Chris O’Leary, a media strategist based in New York City, has achieved a remarkable and deeply personal milestone, charting a course through the burgeoning global landscape of craft brewing. On June 19, 2025, O’Leary marked a significant point in his extensive journey by visiting his 3,806th brewery, a landmark reached at Thirty Eight O Six Brewing, located in Berwick, Australia.
This achievement underscores a dedication that transcends mere casual appreciation for beer, representing a focused, multi-year exploration of brewing operations across continents.
The Scope of the Journey
O’Leary’s pursuit began to take on a serious, structured dimension in 2011, when he commenced diligently tracking his brewery visits. Since that time, his travels have spanned an extraordinary geographical range. He has successfully visited breweries in all 50 U.S. states, a feat in itself that speaks to considerable domestic travel. His international exploration is equally impressive, having visited breweries in 33 countries spread across five continents. This global reach positions his undertaking as a comprehensive survey of brewing locales around the world.
Establishing the Criteria
central to the integrity of O’Leary’s count are his stringent, self-imposed criteria. For a location to qualify as a “visited brewery” in his tally, two fundamental conditions must be met. First, the location must actively brew beer on-site. This distinguishes true production facilities from brewpubs or bars that merely serve beer brewed elsewhere. Second, and equally critical, O’Leary must personally consume a beer that was brewed at that specific location during his visit. These rules ensure that each entry on his list represents a direct engagement with the brewery’s core function and product.
Navigating Complexities
The process of maintaining an accurate count across thousands of locations, some of which have evolved over time, presents unique challenges. O’Leary notes instances where a single physical address has hosted multiple distinct breweries sequentially. For example, in Portland, Oregon, he has legitimately counted three different breweries at the same physical address over the years. This site was initially home to The Commons, which was later replaced by Modern Times Beer, and subsequently by Living Haus Beer. Each iteration, operating independently and brewing on-site during O’Leary’s visit, qualified as a separate entry in his meticulous records. This example highlights the level of detail and consistency required to build such an extensive database.
A Unique Chronicle
O’Leary’s journey serves as a unique, personal chronicle of the global craft beer phenomenon. Each visit contributes not just to a number, but represents an interaction with a specific business, a local community, and a distinct set of brewing traditions or innovations. While primarily a personal quest, his meticulous tracking provides an informal, granular look at the sheer scale and dynamism of the international brewing scene. His arrival at Thirty Eight O Six Brewing in Berwick, Australia, on that June day in 2025, is more than just reaching a high number; it is a testament to enduring curiosity, rigorous methodology, and a profound connection to the world of brewed beverages.
