5 of the best craft beer taprooms in Europe

There was a time when the US dominated the craft beer market, but Europe has been slowly but surely bubbling up. For instance, according to global market research firm Mintel, the number of craft beer product launches in Europe increased by a whopping 178% in 2017. Get a taste of the trend at these must-visit taprooms across the region.

Founded in 2011, Beavertown is today undoubtedly one of London’s most successful microbreweries – so much so that Heineken bought a minority stake in the company a few years back. Try its quirkily named brews like Gamma Ray (tinged with tropical notes of mango and grapefruit) and Neck Oil (a crisp and punchy IPA) at its taproom, scheduled  to reopen on February 12 after a makeover, and with a new upstairs space with a full view of the brewery. Opens on Saturdays and Sundays.

Brouwerij Troost launched in 2014 in a former monastery in Amsterdam’s De Pijp neighbourhood. The immensely popular brewery has since expanded to three other locations across the city, each with its own brewpub. The drinks menu is extensive – from light pilsners and sour fruit beers to barrel-aged barley wine – and is complemented by a range of pub grub, such as tacos and burgers.

Munich may be home to countless traditional breweries and taverns, but it also has a thriving independent craft beer scene. A case in point is Crew Republic, a taproom in the northern suburbs that started life as a home-brewing experiment. Here, you’ll find creative tipples such as the intense, full-bodied Drunken Sailor IPA and the crisp, refreshing Easy pilsner. Tastings and tours are conducted only on Fridays.

Brasserie de la Goutte d’Or was the first microbrewery in Paris when it opened in the vibrant multicultural district of La Goutte d’Or in 2012. Its craft beers, which are brewed in small batches, include Château Rouge (a spicy red ale) and La Chapelle (a chai-infused wheat beer) – each named after a significant place or street in the neighbourhood.

While The International doesn’t produce its own beers, it brings together some of the best ales from small Swiss breweries such as Trois Dames, 523 and Storm & Anchor. In this Zurich beer bar, you’ll find a rotating selection of over 50 variants from all across the country, from amber ales to stouts; brews from the rest of Europe as well as the US are available, too.

Please check the establishments’ respective websites for opening hours as well as booking requirements before visiting, and remember to adhere to safe-distancing measures while out and about.

The information is accurate as of press time. For the latest travel advisory updates, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.

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This article was originally published in November 2018