The World Tour of Beers began in 1985 with 40 beers on the list. If you finished, you were awarded a sweatshirt with all the names of the World Tour Beers printed on it. There was no rhyme or reason for the selection of beers other than the desire to get as many different countries represented as possible.

Over the years, the tour included more and more beers on the list. A jacket vest is now the prize instead of a sweatshirt. However, the emphasis was still on having a selection from different countries.

In 1996, the World Tour of Beers took a huge turn. The first World Tour Guidebook was written and the emphasis switched to obtaining as many styles of beer as possible on the World Tour list. The Winking Lizard is dedicated to obtaining the best possible beers in all categories of style. The newfound emphasis on quality and education has given the Winking Lizard Taverns a national presence in the premium beer market.

Today, when a guest signs up they receive a World Tour Guidebook and a list of 100 World Class Beers. They have the calendar year to drink all 100 beers. Upon completion, they will receive the coveted World Tour jacket vest and an invitation to a members only World Tour party. Additionally, throughout the year, Tour members are invited to different social events, such as beer and food tasting events, golf outings, field trips, and more.