Virginia's recent support and funding for its budding craft brewery enterprises is a testament to the growing potential of beer tourism throughout the country.

The state matched the funds that were earlier allocated to the breweries by the York County's Economic Development Authority. The state grants are to be utilized in enhancing the Greater Williamsburg area's reputation as a great craft beer destination. As the county cleared the way for craft breweries and made their zoning laws flexible, the area is now ripe for a beer trail.

The rise in demand and popularity of craft beer shows as much love for going back to the roots of brewing as it does for the variety of tastes. Innovative tastes and manufacturing processes have made craft breweries popular tourist attractions across the country.

Some might say there is nothing new with beer since America has always been a nation of beer lovers. True, but never has beer been under so much experimentation and scrutiny as it is now. There is a definite shift away from the larger brands like Budweiser, Miller and Coors and toward local beers, each of which boasts a unique flavor and taste, attracting hordes of visitors to these new-age breweries.

That beer connoisseurs are on the rise is evident from the new beer language that has come into practice, just like wine. Craft beer lovers use terms such as cracker-like, biscuit-like or just bready for malt; piney or citrusy for hops; and fruity, bready or clean for yeast.

With more variables in play, beer offers more possibilities compared to wine, leading to experts calling this a "golden age of beer." But more than that, the fact that a batch of beer can be made and sold in four weeks makes changes easier and more flexible. People want options, and brewers can improve on an idea quickly.

This rising popularity is also witnessed as each state names its favorite beer, even as Bud Light continues to be a national best-seller. Blue Moon is the beer of choice for Californians, Pabst Blue Ribbon for Florida, Good Morning for Massachusetts, Abita Select Amber for Mississippi, Sunday Brunch for New Jersey and Columbus Bodhi Double for Ohio. There are dedicated beer festivals and events where these popular brands and local names are showcased for beer enthusiasts.

One such recently added event is the Delaware Beer, Wine and Spirits Trail. Celebrating the expansion of Delaware's craft beverage industry and supporting these businesses, the Delaware Tourism Office is set to promote more events and attract footfalls to the state around these related events. As a growing economic engine for the state, the craft brewery industry is one of the key pillars for increasing local as well as out-of-state visitations.

Arkansas is promoting its growing micro-brewing industry as well. A new law is now making it easy for increasing the number of local breweries to set up and grow, helping them modernize and lead the path to more "native brewing." As their reputations grow, chances for beer tourism to grow into a lucrative source of incomefor the state is showing increasing potential.

Rising popularity and growth of local craft breweries has had cities like Orlando revisit their policies for breweries. The craft beer industry accounted for $2.05 billion worth of revenue for Florida as of 2014, a figure that has surely gone up since then. Along with a boost to the economy in terms of revenue and jobs, it has also contributed to increasing the tourist footfalls to the state, which is heavily dependent on tourist dollars.

The rise in beer popularity is proving to be great for entrepreneurs, tourism and tax dollars. But the biggest winners of all are the beer drinkers themselves who now have more choices before them than ever before.