastings and other events. Some tours and tastings are free, but ask before you go.