Where to find the best craft beer in Liverpool

Scottish-owned BrewDog has become one of the most popular craft beer brands in Europe. Liverpool’s BrewDog is located in the historic ropewalks district, where you can find a range of BrewDog’s specialty craft beers, ranging from the fruity Hazy Jane to the dark Bracken Black IPA. There’s also a wide range of guest beer and cider brands on draught, as well as cans and bottles. 

To soak up the pale ale, you should sample BrewDog’s food menu, which includes the world famous wings. The temple of seitan wings with the tastiest hot sauce and syrup glaze are the go-to choice, especially on Wings Wednesday where you can eat all that you desire. Remember if the heat is too much, wash the wings down with BrewDog’s Punk IPA or Nanny State.

Love Lane Brewery started out in Liverpool’s Love Lane in a converted railway arch where the team started brewing one of Liverpool’s favourite pale ales – Love Lane. The brewing company has now moved to Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, and have now started brewing limited edition craft beer, including Love Lane’s Tiny IPA, New England IPA and the Baltic Porter. It also became custodians of the historic Higson’s gin brand as well as the Ginsmiths of Liverpool Distillery. 

Love Lane is not just a brewery, it’s also home to three bars, a kitchen, a tasting room and an event space, so there is something for everyone, even if you don’t like beer! If you just want to head down to Love Lane for a refreshing beer then there are plenty to choose from including Love Lane specials and guest options.

If you’re looking for a craft beer haven, then the most obvious choice is to head to the Dead Craft Beer Company (DCBC), considering the keyword is in the name. DCBC is nestled on a corner of Dale Street and is easy to spot with its monochrome logo and simple bare brick interior. In 2021, DCBC was named the UK’s best independent craft beer bar due to its impressive selection of different craft beers from all corners of the globe, so you can try something new every time you visit. These guys also supply crowlers, which is a litre can that can be filled with a beer of your choice and sealed with the in-house canning machine.

Bundobust is known for its delicious Indian street food, which is complemented by a selection of its own modern craft beers. Liverpool is one of the three lucky cities to have a Bundobust, with the most perfect location on Bold Street, where you can find plenty of independent cafes and shops, but there’s only one craft beer and Indian venue to be found. If you’ve had a long day of shopping and fancy a beer stop, head here and try out Bundobust’s best beers, including the Peela pale ale and the Dhania pilsner coriander lager.

After a few beers you may be feeling peckish, so you can try some colourful snacks or if you’ve got a starve on you could opt for a Bundo Combo, which includes every dish on the the menu (there are a few exceptions). With this deal, you get 22 dishes, which includes everything from okra fries and bhajis to a bhaji butty and tarka dhal curry. This feeds between six to eight people, but if you want to try it all on your own or with a friend you can always take some home in a doggy bag.

Salt Dog Slims may be one of the tiniest dive bars in Liverpool, but it boasts one of the best craft beer collections in the city. You may not be able to swing a cat in there, but you can still comfortably down a lot of beer and some delicious dogs (hot dogs that is). 

Salt Dog Slims was formed in 2012 by a group of bartenders who decided Liverpool needed a relaxed space to enjoy food, drinks and music. Since it opened its doors it has thrown some of the best parties the city has seen. When it comes to craft beer, Salt Dog Slims does not joke around, as it has an excellent selection constantly in rotation. 

Enjoy this relaxed restaurant and discover a secret garden at 1 Maryland Street. Free State Kitchen offers classic foods such as burgers, deli sandwiches, seafood, seasonal specials, and homemade desserts and sundaes. What’s best though is that you can wash all this down with some brilliant craft beers served from the can or bottle.

At Ten Streets Social, you will find great food, drinks, music and a community feel. This is more than a restaurant or bar, it is a social, where people of Liverpool can come and enjoy delicious comfort food and crafty beers.  It’s a small, family-run business located opposite the Baltic Market, where the staff are friendly and knowledgeable, showcasing the best Liverpool has to offer in terms of booze, hospitality and food!

This dark, moody and atmospheric disco bar may not look much from the outside, especially since the sign outside reads “Jenny’s Seafood Restaurant”, which was its former home, but it promises great music, great drinks and friendly staff. Open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, you can boogie here until the music stops and then continue the party in one of Liverpool’s late-night clubs. They serve a selection of wines, bottled craft beers and amazing cocktails like their Fruit Salad Highball. Intrigued? You can book onto one of their booth packages and enjoy a night of dancing and drinking!

Find the rusty wheelbarrow and you’ll find Little Hardware. This speakeasy is really special – as you walk down a dimly-lit corridor, you’ll be greeted with a locked door. You’ll need to knock before you’re allowed into a cosy bar, lit with handles and dedicated with a homage to its past of being a hardware store. Expect unique cocktails that you won’t find anywhere else such as This Drill Is Bananas  made with spiced rum, banana, Jamsons and koko Kanu. They also sell bottles of craft beer.

 Liverpool has two Turtle Bays, one on Hanover Street and one on the bustling Victoria Street. Despite them both serving the same food and drinks, you’ll definitely find the crowd at Victoria Street is full of people indulging in the famous 241 cocktails whereas the Handover Street Turtle Bay attracts more food eaters and families! They proudly serve red Stripe on draft which is the traditional Jamaican beer as well as Brixton Reliance which is a pale ale. They also sell a selection of Drygate Brewery pale ales served in a can.