2026-10-11

A visitor's guide to alcohol in Amish Country

If you have heard that Holmes County is "dry", here is what that actually means for your trip. A dry county (or dry township) is one where voters have chosen not to allow the retail sale of alcohol. Most of Holmes County falls under these rules, so you will not find bars, liquor stores, or beer and wine on most restaurant menus in the heart of Amish Country. It is not a ban on drinking — visitors are welcome to enjoy a drink — it simply means very few places are licensed to sell or serve it. The good news: you do not have to go far. Sugarcreek, just over the line in Tuscarawas County, is a regular stop on any Amish Country visit, and its restaurants can serve beer and wine. The surrounding Tuscarawas County towns are also home to wineries and breweries, including long-running favorites like Breitenbach Wine Cellars near Dover and Millersburg Brewing Company in the Holmes County seat. If you would like to sample several in one day, the smartest option is to let someone else drive. Beer & Ale Traveler, a local tour company, runs guided trips that visit several wineries and breweries in a single outing, with transportation included — no designated driver needed, no navigating back roads after a tasting. It is one of the most relaxed ways to spend an afternoon here. A few practical notes: plan a Sugarcreek dinner if a glass of wine with your meal matters to you; buy any bottles you want to take home at the wineries themselves; and remember that Amish-owned businesses do not sell alcohol and are closed on Sundays, so save your tasting tour for a weekday or Saturday.