Where is the best craft beer in Copenhagen?

Mikkeller Bar (Viktoriagade 8B, Vesterbro) is the original and most iconic address — 20-plus rotating taps, low prices for the quality, open daily from 14:00. Warpigs (Flæsketorvet 25, Ködbyen) combines craft beer with American barbecue and runs its own brewery. BRUS (Guldbergsgade 29, Nørrebro) is To Øl's brewery taproom. A craft beer walk from Vesterbro through Ködbyen to Nørrebro covers the main addresses in an evening.

Best Craft Beer Copenhagen 2026: Mikkeller, To Øl, Warpigs, BRUS Guide

The Mikkeller craft beer walk in Vesterbro is the most structured way to cover the neighbourhood’s beer scene — local guide, four to six tastings, context on how Mikkeller and the wider Copenhagen craft beer movement developed.

Copenhagen as a craft beer city

Copenhagen’s craft beer scene is not a recent development that arrived alongside other artisanal food trends. It grew from a specific moment — a handful of homebrewers and beer obsessives in the mid-2000s who saw an opportunity to do in beer what the New Nordic movement was doing in restaurants: make Danish production internationally credible at the top level.

Mikkeller, founded in 2006, was the catalyst. Its founder Mikkel Borg Bjergsø — a Copenhagen high school teacher at the time — became the most recognised name in European craft beer over the following decade. The trajectory from homebrewer to global brand, with bars in more than 20 countries, is the founding story of the Copenhagen craft beer scene. But several other breweries and venues followed, and the city now has a depth that goes well beyond any single brand.

Mikkeller: the origin point

Mikkeller Bar (Viktoriagade 8B, Vesterbro) is the original and most important address. The ground-floor bar is small — around 40 covers — with a minimalist interior and 20-plus taps rotating through Mikkeller’s own production and guest beers from breweries the team admires.

The selection covers the full range: experimental sours, session IPAs, stouts, double dry-hopped pale ales, seasonal beers, collaborations with breweries from the US, UK, Japan and across Scandinavia. The beers change on rotation, which means no two visits are identical.

Prices: 25cl pour: 60–80 DKK. 50cl pour: 95–130 DKK. Open daily from 14:00; the bar gets busy from 18:00 on weekdays and from 15:00 at weekends.

Mikkeller is a gypsy brewery — it has never owned a traditional production facility in the way that most breweries do. Beer is produced at partner breweries across Europe to Mikkeller’s recipes and specifications. This has been criticised as inauthentic by traditional brewing culture; it has also enabled a rate of experimentation and release that would be impossible at a single fixed facility.

As of 2026 Mikkeller also has a physical brewing facility in San Diego — so the gypsy model is not the only one now — but the Copenhagen bar on Viktoriagade remains the brand’s spiritual home.

Other Mikkeller addresses in Copenhagen: Mikkeller and Friends (Stefansgade 35, Nørrebro) is the second bar, with a similar format and a different selection. Mikkeller On Tap (airport and other locations) serves the same brand at premium prices in transit.

To Øl and BRUS: the Nørrebro alternative

BRUS (Guldbergsgade 29, Nørrebro) is the brewery taproom and restaurant for To Øl, Copenhagen’s other internationally recognised craft beer brand. It is housed in the same building as Bæst restaurant — a 2016 development that made one address in Nørrebro the most concentrated point of quality food and beer in the neighbourhood.

To Øl was founded in 2010 by Tobias Emil Jensen and Tore Gynther, also initially as a gypsy brewery. The name means “Two Beers” in Danish — deliberately simple for a brewery that produces anything but simple beer. The range covers sours, barrel-aged stouts, hazy IPAs, session beers and experimental formats. The brewery has established its own production facility since its gypsy founding.

At BRUS, around 20 taps rotate through To Øl’s catalogue and guest beers. The food (available at the restaurant bar separately from Bæst’s booking-only dining room) serves snacks and small plates that work with the beer — Nordic-influenced, seasonal, not the tortured food-pairing exercises that some brewery restaurants produce.

Prices: Similar to Mikkeller — 25cl at 65–85 DKK, 50cl at 100–140 DKK. Open from 15:00 weekdays, 12:00 weekends.

Brewery tours at BRUS are available — check the To Øl website for schedule and pricing. The tour covers the Nørrebro production facility with tasting included, running approximately 90 minutes at around 350–450 DKK per person.

Warpigs: barbecue and brewing in Ködbyen

Warpigs (Flæsketorvet 25, Ködbyen / Meatpacking District, Vesterbro) is the best food-plus-beer experience in Copenhagen, and perhaps the most successful example of Copenhagen’s craft beer scene integrating with its food scene.

It is a collaboration between Mikkeller and 3 Floyds Brewing (Munster, Indiana) — Mikkeller brings the Copenhagen credentials and brewing vision, 3 Floyds brings the American craft beer and barbecue sensibility. The result is a large, industrial-aesthetic taproom in the middle of the Meatpacking District, serving house-brewed American-style beers alongside barbecue slow-cooked in wood smokers.

The barbecue is serious — brisket, pulled pork, ribs — cooked in the American tradition, using Danish pork and beef with American smoking technique. This is not a Copenhagen culinary hybrid; it is the transplanted American form, well executed.

Prices: Beers at 70–100 DKK for 25cl, 120–170 DKK for 50cl. Barbecue plates: 185–280 DKK each. A full meal — two or three meat portions, sides, two to three beers — runs 350–500 DKK per person.

Open from 12:00 daily. Walk-ins are usually possible, though the most popular weekend services (Friday and Saturday evening) can be busy. The location in Ködbyen makes it a natural stop on an evening that starts in Vesterbro and extends to Mikkeller Bar.

Fermentoren: the serious bottle shop

Fermentoren (Halmtorvet 30, Vesterbro) is the reference point for anyone who wants to explore Danish and international craft beer as a product rather than a taproom experience. It is a bottle shop — not a bar — with a selection of several thousand beers from around 30 countries.

The selection includes extensive Danish production from smaller breweries that do not have their own taprooms in Copenhagen: Kølster, Dry & Bitter, Ugly Duck (all Copenhagen-area), plus a comprehensive international range covering Scandinavia, Germany, the US, UK, and specialist producers from Czech Republic, Japan and Australia.

Prices are higher than supermarket beer but much lower than bar prices — a 33cl bottle of a Danish craft IPA runs 30–55 DKK. The shop staff are knowledgeable and will guide selection for any palate or style preference. There are a few seats for on-site consumption; this is primarily a take-away operation.

Open from 12:00 (occasionally 14:00) on weekdays; from 10:00 on Saturday. Closed Sunday.

The beer crawl route

The most logical craft beer crawl route in Copenhagen covers Vesterbro and Nørrebro in an evening. Walking time between all stops: approximately 35 minutes total.

Stop 1 (16:00–17:30): Mikkeller Bar, Viktoriagade 8B, Vesterbro. Start with two or three pours — a pale ale and something experimental. This is the canonical start.

Stop 2 (18:00–19:30): Fermentoren, Halmtorvet 30, Vesterbro — five minutes’ walk. Buy a bottle of something Danish to try on the way to dinner. Or continue to Warpigs.

Stop 3 (19:30–21:00): Warpigs, Flæsketorvet 25, Ködbyen — ten minutes’ walk. Dinner here covers the food component. Two or three Warpigs house beers plus a barbecue plate.

Stop 4 (21:30 onwards): BRUS, Guldbergsgade 29, Nørrebro — 15-minute walk or short taxi. To Øl’s taproom for the Nørrebro end of the crawl.

Total budget for the evening: 600–900 DKK per person including food at Warpigs. The Copenhagen craft beer walk with a local guide covers similar ground with tasting included and context on the history — useful if you want structured knowledge rather than self-guided exploration.

A note on Carlsberg

Carlsberg is Copenhagen’s legacy brewery and has a visitor experience at its Vesterbro site — the Home of Carlsberg. This is covered separately in the Carlsberg experience guide. The two scenes (craft beer and Carlsberg) are not in opposition — the craft beer movement grew partly as a reaction to the mainstream Carlsberg model, and the Carlsberg visitor experience is now explicitly trying to recapture premium positioning partly in response. Both are worth experiencing, for different reasons.

Frequently asked questions about craft beer in Copenhagen

How much does craft beer cost in Copenhagen?

A 25cl pour at Mikkeller Bar or Warpigs costs 60–90 DKK (8–12 euros). A 50cl pour runs 95–150 DKK (13–20 euros). Bottled beer from Fermentoren runs 30–60 DKK for a 33cl bottle. High by European standards, but consistent with Scandinavian city pricing.

What is Mikkeller and why is it famous?

Mikkeller was founded in 2006 by Mikkel Borg Bjergsø as a gypsy brewery — producing experimental beers using other breweries’ facilities without owning production equipment. It became internationally known for rapid experimentation and distinctive design, and now operates bars in more than 20 countries.

What is To Øl and where can I drink it?

To Øl is a Copenhagen brewery founded in 2010, known for experimental styles and collaborations. BRUS (Guldbergsgade 29, Nørrebro) is the primary Copenhagen address, with around 20 taps rotating between To Øl and guest breweries.

Is Warpigs worth visiting?

Yes, for the combination of American-style barbecue and house-brewed craft beer in a Meatpacking District setting. A meal with two or three beers costs 350–500 DKK per person. Strong recommendation for an evening in Vesterbro.

Can I visit a Copenhagen brewery?

BRUS (To Øl, Nørrebro) offers brewery tours at approximately 350–450 DKK per person. The craft beer and bites tour is a guided alternative covering multiple venues with tasting included.

What is the craft beer tour and what does it cover?

Guided craft beer walks cover Vesterbro, Nørrebro and the city centre with four to six tastings across two to three hours at 400–650 DKK per person.

Are there any Danish craft breweries beyond Mikkeller and To Øl?

Yes: Kølster (Frederiksberg), Dry & Bitter (Brønshøj), Evil Twin (Copenhagen-founded, now New York), and Ugly Duck. Fermentoren bottle shop on Halmtorvet stocks the widest range of Danish craft production available under one roof.

Frequently asked questions — Best craft beer in Copenhagen: Mikkeller, To Øl, Warpigs and how the scene works

How much does craft beer cost in Copenhagen?
A half pint (25cl) at Mikkeller Bar or Warpigs costs 60–90 DKK (8–12 euros). A full pint (50cl) runs 95–150 DKK (13–20 euros). Bottled beer from the fridge at beer shops runs 30–60 DKK for a 33cl bottle. Carlsberg at a supermarket: 8–12 DKK per 33cl can. Craft beer prices in Copenhagen are high by most European standards, though not unusual for Scandinavian cities.
What is Mikkeller and why is it famous?
Mikkeller was founded in 2006 by Mikkel Borg Bjergsø, a Copenhagen schoolteacher and homebrewer who began producing experimental beers without a physical brewery — a 'gypsy brewer' using other breweries' facilities. The approach allowed rapid experimentation across hundreds of beer styles. Mikkeller became internationally known for its design-focused branding and unusual flavour combinations, and is now one of the most recognisable craft beer brands globally, with bars in over 20 countries.
What is To Øl and where can I drink it?
To Øl (Danish for 'Two Beers') is a Copenhagen brewery founded in 2010, also initially operating as a gypsy brewer before establishing the BRUS taproom and restaurant in Nørrebro. The brewery is known for experimental styles and collaborations. BRUS (Guldbergsgade 29, same building as Bæst) is the primary Copenhagen drinking address, with around 20 taps rotating between To Øl and guest breweries.
Is Warpigs worth visiting?
Yes, for the combination of American-style barbecue and independently brewed craft beer. Warpigs is a joint project between Mikkeller and 3 Floyds (an Indiana craft brewery) — the barbecue is cooked over wood in the American tradition, and the house beers are American-style IPAs and stouts with real quality. A meal with two or three beers costs 350–500 DKK per person. Location in Ködbyen (Meatpacking District) means it fits naturally into an evening in Vesterbro.
Can I visit a Copenhagen brewery?
Yes. BRUS (To Øl's taproom in Nørrebro) has brewery tours available. The Carlsberg brewery (Home of Carlsberg visitor experience, Vesterbro) offers a full museum and tasting experience at 170–210 DKK including two beers. Mikkeller's bars do not offer brewery tours as such — the production happens elsewhere — but the bar at Viktoriagade is the closest you can get to the brand's operational centre.
What is the craft beer tour and what does it cover?
GetYourGuide offers several craft beer walks and tours in Copenhagen covering different areas: the Vesterbro Mikkeller walk covers the craft beer history of the neighbourhood with tastings at multiple bars; the Nørrebro walk focuses on the neighbourhood's brewery and bar scene; a city centre craft beer walk covers the main addresses in Indre By. Each tour runs two to three hours with four to six tastings included. Prices around 400–650 DKK per person.
Are there any Danish craft breweries beyond Mikkeller and To Øl?
Several. Kølster (Frederiksberg) is a small Copenhagen brewery known for clean, Scandinavian-influenced lagers and ales. Dry & Bitter (Brønshøj, northwest Copenhagen) specialises in IPAs. Evil Twin Brewing, founded by Mikkeller co-founder Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, now based in New York but still associated with the Copenhagen scene. Fermentoren (Halmtorvet 30, Vesterbro) stocks an enormous range of Danish and international craft beers in its bottle shop.