8 cool breweries all over Europe

Four friends started brewing beer in their attics and are now taking Amsterdam’s bars by storm. They’re known for their exciting flavours. Try their Mannenliefde, a ‘saison’ with lemongrass and spicy peppercorns, or Mama, pale ale with Motueka hops. 

A very friendly brewery, with the kind of young and fun managers that typify the Centocelle neighbourhood, and make it worth the trek. In addition to their wide selection of local beers, they also boast a healthy selection of amaros and digestivos from right here in the province of Rome.

Since 1815, Santa Barbara brewery has been considered legendary because of its beer. The waiters with their unmistakable white jacket and red shoulder pads are part of the history, some of them have been waiting tables here for various decades. The place has been a meeting point of intellectuals, students and politicians since 1950.

It took a long time for craft beer to arrive in Ghent, but it finally happened in 2018 when three local beer fans launched Dok Brewing Company. The brewery is located in the impressive Hal 16 industrial space in the old Ghent docklands. Here they brew several craft beers with quirky names, including a farmhouse tripel, a Baltic porter and an IPA called My generator broke down and all I got was this lousy West Coast IPA. The house beers can be sampled in the brewery pub inside the Hal 16 food hall, along with 30 interesting foreign brews on tap.

The Oorlam Bar looks more like a dairy than a taproom. White tiles on which the available varieties are displayed, a few fresh cut flowers on the table. But there’s no milk flowing from the 15 spigots; they dispense local beer specialities selected by Dutchwoman Nienke Oostra. Insider’s tip: try Nienke’s home-distilled Dutch gin, Filosoof Jenever.

A light and spacious brewery with large gleaming coppers and a taproom and store out front. Brouwerij Noordt is located in a former fire station in the up-and-coming Noord district. Try a blond or dark beer, a triple or saison.

Although the pizza at this brewery is excellent and prepared with fresh ingredients and with unexpected toppings, the first courses are equally good. The many varieties of beers on tap are also worth mentioning. The restaurant is located in Campo San Polo, one of the most beautiful in Venice, and has a large front of house and outdoor tables.

The Seef brewery moved into the Noorderpershuis, a former port building in the Eilandje quarter, a couple of years ago. You can pick up a Seef beer from the tap and sit outside in the vast cobbled courtyard. It’s a relaxed hidden spot with an adventure playground, food counter and occasional DJ concerts.