Craft Beer Tour Edinburgh

Reviewed · DRINKING TOURS

Craft Beer Tour Edinburgh

★ 5.0 · 8 reviews 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) From $61 Operated by The Craft Tour Company · Bookable on Viator
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Edinburgh’s beer map clicks into place fast on this Leith tour. You start at Lost in Leith (82 Commercial St) at 1:30 pm, then head through a set of local breweries and craft beer bars over about 3.5 hours.

I especially love the way this route shows off different beer styles, from classic Scottish house types to IPA, lager, sours, and even smoked options. I also like the small-group feel, with a maximum of 20 people, plus host Emily’s hands-on, area-focused guidance.

One thing to plan around: the tour does not finish where it begins, so you’ll want onward transport or a clear plan for your end point at Campervan Brewery Tap Room (112 Jane St).

Why This Craft Beer Tour Works So Well

Craft Beer Tour Edinburgh - Why This Craft Beer Tour Works So Well
The focus stays on beer, but the experience is really about how Leith brews and what’s on tap right now. You get a guided route rather than wandering into the same few obvious places.

And because the beers at taprooms change with their current range, you’re not just collecting standard pours. You’re sampling what’s fresh for that day.

Key Highlights You’ll Care About

Craft Beer Tour Edinburgh - Key Highlights You’ll Care About

  • Leith start point with an easy kickoff: begin at Lost in Leith, 82 Commercial St, Leith.
  • A true variety of styles: expect classic Scottish-style beers alongside IPA, lager, sours, and smoked beers.
  • A small group (max 20): enough people to be lively, small enough to feel personal.
  • Campervan Brewery Tap Room is part of the plan: a well-known finish point at 112 Jane St.
  • Beer choice adapts to the taps: what you drink depends on what’s available that day.

Entering the Tour: Lost in Leith and the 1:30 Start

This craft beer tour is built for an afternoon rhythm. You meet at Lost in Leith on 82 Commercial St at 1:30 pm, then you’re off to your first beer stop right away.

The address matters because Leith is a little different from central Edinburgh. It’s not just “nearby.” Leith has its own brewery energy and local character. Starting there helps you feel the neighborhood instead of jumping between “tourist landmarks.”

You’ll also appreciate the timing. With an approximately 3 hours 30 minutes total, this is long enough to get several tastings and a proper stroll around the beer spots, but it won’t swallow your whole day.

Who this start point is ideal for

If you like to do one strong activity and then roam on your own afterward, this fits nicely. You’ll finish near the end point at Campervan Brewery Tap Room (112 Jane St), which can set you up for dinner nearby.

The First Beer Stop: 40 Minutes to Get Your Bearings

Craft Beer Tour Edinburgh - The First Beer Stop: 40 Minutes to Get Your Bearings
Your first stop is at 82 Commercial St itself, with around 40 minutes at this opening location. In plain terms: it’s your warm-up.

This matters because beer tours work better when you don’t start cold. You’ll get into the guide’s pace early—small explanations, quick context, and enough time to try a first sample before you move on.

Also, Lost in Leith being part of the meeting hub keeps logistics simple. You’re not hunting across town for a separate meetup point. You start, you taste, you learn how the rest of the afternoon will flow.

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A tip for your palate

If you can, go a little hungry but not stuffed. Beer tastes change fast when your stomach is empty, and you’ll get more out of the different styles if you can pay attention to flavors like hop bite, acidity in sours, or the smoke note in smoked beers.

Campervan Brewery Tap Room: The Anchor Stop Near the Finish

Craft Beer Tour Edinburgh - Campervan Brewery Tap Room: The Anchor Stop Near the Finish
One of the clearest anchors in this route is Campervan Brewery Tap Room at 112 Jane St. It’s where the tour ends, and it’s one of the main places you’ll experience on the way through Leith’s craft scene.

Why the finish matters: you’ll likely want to stick around after you learn what you like. Finishing at a taproom gives you an easy next step—order a second round of something you enjoyed, or try a new style if your taste has shifted by then.

What you should expect to drink

From what’s been shared about this tour, you’re not stuck with one “safe” lineup. The style range is a big deal. People describe tastings that can run from traditional Scottish-style beers to IPA, lager, sours, and smoked choices.

And because taprooms rotate their selections, your exact pours can change. That’s not a downside. It’s part of why this tour feels like it belongs in the current moment, not a museum visit from last year.

The practical drawback to plan for

The route doesn’t finish back at the original meeting point. So while the start is easy, your return plan shouldn’t be assumed. Plan for transit or a walkable dinner area after the tour ends at Campervan.

The Middle of the Tour: A Guided Hopping Route Across Leith

Craft Beer Tour Edinburgh - The Middle of the Tour: A Guided Hopping Route Across Leith
Between the first stop on Commercial St and the finish at Campervan on Jane St, you’ll move through a variety of local breweries and craft beer bars. The tour time totals about 3 hours 30 minutes, so the middle portion is designed to keep things moving without rushing tastings.

The best part of this middle section is that it’s not just “more drinking.” The guide ties it together, linking what you taste to what makes each place different—how they approach malt, hops, sour profiles, and smoke, and how those choices show up in the glass.

You’ll also get a sense of Leith’s beer ecosystem: smaller venues that don’t always get attention from the usual pub crawl route. That’s where you often find the most interesting variety.

A small-group advantage (and why it matters)

This experience caps at 20 travelers. That size tends to work well for beer tours. It’s big enough to feel social after a couple tastings, but small enough that questions don’t get ignored and the guide can keep track of the group.

In other words, you’re more likely to get explanations that land, not just pass-by patter.

The Guide Factor: Emily’s Beer-First, Place-First Style

The guide you’ll meet—often Emily—is repeatedly described as kind, friendly, and deeply into beer and the local brewing scene. People also highlight that she communicates clearly and connects flavors to the breweries and the wider Leith area.

That matters because craft beer tours can go one of two ways:

1) You taste, but you don’t know what you’re tasting.

2) You taste, and you learn how to make sense of it.

This tour seems designed for option 2. The result is that you leave with a better sense of why certain beers feel different—malt-driven vs hop-forward, clean vs tart, smoky vs crisp.

How to get more out of the tour while you’re on it

Ask simple questions as you go:

  • What style is this and how would you describe it?
  • Is the flavor coming more from malt, hops, or fermentation?
  • What should I try next if I like this one?

With a guide who knows the brewers and the local scene, these questions tend to get better answers than you’d expect.

Beer Variety You Can Actually Use After the Tour

One big praise point is the range of styles people experience. That’s not just fun; it’s practical.

When you taste a Scottish-style beer and then compare it to IPA, lager, sours, or smoked beers, your palate gets calibrated. Afterward, you can make better choices when you’re back at a tap list on your own.

Also, when you understand the style differences, you can avoid the common trap of ordering the safest thing every time. Instead, you can choose based on flavor goals—crisp and refreshing, tart and funky, or rich and smoky.

Why Leith-focused tasting is worth it

If you only drink where it’s easiest, you miss the personality of the neighborhood. Starting in Leith and finishing at Campervan gives you a sense of the local brewing energy rather than bouncing through random central bars.

This tour’s setup is a shortcut to learning what Leith does well with beer.

Price and Value: About $61.70 for 3.5 Hours of Beer Learning

Craft Beer Tour Edinburgh - Price and Value: About $61.70 for 3.5 Hours of Beer Learning
At $61.70 per person, this tour isn’t in the “cheap and cheerful” category, but it also doesn’t read as a premium experience that ignores value. The key is what you’re getting for that price.

You’re paying for:

  • A guided route that saves you time hunting for spots
  • Multiple beer tastings across different venues
  • A host who ties styles to the local brewing scene
  • A small-group format (max 20), which helps the experience feel more personal

The tour also includes a mobile ticket, and the itinerary includes admission ticket free entries at the listed stop points, which suggests the tour’s cost is primarily for the guided beer exploration rather than separate entry fees at each place.

A realistic way to judge value

This is best value if you’re the type who:

  • Enjoys tasting multiple styles
  • Wants to learn something, even briefly, about what you’re drinking
  • Prefers discovering local spots rather than picking the same bar you’d pick at home

If you only want one or two beers, you might be better off with a simple bar hop. But if you want a structured afternoon that teaches your palate, this price can make sense.

Timing, Tickets, and Getting Around Without Stress

This is a 3 hours 30 minutes style experience, starting at 1:30 pm. That timing helps you avoid the late-night crowd and keeps the route manageable.

You’ll have a confirmation when you book, and you use a mobile ticket. That’s one less thing to worry about while you’re traveling.

It’s also described as near public transportation, which is good news if you don’t want to rely entirely on walking or taxis—especially because it ends at a different spot than where you started.

Age rules to keep in mind

This is 18 and over. If you look under 25, you may be asked for ID. It’s normal for alcohol-focused experiences, but it’s better to know ahead of time so you don’t get stuck at the start.

Weather matters

The experience requires good weather. If Edinburgh is throwing rain your way, plan to keep your day flexible.

Who Should Book This Craft Beer Tour in Edinburgh

Book it if you want:

  • A Leith-centered beer intro that feels local, not generic
  • A range of craft styles, including more than just IPA
  • A guided afternoon with a host who connects beer to place

It’s also a great fit if you’re traveling with friends or family who enjoy beer, because a small group helps the vibe stay friendly and interactive.

If you’re a total beginner, you’re still in good shape. You don’t need to know brewing terms. The style variety is a built-in learning tool.

Should You Book the Craft Beer Tour Edinburgh?

I’d book this if your goal is to leave Edinburgh with more than a few photos. You’ll get a guided afternoon that helps you taste a spread of styles and learn how to order smarter on your own later.

Skip it only if you prefer a no-structure beer crawl, or if you hate the idea of finishing somewhere else and having to plan your onward trip.

If you want a solid, beer-first way to experience Leith’s craft scene, this is one of the more sensible bookings in Edinburgh—especially when you care about tasting beyond the obvious.

FAQ

What time does the craft beer tour start?

It starts at 1:30 pm.

Where do I meet at the beginning?

You meet at Lost in Leith, 82 Commercial St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6LX.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Campervan Brewery Tap Room, Bonnington Business Centre, 112 Jane St, Edinburgh EH6 5HG. It does not finish at the original meeting point.

How long is the tour?

The total duration is approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.

How many people are in a group?

The tour has a maximum of 20 travelers.

Is it for adults only?

Yes. Guests must be 18 and over, and anyone who looks under 25 may be asked for ID.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Do I need to bring a physical ticket?

No. A mobile ticket is provided, and confirmation is received at booking.