Reykjavik: Beer and Booze Tour

Iceland’s beer story has an odd twist: beer was banned for 74 years, only becoming legal again in 1989. This 150-minute walk turns that strange fact into a fun evening of local history, Icelandic craft beer, and conversation. I like the small-group feel and the chance to taste up to 10 different drinks rather than settle for one standard pint.

I also like the practical side. Your guide can point you toward places to eat and drink after the tour, while the walk around Ingólfstorg helps you get your bearings in central Reykjavik. The main drawback is simple: food is not included, and the pace involves several alcoholic drinks, so this is best for people who enjoy tasting rather than drinking quickly.

Key points to know before booking

• Beer history with a bizarre legal twist: Learn how Iceland moved from Viking brewing to a 74-year beer ban and today’s microbrewery revival.
• Three central bar stops: Visit Skúli Craft Bar, Lemmy, and Ölstofa, with different settings and drink selections at each.
• Ten beers or five spirits: Choose the beer tasting or the schnaps and spirits option.
• Guides shape the evening: Ástþór, Arnar, Chris, Kristjan, and other local guides have been praised for humor, stories, and easy conversation.
• A useful first or second night activity: You get city orientation and direct advice on where to eat or continue your evening.
• Bring ID and dress for Iceland: The minimum age is 20, and layers matter during the outdoor parts.

Why Icelandic beer makes a good introduction to Reykjavik

This is not just a crawl from one bar to the next. The drinks give your guide a way to explain Icelandic culture, local habits, and the country’s unusual alcohol laws.

Beer has a long history in Iceland, going back to the Viking period. Yet modern Iceland spent most of the 20th century without legal beer. The ban lasted 74 years, ending on March 1, 1989, a date still remembered locally as Beer Day. That contradiction makes the tour more interesting than a standard tasting: you are learning why beer matters in a country that went without it for so long.

The recent growth of Icelandic microbreweries also gives the tasting some variety. You may try familiar styles such as pale ales or IPAs, along with lighter, sweeter, or more unusual local pours. The selection can change, and there is even a chance of trying a new beer that has not yet reached the wider market.

I like this format because it gives you context before you taste. Instead of simply hearing that a drink is local, you learn something about the country that produced it.

Meeting at Hlöllabátar and finding Ingólfstorg

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar, a sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right. Benches, tables, and a covered ceiling make this a practical place to wait, especially if the weather is wet or windy.

Look for a guide wearing a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. It is worth arriving early because one person had trouble finding the meeting point. The Google Maps location supplied with the booking should help, but central Reykjavik can still feel confusing when you are looking for a particular storefront.

The first part includes about 10 minutes of guided walking around Ingólfstorg. This is brief, but useful. You are not spending the whole evening on a formal city tour, yet you get a quick sense of where the central streets and nightlife areas fit together.

If you have just arrived in Reykjavik, this early orientation has real value. You can ask where to eat, which streets are best for an evening stroll, and how to reach the final bars again later.

Skúli Craft Bar: the main tasting stop

Skúli Craft Bar is listed as the longest stop, with about an hour for beer and whiskey tasting. This is where the evening can settle into its rhythm.

Expect several samples rather than one large serving. The point is to compare styles, talk with your guide, and ask questions as you go. Your guide may explain the character of each beer, how Iceland’s brewing scene has changed, and what local drinkers tend to enjoy.

This is also the stop where the tour’s social side matters most. Group sizes are small, and some departures have been limited to only a couple of people and the guide. That gives you more room to ask about Icelandic culture, local customs, and the best places to continue your night.

If you choose the spirits option, this is where the format changes from 10 craft beers to five schnaps and spirits. The supplied details do not promise the exact brands or pours, so you should book that option for variety rather than a particular bottle.

One practical note: all drinks are included, but food is not. Some guides have offered small sweet snacks during the evening, and these can be a welcome break between tastings. Still, treat those as a pleasant extra, not as dinner.

Lemmy: a shorter stop with more beer

The next listed venue is Lemmy, with about 45 minutes devoted to beer. This keeps the tasting moving and gives you another setting in which to compare Icelandic pours.

The benefit of visiting several bars is that you do not judge Reykjavik’s beer scene from one room alone. Each stop offers a different atmosphere, and the change of venue prevents the evening from feeling like a seated lecture.

The drawback is that you should not expect a long stay at every bar. If you find a beer you love, you may have only limited time to linger before the group moves on. This is a tasting walk, not a night spent in one favorite pub.

Several people have enjoyed the chance to try lighter or sweeter choices here, which is useful if one person in your group is not a big beer drinker. Tell your guide what you normally like. The tour is better when the selection reflects your tastes instead of forcing you through the same strong beers as everyone else.

Ölstofa and the final drinks

Ölstofa is the final listed tasting stop, also allocated about 45 minutes. The evening may finish here, or the group may use Bastarður Brew Pub as the final drop-off point, depending on the arrangement.

This last stop can be a good place to decide what you want to do next. Ask your guide for a nearby restaurant, another bar, or a suitable place to end the night. The local advice is one of the tour’s most useful extras because it comes after your guide has had time to understand what your group enjoys.

The bars are not all equally memorable for every person. One stop may feel ordinary while another has a better atmosphere. That is a fair trade for variety, but it is worth keeping your expectations realistic. You are buying access to a guided tasting across several places, not a guarantee that every bar will be your favorite.

The evening may also include Icelandic spirits such as schnaps, and some departures have featured Black Death, the nickname commonly associated with Icelandic Brennivín. If you choose the spirits route, expect a stronger focus on local drinking culture rather than a simple beer flight.

How much beer do you actually get?

The advertised tasting includes 10 Icelandic craft beers, or five schnaps and spirits. The exact pours and selection can vary, but the included drinks are a major part of the $128 price.

Alcohol is expensive in Iceland, especially in central Reykjavik. That means the value is better than the price may first suggest, provided you actually want several tastings and local guidance. You are paying for the drinks, three bar visits, the walk, and the guide’s time.

I would not book this tour only to save money on alcohol. You may not want every style served, and the tour does not include a meal. But if you planned to buy several drinks during your first evening anyway, having those purchases built into a guided experience can make the cost easier to justify.

Pace matters. Ten tastes in 150 minutes is not a challenge to finish everything quickly. Sip slowly, drink water when you can, and eat beforehand. The activity is about finding new favorites and learning the story behind them, not proving how much you can consume.

The guides are a major part of the experience

The strongest feature of this tour is the guide-led conversation. Ástþór has been praised for explaining both the beers and Icelandic culture, while Arnar has been described as friendly, funny, and good at bringing a group into the conversation.

Chris has also been praised for making a mixed group feel included, and for offering useful advice about the city. Kristjan has been noted for presenting the beers with warmth and clear explanations. These names reflect guides who have led recent departures, but your guide may be someone else.

The important point is the style of the experience. You are not simply handed a flight and left to work it out. You can ask about the beer ban, local drinking habits, Reykjavik nightlife, restaurants, and daily life in Iceland.

This works especially well for solo visitors, couples, and small groups who want a relaxed way to meet people. Some small departures have turned into long evenings with newly met companions continuing together after the tasting ended.

Timing, weather, and what to bring

The activity lasts 150 minutes, or two and a half hours. The supplied stop schedule lists 10 minutes at Ingólfstorg, about an hour at Skúli Craft Bar, and 45 minutes each at Lemmy and Ölstofa. Those listed times add up to more than 150 minutes, so confirm the starting time and expected finish when booking.

You will walk between central locations, so wear comfortable shoes and bring layers. Icelandic weather can change quickly, and you may be outside while moving between bars. A warm jacket is sensible even if the forecast looks mild.

Bring your passport or ID card. Iceland’s legal drinking age is 20, and the tour only accepts people aged 20 or older. Children and infants are not permitted inside the bars, so this is strictly an adult activity.

Pregnant people should not book this experience. The activity is in English, and a private group option is available if you want the evening arranged just for your own party.

Cancellation is flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Reykjavik plans are still shifting.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik beer tour most?

I would choose this for someone who wants more than a pub list but less than a formal history tour. It suits you if you enjoy local drinks, short walks, informal conversation, and the chance to ask a resident what to do next.

It is also a smart choice for a first or second night in Reykjavik. You get a basic city orientation, a look at several central bars, and practical nightlife advice before you make your own plans.

Beer fans will get the most from the 10-beer option, especially if you like comparing styles. If you prefer stronger drinks or want to learn about Icelandic schnaps and spirits, choose the five-spirit option.

I would skip it if you do not drink alcohol, need a full meal included, or dislike moving between venues. It is also not a good fit if you want a quiet, private dinner or a detailed architectural tour of Reykjavik.

Should you book the Beer and Booze Tour?

Book it if you want a friendly introduction to Reykjavik’s drinking culture and prefer tasting several local drinks to ordering one expensive pint at random. The best reasons are the small groups, the useful guide conversation, and the unusual story of Iceland’s beer ban.

The $128 cost makes sense when you factor in 10 included beer samples or five spirits, three bar stops, and a local guide. Eat first, dress warmly, bring ID, and pace yourself.

I would choose the beer option for the widest taste of Iceland’s craft scene. Pick the spirits option if Brennivín, schnaps, and local drinking customs interest you more. Either way, this is a strong opening-night activity for adults who want to get oriented, meet people, and leave with a few ideas for the rest of their Reykjavik stay.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour last?

The stated duration is 150 minutes, or two and a half hours.

How many drinks are included?

You receive samples of 10 Icelandic craft beers, or five different schnaps and spirits if you choose that option.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet outside Hlöllabátar Sandwich Shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right.

What age do you need to be?

You must be at least 20 years old. Iceland’s legal age to purchase alcohol is 20, and younger people are not allowed inside the bars on this tour.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included in the tour price, although some guides have offered small sweet snacks during the tasting.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide.

Can you cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.