Bogotá: Craft Beer Tour with Tasting

Bogotá’s beer story is much bigger than the familiar national lagers. This three-hour tour links Colombian history with local brewing, beginning with a traditional game of Tapazo and moving through old houses, craft breweries, neighborhood bars, and a final stop with one of the city’s largest beer selections. Along the way, you may also taste chicha or aguardiente, not just beer.

I like two things right away: the small group of no more than 10 people, which makes conversation easy, and the guide-led route through places you might not find on your own. Guides such as Melissa, Luis, Cristian, Andrea, and Camila have been praised for making the history clear and the evening social. The main drawback is that the tour includes a lot of alcohol, and its early start can mean quiet first stops. One past participant also found that non-beer drinkers had few alternatives at some bars.

Key points to know before booking

• Tapazo starts the evening: You play a traditional Colombian game while meeting the group.
• Five pints or glasses plus a bottle: Samples are included, with tastings spread across several stops.
• Four periods and places shape the story: Expect an old brewing site, Huitaca, Manigua, Medellin, and a Bogotá bar with its own mini-brewery.
• Chicha and aguardiente may appear: The experience can go beyond beer, especially if you ask to try local drinks.
• Small groups feel social: The maximum of 10 people suits solo visitors and anyone hoping to meet others.
• Plan for a full drinking session: Comfortable shoes are useful, but pets, luggage, and large bags are not allowed.

Beer first, history close behind

The best part of this experience is that it does not treat beer as a simple checklist of drinks. Your guide uses beer to explain Colombia through three broad periods: Colonial, Republican, and Modern. That gives each tasting a reason to exist, instead of making the evening feel like a string of unrelated bar visits.

You begin at the Cranky Croc hostel on Cl. 12d #346 in Bogotá. The opening game of Tapazo helps break the ice. This matters more than it may sound. A tasting group can feel awkward when everyone is silently studying a glass, but a shared game gives you an easy way to start talking.

The tour then heads toward an old house connected with the first beer brewed by a Colombian. The stop provides the historical frame for the rest of the afternoon. You learn how beer production and drinking habits changed as Colombia moved through its colonial, republican, and modern eras.

Do not expect a formal museum visit or a technical brewing class. The appeal is the guide’s storytelling while you move through the city. Guides have been praised for explaining not only beer but also local customs, Bogotá, and Colombia more broadly. Cristian, for example, was described as someone who could connect the drinks with wider local life, while Melissa has been repeatedly praised for making the information easy to follow and fun.

Huitaca brings tropical flavor to the glass

The first named brewery stop is Huitaca, where you receive a pint of tropical beer. This is a useful early tasting because it introduces you to the kind of local flavor that makes Bogotá’s craft scene different from a standard pub crawl.

The tropical style is likely to appeal if you prefer fruit-led or lighter craft beers. If you usually drink basic lager, it also gives you a clear comparison point. Your guide can explain what you are tasting and how local ingredients and Colombian preferences shape the beer.

The tour includes a bottle of beer, five pints or glasses, and samples. The exact pours and brands can vary, so think of the package as a broad tasting rather than a fixed flight with identical servings every time.

That flexibility can work in your favor. One evening may include a beer made with coffee, chocolate, or passion fruit. Another may offer a different selection if a bar has run out of a particular brew. One group found that the advertised route changed because some locations had no beer available, but the guide substituted other local drinks and kept the experience enjoyable.

Manigua and Medellin show the local bar scene

Next come two more craft beer stops, Manigua and Medellin. The value here is contrast. Instead of tasting everything in one polished taproom, you move between different local settings and see how Bogotá’s beer culture works across more than one type of venue.

Some stops may feel aimed at people who already know the local scene. Others may be easier for visitors. That mixture is one of the tour’s strongest features because you are not confined to a single tourist-friendly bar.

The walking between venues also gives the tour a small city component. You are not simply transported from one tasting room to another. You get a brief look at the streets between stops and time to talk with the group.

The walking is part of the reason to wear comfortable shoes. It also means you should avoid bringing a suitcase or large bag. The tour is easier when your hands are free and you can keep pace with the group.

A mini-brewery and after-work Bogotá

The next stop is a trendy Bogotá bar that brews its own beer. Here you can see a small brewing operation and drink alongside local people finishing their workday. This is a useful shift in mood. The tour moves from history and tasting into the ordinary social life of the city.

I like this kind of stop because it gives you context. Craft beer is not only a product for visitors to sample. It is also part of how people meet, relax, and spend an evening in Bogotá.

The atmosphere may depend on the day and start time. One participant felt the tour began too early, leaving the first bars quiet. If you prefer a lively after-work crowd, check the available starting times and choose a later option if one is offered.

At the same time, an early start has an advantage. You have more time to continue your evening afterward, and the tour can work well before dinner. Several people found that the social mood grew as the afternoon moved toward evening, with some choosing to keep drinking together after the official experience ended.

The final stop brings the broadest beer choice

The last destination has one of Bogotá’s largest craft beer selections. This is where the route opens up for different tastes. If you dislike the tropical beer at Huitaca or find one of the earlier pours too unusual, you have a better chance of finding something you enjoy here.

The final stop can also include food and a more relaxed ending. One especially well-liked ending took place at Casa Magola, where the food and setting rounded out the afternoon. That stop is not presented as a guaranteed part of every outing, so think of it as an example of how the final venue may add more than another glass.

The practical point is simple: save room for variety. You are not expected to love every beer. One participant noted that some beers were excellent and others less so, which is exactly what a real tasting should reveal. The purpose is to understand the range of Colombian craft beer, not to serve six versions of the same safe pale ale.

Chicha, aguardiente, and other Colombian drinks

Although beer is the main subject, the experience can include other drinks. Chicha, a traditional fermented beverage, has appeared on the route, and aguardiente may also be offered or available on request. These additions help connect the modern craft scene with older Colombian drinking traditions.

If you have never tried chicha, ask your guide about it. The tour is a good setting for that first taste because you can hear the cultural context instead of ordering an unfamiliar drink without explanation.

Non-beer drinkers should think carefully before booking. One person who did not drink beer was helped with alternative drinks, but another noted that alternatives were not available at many stops. The tour is designed around beer, so you should not expect a full nonalcoholic program.

Pregnant women are specifically advised not to take part. You should also consider the total amount of alcohol: one bottle, five pints or glasses, and samples can add up quickly. Eat beforehand, pace yourself, and use the tasting portions as an opportunity to compare rather than a race to finish every drink.

Guides make the difference

The strongest praise goes to the guides. Melissa appears often in the feedback and is described as warm, lively, and very good at explaining the story behind the drinks. Luis was praised for going into detail about the origins of different beers and their place in Colombian culture.

Cristian received similar praise for his clear communication and local insight. Andrea was noted for taking extra care with the group when the planned route changed. Camila has been appreciated by solo visitors, including one person who felt comfortable walking through Bogotá at night with her group.

Other guides named include Alejandra, Maria, Yuly, Julie, Luciani, Marissa, and Camilla. The individual style will vary, but the repeated theme is personal attention and useful local advice. You are not just handed a beer and left to work out the rest.

English is the stated tour language. The group limit of 10 makes it easier to ask questions, though the exact feel will depend on who books that day. Some groups connect strongly and continue the evening together. Others may be quieter, especially at the first venues.

Is $58 good value?

At $58 per person, this is not the cheapest way to drink beer in Bogotá. If you only want a couple of pints at one bar, you can spend less by going alone.

The value improves when you count the included drinks and the guide-led route. You receive a bottle, five pints or glasses, and samples, plus a three-hour introduction to Colombian beer culture. You also avoid the guesswork of finding several breweries and bars in an unfamiliar city.

For me, the best value comes from the combination of access and explanation. The guide takes you to venues you might not discover independently, adds historical context, and helps the group move through the evening together. Solo visitors may find the social side especially worthwhile.

The price makes less sense if you do not drink beer, dislike group activities, or want a quiet technical tour focused only on brewing methods. It also may not suit anyone looking for a late-night party from the first minute, since the start can be early and the opening venues may be calm.

Timing, comfort, and practical details

The experience lasts three hours, with starting times depending on availability. It meets at the Cranky Croc hostel. Bring comfortable shoes and leave luggage or large bags behind.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the route includes multiple bars and breweries, so you may want to confirm the practical details of the specific departure before booking. Pets are not allowed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Bogotá schedule is still changing.

The experience is best treated as an afternoon or early evening activity, not a meal replacement. Food may be available at some stops, especially toward the end, but the included package is centered on drinks and tastings.

Who should book this Bogotá beer tour?

I would choose this tour if you want a social introduction to Bogotá rather than a formal brewery lesson. It suits solo visitors, couples, and friends who enjoy trying unusual drinks and talking with locals and other people from abroad.

It is also a good fit if you want local guidance during an evening out. The group stays together, and several guides have helped people feel at ease while moving through the city.

You may want to skip it if you are avoiding alcohol, need plenty of non-beer options, dislike walking between venues, or prefer to control every stop yourself. The route can change when a bar runs out of beer, and the exact final venue may vary.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you want to taste Bogotá through its drinks, hear how beer developed across Colombia’s colonial, republican, and modern periods, and meet people along the way. The strongest reason to go is the guide-led mix of history, local bars, craft beer, and conversation.

Go with a flexible attitude. You may taste a beer you love, another you do not, and something entirely different such as chicha or aguardiente. If that sounds like part of the fun, $58 is a fair price for three hours of drinks, local context, and an easy way to find company in Bogotá.

FAQ

Where does the Bogotá craft beer tour meet?

The meeting point is the Cranky Croc hostel at Cl. 12d #346 in Bogotá, Colombia.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts three hours.

What is included in the price?

The experience includes one bottle of beer, five pints or glasses of beer, and samples.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide.

How many people can join the group?

The group is limited to 10 participants.

What breweries and bars are included?

The route includes Huitaca, Manigua, and Medellin, followed by a Bogotá bar that brews its own beer and a final venue with a large craft beer selection. Specific stops can change.

Will I try drinks besides beer?

You may try drinks such as chicha or aguardiente. Beer remains the main focus of the tour.

Can someone who does not drink beer join?

A non-beer drinker can join, but alternatives are not available at every stop. The experience is designed mainly for people who want to taste beer.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable shoes. Pets, luggage, and large bags are not allowed.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.