Visit Carlsberg: Thirsty for an ex-beer-ience?

If you are tired of dusty museums and stuffy art exhibitions, but thirsty for a taste of Denmark’s cultural and industrial past, Carlsberg’s old brewery in Copenhagen might be the place to go. At Carlsberg you will not just find an impressive display of artefacts and architecture, but also an engaging exploration of the past and present of beer making.

That Carlsberg is visited by thousands of guests every year is not just down to the two free beers included in the ticket price. However, beer is what Carlsberg is famous for – world famous, actually – and a visit to Carlsberg is also a visit to the epicentre of the history of beer brewing. “What surprises a lot of our guests, especially international visitors, is that Carlsberg is an old brand with a long history of sharing knowledge about brewing and quality beer. What you experience is not a modern factory – it is a heritage experience, but at the same time the modern experience centre gives an insight into what Carlsberg is today and how we brew beer through exhibitions and a number of activities,” explains Jesper T. Møller, communications officer at Visit Carlsberg.

Founded in 1847, Carlsberg’s characteristic architecture, cobblestoned beer garden and vintage delivery vans take visitors to another world. An essential part of the tour is also a visit to the horse stables and their residents; the impressive draught horses can also be experienced on carriage rides around the site.

Today, Carlsberg has relocated most of its production to Jutland, but it is still brewing in the small craft brewery, Jacobsen’s Brewhouse, at Visit Carlsberg. This is where guests end their tour of the experience centre and, after smell sampling their favourite flavours in the aroma room, they can enjoy the real deal in the adjoining Jacobsen bar. The bar also serves lunch with a range of beer-based dishes. After lunch, the only thing left to do is to stock up on Carlsberg memorabilia. The gift shop offers everything from Carlsberg bottle openers to a beauty range based on beer called Beer Beauty, of course.

Facts:

Open: All year 10am–5pm (closed on Mondays October-April).
Admission: Adults DKK 85, Youth (6–17) DKK 60, Children (0–5) free. Admission includes two beers or soft drinks.
How to get there: A free shuttle service runs from central Copenhagen (Hotel Royal, Vesterbrogade 6) every hour 12–3pm, taking approximately ten minutes one way.
Guided tours and beer tastings: 50DKK each (in English or Danish).

For more information, please visit: www.visitcarlsberg.com