The Best Brussels Beer Tours and Tastings: Which One Is Best for Your Trip?

Looking for the best Brussels beer tours and tastings? Here’s my guide to the best guided bar tours, brewery visits, beer workshops and Belgian beer experiences I’d consider for your trip—from someone who’s visited Brussels again and again!

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Brussels is one of the few cities where ordering “a Belgian beer” is the equivalent of waltzing into a restaurant and asking for “some European food”.

There’s lambic and gueuze, Trappist beers, strong blondes, dubbels, tripels, saisons, fruit beers, newer Brussels craft breweries and old cafés that have been serving their own secret specialities for generations.

In other words, beer is an art here—and candidly, I didn’t understand much of that on my first visit to Brussels in 2018.

After returning to Brussels several times, eating my way through the city, trying Belgian beer in Brussels, Bruges and Ghent, and spending far longer looking beyond Grand-Place, I can see why a good beer experience isn’t just worth considering for your trip, but a must for your itinerary.

Belgian beer culture was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016 for the brewing knowledge, serving traditions, glassware, food pairings and the place beer holds in everyday Belgian life.

And a Brussels beer tour can help you understand exactly what happens behind the scenes!

With that said, here’s my guide to the best Brussels beer tours and tastings I’d consider for your trip.

Shall we?

About the Author

Hi, I’m Candace — a London-based travel writer and content creator who traded the East Coast of the US for the charm of the UK back in 2016. London’s been my home ever since.

On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of thoughtfully crafted London, UK, Europe and Worldwide travel guides alongside lots of insider London tips, honest hotel and restaurant reviews and advice for content creators.

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Quick Picks: The Best Brussels Beer Tours and Tastings

Belgian Beer Tasting Tour

Short on time? Here’s my Brussels beer experience guide at a glance.

Quick Answer: What Is the Best Beer Tour in Brussels?

For most first-time visitors, I’d book the Belgian Beer Tasting Tour.

It’s the most complete traditional beer tour you’ll find in the city, with three hours, six Belgian beers, cheese and sausage snacks and a route through the historic centre’s old cafés and brasseries.

The route includes places like À l’Imaige Nostre-Dame, À la Mort Subite, À La Bécasse, Delirium Village and Le Cirio.

This one will give you more than a row of tasting glasses. You’ll move through the city, see different kinds of Brussels drinking rooms and start understanding why lambic, Trappist beer and a strong Belgian blonde are not necessarily interchangeable choices…

With that said, if you want to stand beside the brewing equipment instead, choose the Tipsy Tribe microbrewery tour.

If you want a shorter class that helps you order confidently for the rest of your trip, book the 75-minute Brussels Beer Experience.

Brussels Beer Tours: Quick Comparison

Beer Cocktail Workshop

Tour details can change without notice, so check the current listing for your date before booking.

1. Brussels: Belgian Beer Tasting Tour

Belgian Beer Tasting Tour

Best for: First-time visitors who want beer, Brussels history and old bars in one tour
Duration: 3 hours
Includes: Six Belgian beers, cheese and sausage snacks and a live guide
Languages: English, French and Spanish
Good to know: Eat before you arrive and leave large bags at your hotel
My verdict: The Brussels beer tour I’d book first.

If your idea of a beer tour involves actually moving through Brussels rather than sitting while you sip, choose the Belgian Beer Tasting Tour.

The route begins at Grand-Place and leads through the historic centre’s narrow lanes, long-standing cafés and traditional beer halls.

In your boozy pilgrimage, you’ll pass À l’Imaige Nostre-Dame, hidden down Impasse des Cadeaux, and the family-owned À la Mort Subite, whose name came from a quick final round of a dice game once played by National Bank workers.

There’s also À La Bécasse, which has remained in the Steppé family since 1877, the enormous choice at Delirium Village and the Art Nouveau interiors of Le Cirio, open since 1886.

They’ll keep you well cared for with six beers across three hours—so although the cheese and sausage are useful, eat beforehand!

I’d book this one if beer is one of the main reasons for your Brussels trip and you’d like your evening to include city history alongside drinking. Best of both worlds!

2. Brussels: Micro Brewery & Distillery Tour + Beer Tasting

Micro Brewery & Distillery Tour + Beer Tasting

Best for: Travellers who want to see an independent Brussels brewery vs. just bar visits
Duration: 1 hour
Includes: Guided brewery-distillery visit, two 16cl house beers and time with a brewer or Tipsy Tribe’s co-founder
Location: Tipsy Tribe Brewery & Distillery in Koekelberg (15 minutes via metro from the city centre)
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
My verdict: The best choice if production matters to you as much as the tasting.

The Micro Brewery & Distillery Tour + Beer Tasting gives you the part a historic-bar tour cannot: the tanks, equipment and people making the beer.

The family-owned brewery and distillery Tipsy Tribe was founded by Daniel and Aylin Fastenau, with a “brewstillery” that handsomely occupies a 1909 Koekelberg mansion previously used as a warehouse and evangelical church—and, allegedly, an illegal cannabis-growing site…

The one-hour visit is led by a co-founder or brewer and covers both beer and spirit production. You’ll taste two different beers made on site, served in 16cl glasses. You’ll then have the option to stay in the taproom for additional drinks or food if you fancy (at your own expense).

This isn’t the tour I’d choose if your priority is seeing Grand-Place and Brussels’ old beer cafés since Koekelberg sits outside the tight historic-centre loop.

But I’d book this one if you’re keen on an interactive beer day in the city that goes beyond just a tasting.

3. Brussels: Belgian Beer World Ticket with Rooftop & Free Beer

Belgian Beer World

Best for: Rainy days, mixed-interest groups and anyone who prefers to explore independently
Duration: Ticket valid for one day
Includes: Entry, tastings during the exhibition and one rooftop beer with 150 varieties to choose from
Location: Belgian Beer World inside the former Brussels Stock Exchange
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
My verdict: The easiest beer experience to fit around the rest of your Brussels sightseeing.

The Belgian Beer World Ticket with Rooftop & Free Beer is not a guided beer tour in the traditional sense, but that’s exactly what makes it so good.

It’s a large interactive experience inside La Bourse, the nineteenth-century Stock Exchange beside Boulevard Anspach. The visit explores Belgian brewing history, ingredients, processes, brewery families and the remarkable range of styles made across the country.

The experience includes tastings, followed by a 33cl beer at the rooftop Beerlab.

The rooftop selection runs to around 150 beers (yes, you read that right), so you’ll have plenty of choice.

I’d book this one if you want the history of a beer tour without a three-hour bar route, if it’s a rainy Brussels day or if you’re keen on the architecture and views from the old Stock Exchange.

Under 18s can visit, but won’t be served alcohol.

4. Brussels Beer Experience: A Fast Introduction to Belgian Beer Culture

Brussels Beer Experience: Fast & Fun Dive into Belgian Beer Culture

Best for: Beginners who want a quick tasting lesson before ordering independently
Duration: 75 minutes
Includes: Five beer tastings, water and an English-speaking instructor
Meeting point: The Unusual
Good to know: Guests aged 16 and 17 must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 or over
My verdict: The best quick introduction to beer in Brussels.

The Brussels Beer Experience: Fast & Fun Dive into Belgian Beer Culture is fabulous if you want to learn about beer, taste beer, then get on with your evening.

Over 75 minutes, you’ll try at least five Belgian beers while the instructor explains brewing basics, fermentation and the differences between several beer styles.

But the best bit isn’t simply being handed five drinks (so, what is it?). The class is designed to help you work out what you like and what to ask for when you walk into another Brussels bar later.

It takes place at The Unusual, a café I already recommend in my best cafés in Brussels guide. That makes this especially easy to build into a central Brussels afternoon or the beginning of a night out in the city.

I’d book this one over the three-hour tour if your Brussels itinerary is already full, you dislike long group activities or you mainly want enough knowledge to stop choosing pints at random when you go out.

5. Brussels: Beer Cocktail Workshop

Beer Cocktail Workshop

Best for: Couples, groups and cocktail drinkers who want something more creative than a standard tasting
Duration: 1.5 hours
Includes: Three beer cocktails, ingredients, equipment and instruction from a head brewer-distiller
Location: Tipsy Tribe Brewery & Distillery
Good to know: Participants must be 18 or over
My verdict: The most unique Brussels beer tour to book.

The Brussels Beer Cocktail Workshop is for you if you like the idea of Belgian beer, without necessarily wanting to spend three hours comparing traditional pours.

Held inside Tipsy Tribe, the workshop teaches you to make three beer-based cocktails using fresh ingredients and garnishes.

The head brewer-distiller leads the recipes and explains flavour pairing and mixing techniques, with all materials included. You can stay in the taproom afterwards, although anything ordered after the workshop costs extra.

This is not the “best Brussels beer tour” if you’re looking to see several bars, learn the city-centre route or taste six traditional Belgian beers in one go.

But I’d book this one if you’re looking for a unique beer tour in Brussels—especially for a birthday, date night or group night out with friends—or if you’d simply prefer a cocktail class over a conventional beer lecture. Sip sip!

How to Choose the Right Brussels Beer Tour For You

Micro Brewery & Distillery Tour + Beer Tasting

Personally, I’d look at it like this:

• For the best ‘first-time in Brussels’ beer experience: book the Belgian Beer Tasting Tour.
• For a real behind-the-scenes look at Brussels beer: book the Micro Brewery & Distillery Tour.
• For a rainy day in Brussels or flexible schedule: choose Belgian Beer World.
• For a fast introduction to Belgian beer: choose the 75-minute Brussels Beer Experience.
• For a creative adults-only beer activity: choose the Beer Cocktail Workshop.

For example, I wouldn’t book both Tipsy Tribe experiences unless breweries are a particular focus for your trip.

Likewise, the three-hour tasting tour and 75-minute beer class overlap in their introduction to Belgian styles, so choose the longer one for historic bars and a fuller evening, or the shorter one when you’re more keen to learn how to order beer for yourself in the city.

For non-beer experiences, compare my full guide to the best tours in Brussels.

A Quick Note on Lambic, Gueuze and Brussels Beer (& Other Beer Bits)

You don’t need to revise for a Brussels beer tour (I promise), but I would know three words before you go: lambic, gueuze and kriek.

Lambic is closely associated with Brussels and the nearby Pajottenland. Instead of relying solely on a deliberately added brewer’s yeast, the wort is exposed to microorganisms in the local environment and ferments spontaneously.

Gueuze is generally made by blending lambics of different ages and allowing them to referment in the bottle, while kriek is traditionally connected to lambic fermented with sour cherries.

If you want more on the story, you can visit Cantillon Brewery and the Brussels Museum of the Gueuze in Anderlecht. The family brewery opened in 1900 and still produces lambic, gueuze and fruit beers using traditional methods.

While in Brussels you’ll also come across plenty of beer that is Belgian rather than specifically Brussels: Trappist beer, dubbels, tripels, saisons, witbier, strong blondes and modern IPAs.

In other words, lots to choose from!

Are Brussels Beer Tours Worth It?

Yes, Brussels beer tours are definitely worth it if you want context, comparison and an expert to help you make beer decisions in the city like a pro.

You can absolutely drink excellent beer without a guide. Brussels has enough specialist bars, brewery taprooms and beer menus to fill several trips.

But the choice can become the problem.

A good tasting lets you try several styles side by side, understand why the glassware changes, learn what the label is telling you and decide what you actually enjoy before spending the rest of the weekend ordering it.

A guided tour also makes sense when you want to experience historic Brussels cafés without needing to plan your own route between them (or think too hard about how much you’ve already had before ordering the next one…).

I’d skip a tour if you dislike group activities, only want one relaxed beer on your trip or already know Belgian beer well enough to build your own route.

Where to Drink Belgian Beer in Brussels Without a Tour

Despite it all, a tour is not the only way to explore Brussels beer. Here’s where I’d look depending on the kind of drink you want.

• Cantillon Brewery for traditional lambic and gueuze in a working family brewery founded in 1900.
• Moeder Lambic for a specialist list, knowledgeable staff and a more serious beer-bar experience.
• Brussels Beer Project for contemporary Brussels brewing and experimental beers at its Dansaert taproom or larger Port Sud brewery.
• À la Mort Subite for old-Brussels interiors and a glass of gueuze or kriek in one of the city centre’s best-known cafés.
• Delirium Village for a very large list and a livelier, more tourist-heavy night close to Grand-Place.
• Tipsy Tribe for craft beer, spirits and the chance to drink where both are produced.

For dinner before or after, use my best restaurants in Brussels guide. Especially if you’ve skipped lunch before your Belgian beer tour!

Should You Book Brussels Beer Tours in Advance?

Beer Cocktail Workshop

Yes, I’d book the specific Brussels beer experience you want to do in advance.

The microbrewery tour, tasting class and cocktail workshop all run at fixed times and depend on a guide, instructor or production space being available. The traditional Belgian Beer Tasting Tour also runs at set departure times.

Belgian Beer World is the easiest one to fit in more casually, but advance tickets still save you from building an afternoon around an entry slot that’s sold out.

I’d be especially organised for Friday and Saturday, summer weekends, December and any experience you’re extra keen on during your two-day Brussels itinerary.

My Brussels travel tips cover the airports, train stations, public transport and practical details to sort before the rest of your trip.

What to Know Before a Brussels Beer Tasting

• Eat first. Snacks on a tour do not necessarily amount to a full meal, and you’ll need one with all the beer you’re drinking!
• Bring photo ID. Age checks may apply, particularly for workshops and younger travellers.
• Drink water. Belgian tripels and strong blondes can be much stronger than a standard lager.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The main tasting tour moves between venues through the historic centre and Brussels’ copious cobbled streets.
• Do not drive afterwards. Use Brussels public transport, walk back to a central hotel or arrange a taxi. It doesn’t need to be said…but still!
• Tell your tour provider about dietary requirements. Especially important for the main tour with cheese and sausage (most others don’t have food included).

And don’t feel obliged to finish every tasting just because it’s been poured.

Where to Stay for a Brussels Beer Weekend

For a first Brussels beer weekend, I’d still stay centrally rather than choosing a hotel solely because it’s beside one brewery.

I stayed at and personally recommend NH Collection Brussels Centre, just a short walk from Brussels-Central Station.

It gives you an easy base for Grand-Place, all the historic beer bars, Belgian Beer World and Brussels restaurants in the centre, while Brussels public transport can take you easily to Tipsy Tribe, Cantillon or other breweries farther out.

Read my full NH Collection Brussels Centre review, or compare more options in my guide to the best hotels near Brussels Central Station.

Final Thoughts: Which Brussels Beer Tour Would I Book?

For my first proper Brussels beer tour, I’d choose the Belgian Beer Tasting Tour.

If the brewing process interests you more than the old bars, book the Micro Brewery & Distillery Tour.

For the easiest rainy-day plan, choose Belgian Beer World. For a short lesson before dinner, book the Brussels Beer Experience: Fast & Fun Dive into Belgian Beer Culture. And when your group is keen on a different beer experience in Brussels, the Beer Cocktail Workshop is the one I’d pick.

Whichever one you choose, leave room for at least one unplanned beer afterwards. And time to explore more of Brussels!

Have the best trip.

Happy travels,

Candace x

FAQ: The Best Brussels Beer Tours and Tastings

What Is the Best Beer Tour in Brussels?

For most first-time visitors, I’d book the Belgian Beer Tasting Tour. It lasts three hours and includes six Belgian beers, snacks and several historic Brussels bars.

Are Brussels Beer Tours Worth It?

Yes, especially when you want to compare several beer styles and understand what you are drinking. A guided tour also saves you from planning a route between Brussels’ old cafés and deciding which beer to choose at every stop.

What Is the Best Brussels Brewery Tour?

I’d say the Tipsy Tribe Micro Brewery & Distillery Tour is the best working-brewery option. It includes a one-hour production tour, two house beers and time with a brewer or co-founder.

What Is the Best Short Beer Tasting in Brussels?

Choose the Brussels Beer Experience: Fast & Fun Dive into Belgian Beer Culture. It lasts 75 minutes and includes five tastings alongside an introduction to brewing, fermentation and Belgian beer styles.

Is Belgian Beer World Worth Visiting?

Belgian Beer World is worth visiting when you want a self-guided indoor experience, brewing history and a rooftop beer without joining a multi-hour bar tour. It’s also an easy rainy-day activity in central Brussels.

How Many Beers Are Included on a Brussels Beer Tour?

The main Belgian Beer Tasting Tour includes six beers. The short beer experience includes five tastings, while the microbrewery tour includes two 16cl beers.

Can Non-Drinkers Visit Belgian Beer World?

Yes. The exhibition covers Belgian brewing culture and history, so non-drinkers can visit without drinking the included rooftop beer. Visitors under 18 are allowed inside but aren’t served alcohol.

Are Brussels Beer Tours Suitable for Teenagers?

It depends on the experience. The Fast & Fun Beer Experience allows 16 and 17 year-olds when accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 or over. Belgian Beer World admits younger visitors without serving them alcohol. The Beer Cocktail Workshop is best for adults aged 18 and over.

What Should You Eat Before a Brussels Beer Tour?

I’d eat a proper meal rather than relying on tasting snacks. Use my Brussels restaurant guide to find my favourite traditional Belgian meals, mussels, African cuisine and central options in the city that work great before an evening beer crawl.

Should You Book a Brussels Beer Tour in Advance?

Definitely. All brewery tours, workshops and the guided Belgian Beer Tasting Tour operate at set times. I’d book ahead for weekends, summer and the Christmas period.

Can You Visit Brussels Breweries Without a Tour?

Yes. You can visit places such as Cantillon, Brussels Beer Project and Tipsy Tribe independently, although tours, production access and tasting times vary. Always check their official websites before travelling across the city.

Can You Explore Brussels Without Drinking Beer?

Absolutely. Use my best things to do in Brussels guide, Comic Strip Walk or Matongé guide for museums, murals, architecture, food and neighbourhoods that have nothing to do with a tasting glass.

Plan the rest of your Brussels trip

Still planning? Here’s more of my Brussels guides to help you decide where to stay, what to book and how to make the most of your trip.

Before you book

• Is Brussels Worth Visiting? My Honest Review After Exploring the City
• Brussels Tips: Everything to Know Before Your Trip

Brussels itineraries and day trips

• One Day in Brussels: My Perfect Brussels Day Trip Itinerary
• My Brussels Weekend Itinerary: How I’d Spend 2 Days in the City
• Eurostar to Brussels from London: Travel Time, Tickets and What to Expect
• The Best Day Trips from Brussels by Train: Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and More
• The Perfect Day Trip from Brussels to Bruges: Train, Tours & My Itinerary
• Brussels to Ghent by Train: My Experience, Ticket Tips & Day Trip Guide
• How to Visit Groot-Bijgaarden Castle: Belgium’s Hidden Spring Flower Garden Near Brussels

Where to stay and what to book

• The Best Hotels Near Brussels Central Station: Where I Stayed and My Top Picks
• NH Collection Brussels Centre Review: My Honest Stay in Brussels
• The Best Tours in Brussels: Walking Tours, Food Experiences and Unique Things to Do
• The Best Brussels Beer Tours and Tastings: Which One Is Best for Your Trip?

What to do and where to eat

• The Best Things to Do in Brussels: Grand-Place, Comic Murals, Belgian Food & More
• Brussels Comic Strip Walk: Full Route, Map and My Favourite Murals
• Exploring Matongé Brussels: Black Culture, Food and My Favourite Stops
• The Best Restaurants in Brussels, Belgium: My Favourite Places to Eat
• The Best Cafés in Brussels: My Favourite Coffee and Brunch Spots