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Nightlife & Drinks

Best Local Breweries in Copenhagen: Top 10 Craft Beer Taprooms, Ranked

By Felipe, Copenhagen local guide Updated 15 min read

Copenhagen has quietly become one of Europe's best cities for craft beer, anchored by Mikkeller, one of the most internationally recognised craft beer brands in the world, founded right here in 2006. I'm Felipe, a Copenhagen local guide, and after years of working my way through this city's taprooms, here's my honest, ranked list of the 10 breweries actually worth your time, with real prices, hours and a route that ties them together.

A flight of four craft beers on a wooden board with the Copenhagen harbour skyline at sunset in the background
A craft beer flight with Copenhagen's harbour skyline behind it, the kind of golden-hour moment this city's taprooms deliver often.

1. Copenhagen's craft beer scene, in short

Danish craft beer culture really took off in the early 2000s, and Copenhagen has stayed at the centre of it ever since. Mikkel Borg Bjergsø, a former school teacher, started brewing under the Mikkeller name in 2006 with no brewery of his own, a "gypsy brewer" contracting other breweries to make his recipes, and built it into a genuinely global name with bars on multiple continents. That scrappy, experimental spirit still defines the scene here.

Most of what you'll visit are tap rooms rather than production breweries, so you're paying per pint, not for a factory tour, and the heaviest concentration sits in Nørrebro, with a second cluster around Vesterbro. This guide ranks the 10 spots actually worth your time, with real prices and hours. For Copenhagen's traditional pub side of drinking culture rather than craft beer, see our guide to Copenhagen's traditional Danish pubs.

The Ranking

2. The 10 best breweries in Copenhagen, ranked

Ranked on beer quality, atmosphere and how distinctly Copenhagen each taproom feels. Tap a name to open it directly in Google Maps.

1

Mikkeller & Friends

Where Copenhagen's craft beer revolution began, now a 40-tap flagship in Nørrebro

Mikkeller & Friends is the clearest starting point for understanding Copenhagen's beer scene: rustic wooden tables, an electric Friday-night crowd, and 40 rotating taps mixing Mikkeller's own beers with guest breweries from around the world. The bottle shop alone stocks over 300 rare finds you won't see anywhere else in Denmark.

Tip: Walk-ins only, no reservations, so arrive before 18:00 on weekends if you want a seat at the bar rather than standing room.

2

BRUS

To Øl's brewpub in a former iron foundry, where the brewery is part of the dining room

BRUS combines To Øl's brewery with a meat-focused restaurant and bottle shop inside a former iron foundry, soaring ceilings, exposed brick, and roughly 30 taps visible from the tables. The kitchen works directly with the brewers on a food-pairing menu, dry-aged beef alongside a barrel-aged stout is the kind of pairing that made me a regular.

  • Address: Guldbergsgade 29, Nørrebro
  • Hours: Sun-Thu 12:00-24:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-02:00
  • Price: 50-75 DKK per beer, dinner 200-400 DKK
  • Open BRUS in Google Maps

Tip: Book ahead for dinner, walk-ins are fine for just beers, but the dining room fills up fast on weekends.

3

Nørrebro Bryghus

Brewing since 2003 in a gorgeous 1857 brick building, the neighbourhood classic

Nørrebro Bryghus has been a fixture of Danish beer culture since 2003, set inside a genuinely beautiful 1857 building with real character. Twelve house-brewed varieties rotate seasonally, and the Nordic-with-French-influence kitchen pairs well with them. It's a proper sit-down dinner spot as much as a beer hall.

Tip: Ask what's new on the seasonal list, it changes quarterly and is where they take the most creative risks.

4

Ølsnedkeren

"The Beer Carpenter," a smaller, more intimate taproom with real precision behind it

The name literally translates to "Beer Carpenter," and Ølsnedkeren crafts each brew with the same artisanal precision the name implies. It's a smaller operation than the bigger Nørrebro names, and that intimacy is exactly its appeal.

Tip: No reservations needed, this is small enough that you can usually just show up and find a spot at the bar.

5

Bicycle Brewing

A genuine hidden gem in Vesterbro, independent-spirited despite big-name collaborations

Bicycle Brewing collaborates with bigger names while staying stubbornly independent, and it's the kind of place that rewards wandering off the main Nørrebro strip. Expect experimental small batches and staff who'll happily walk you through the brewing process if you ask.

Tip: Ask about their current experimental batch, it changes often and rarely gets bottled elsewhere.

6

Vesterbro Bryghus

Steps from Tivoli Gardens, hearty food and beer for a crowd

Located right by Tivoli, Vesterbro Bryghus is the pick after a day of sightseeing when you want a hearty meal alongside a proper house-brewed beer, especially their wheat beer in summer. It buzzes with energy on warm evenings when the outdoor seating fills up.

Tip: Book ahead for groups, this location gets busy fast with the after-Tivoli crowd.

7

Christiania Bryghus

Copenhagen's only hemp brewery, in the heart of Freetown Christiania

Every beer here contains hemp, and the flagship Super Nova pilsner is genuinely fresh and hoppy rather than a novelty. We cover it in more depth, alongside the rest of Christiania's current attractions, in our complete Christiania guide.

Tip: Pair it with a walk to Nemoland, they're a short stroll apart inside Christiania.

8

Amager Bryghus Taproom

One of Denmark's most awarded breweries, with a central taproom near Nørreport

Amager Bryghus is one of the country's most decorated craft breweries, and its central taproom near Nørreport pours around 15 taps, at least 10 of them Amager's own beers, with a rotating guest tap for other quality Danish brewers. It's a smart, central stop if you don't have time to reach Nørrebro.

Tip: Ask staff which of the 10+ Amager beers on tap is the newest release, they rotate stock often.

9

Brewers Inc.

A showcase for Copenhagen's homebrewing community, on 16 constantly rotating taps

Brewers Inc. pours beers from Copenhagen's thousands of home brewers, so every visit turns up something you won't find anywhere else. Staff genuinely know the person behind each tap, ask, and they'll tell you the story.

Tip: This is the place to ask questions, the crowd here is genuinely nerdy about beer in the best way.

10

Home of Carlsberg

The historic giant, with brewing traditions dating back to 1847

Home of Carlsberg (formerly branded Visit Carlsberg) is the touristy pick on this list, but the historical scale is real: a self-guided route through brewing history dating to 1847, the old horse stables, and the famous Elephant Gate. Not craft beer in the small-batch sense, but worth the detour once.

Tip: Booking online is generally a bit cheaper and lets you skip the ticket queue on busy days.

Want the stories behind these breweries in person? On my private walking tour, I'll show you Copenhagen's real neighbourhood side, taprooms included.
See the walking tour

Quick Reference

3. At-a-glance comparison

A fast way to match each brewery to the night you're after.

BreweryBest forPrice levelAtmosphere
Mikkeller & FriendsBeer geeks, first-timers$$$Trendy, buzzing
BRUSDinner + drinks$$$Industrial chic
Nørrebro BryghusTraditional sit-down experience$$Classic beer hall
ØlsnedkerenA quieter, intimate visit$$Small and precise
Bicycle BrewingLocal, off-the-radar vibe$$Intimate, experimental
Vesterbro BryghusAfter Tivoli, groups$$Lively, hearty
Christiania BryghusSomething completely different$Bohemian, alternative
Amager Bryghus TaproomCentral, near Nørreport$$Relaxed, award-winning beer
Brewers Inc.Discovering new beers$$Nerdy, experimental
Home of CarlsbergHistory and scale$$$Museum-style

4. Insider tips for beer lovers

Best times to visit

Weekday afternoons (14:00-17:00) are quieter with better service. Thursday evenings are when local beer clubs meet, ask staff if anything's happening that night. May through September is outdoor seating season, and most Nørrebro taprooms have a small terrace or street-side tables.

Money-saving strategies

Most places accept cards everywhere, though a few of the smaller breweries prefer cash. Happy hours typically run 15:00-18:00 with 20-30% off. Bottle shops attached to breweries like Mikkeller & Friends and BRUS sell takeaway at closer to retail prices than what you'd pay by the glass.

Getting around

Metro and buses run until around 01:00 (05:00 on weekends), and city bikes are available 24/7, genuinely the easiest way to move between Nørrebro taprooms without waiting on transit. Most of the breweries on this list cluster in Nørrebro and Vesterbro, both an easy walk or short ride from Indre By.

Seasonal highlights

Spring: Easter special releases, terraces reopen. Summer: Mikkeller's Beer Celebration festival and extended hours. Autumn: Harvest ales and Oktoberfest-style events. Winter: Christmas beers and cozy indoor sessions, a natural pairing with Copenhagen's Christmas markets.

Plan Your Route

5. The perfect beer crawl route

Four stops through Copenhagen's hippest neighbourhoods, about 2.5 km on foot.

Start at Nørrebro Bryghus for an early lunch (12:00), walk to BRUS for afternoon beers (14:00), continue to Mikkeller & Friends for happy hour (16:00), and finish at Ølsnedkeren for a quieter evening session (19:00). All four sit within easy walking distance of each other in Nørrebro.

FAQ

6. Copenhagen breweries: frequently asked questions

The questions I get asked most often about craft beer here.

Mikkeller is Copenhagen's most internationally recognised craft brewery, known for experimental beers and a global network of pop-up bars. BRUS in Nørrebro is another local favourite, combining an on-site brewery with a meat-focused restaurant. Both are must-visits on any Copenhagen beer crawl.

Most Copenhagen breweries are tap rooms rather than production facilities, so entry is free, you simply pay per pint (typically 45-85 DKK). Home of Carlsberg is the exception, a paid historical exhibition (around 215 DKK) that includes a drink. BRUS and Mikkeller & Friends in Nørrebro are the best starting points for a self-guided craft beer crawl.

Start with a classic Danish pilsner from Carlsberg or Tuborg as a gateway, then move to a Mikkeller saison or a BRUS seasonal IPA for the local craft experience. Amager Bryghus is one of Denmark's most award-winning breweries and worth seeking out on tap wherever you see it.

Nørrebro is the heart of Copenhagen's craft beer scene, with Mikkeller & Friends, BRUS, Nørrebro Bryghus and Ølsnedkeren all within walking distance. Vesterbro has a second, smaller cluster, and Christiania and Amager each have one distinctive taproom worth a special trip.

Most taprooms, including Mikkeller & Friends, Ølsnedkeren and Bicycle Brewing, are walk-ins only. BRUS and Nørrebro Bryghus, which both serve full dinner menus, recommend booking ahead for a table, especially on weekends.

My Local Take

7. Final thoughts: my take

If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this.

Start with Mikkeller & Friends or BRUS for the full experience, both give you the clearest sense of why this city's beer scene punches so far above its weight. Then wander into the smaller spots, Ølsnedkeren or Bicycle Brewing, for the version locals actually keep coming back to.

What I'd tell a friend: don't just chase the famous names. Ask the person behind the bar what they'd order, especially at Brewers Inc. or Amager Bryghus Taproom, and you'll walk away with a beer you'd never have picked yourself. That's the whole point of a scene this experimental.

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