Rise Bryggeri, a microbrewery on the road between Ærøskøbing and Marstal, is one of those local industries that has built a following well beyond its small island. The brewery uses local barley and Ærø-grown hops in some of its beers and runs tours and tastings in summer.
The taproom is small and the range — pilsners, IPAs, stouts, a couple of seasonals — is worth working through. The brewery also bottles a fizzy soft drink made from the island's apples. Open hours are limited outside summer; check ahead if visiting in shoulder season. It is an easy stop on a cycle ride from one of the main towns.