The craft beer industry has exploded over the last decade and people all over the world have developed a taste for good quality beer. The sheer number of different varieties on offer has also inspired an interest in how our favourite beers are made.
That’s why a lot of breweries are now opening their doors and giving tours to the public where they’ll show you the process of brewing the beer and let you sample their offerings. These tours are perfect for group events, particularly stag dos, but they’re also great for people that are interested in beer and want to know a bit more about how it’s made. You don’t need to travel far to find a great brewery tour experience because you can find these ones right here in the UK.
Meantime Brewery Tours, London
The best place to start is probably Meantime Brewery because they’re the biggest craft beer producer in the country. They offer a package for £17.50 per person which includes a tour around the building where you’ll learn how they make their famous beers, then you’ll get to try some of those beers at the end. It’s a great tour but some beer aficionados might be put off by the size of the place. If you’re looking for a more traditional small scale operation, Meantime might not be the best choice for you.
Smithwick’s Experience, Kilkenny
Kilkenny in Ireland is home to the Smithwick’s Brewery who offer a great beer tour experience. You’ll get all of the usual explanations into the brewing process but with one big difference. At the Smithwick’s Brewery, you can get hands on. They’ll let you have a turn at stirring and have a look at all of the ingredients. It’s a lot better than some of the other tours that just give you a quick run through the factory. The ticket prices for the tour are reasonable as well; it’ll only cost you €13 (£11.39) for adult entry, making it quite a bit cheaper than most brewery experiences.
Jenning Brewery, Cumbria
The Jennings Brewery in Cumbria is a great historical brewery opened in 1828. Located in Cockermouth, this brewery still makes their beer using traditional recipes and lakeland water from the local area. After a tour of the factory where you’ll learn all of their traditional beer brewing techniques, you can stop for some tasters in the homely pub and get some lunch in the quaint tea rooms that are on site as well.
Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh
The Caledonian Brewery is the only surviving brewery in the heart of Edinburgh. Since being established in 1869, it’s survived both world wars and a couple of fires and they’re still making great beer to this day. As well as the tour of the factory, you’ll learn about the interesting history of the place itself, adding another dimension to your visit.
These are just some of the amazing brewery tours you can find in the UK but as the popularity of craft beer continues, new ones are popping up all of the time.
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