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Liverpool has plenty of places to drink. On weekends, the city centre is especially busy with people looking for fun at party bars and cool cocktail bars alike. Liverpool also has tons of craft beer. Here are 16 great places for craft beer in Liverpool, including breweries, beer bars, bottle shops, and taprooms.
The Best Craft Beer Bars in Liverpool
The Dead Crafty Beer Company
Local favorite The Dead Crafty Beer Company has the best selection of craft beer in Liverpool, offering 20 taps, plus over 200 bottles and cans. It’s an outstanding collection & an obvious reason why the bar is so popular. Dead Crafty also hosts frequent events and tap takeovers. For example, they held a fundraiser for Ukraine with beer that was rescued from the country.
In addition to the beer selection, it’s also a great place to hang out, with a bright front room, outside tables (provided the weather is suitable), and rock music playing. The bar even looks like road cases used for music tours. Dogs are welcome, with the bar offering their own biscuits to snack on.
Address: 92 Dale St, Liverpool L2 5TF, United Kingdom (map)
Albert’s Schenke
Albert’s Schenke is a German beer hall in the Liverpool city centre that also offers craft beer. The bright corner space is a popular spot at any time of day thanks to the food & beer selection.
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Amongst their 14 taps, you’ll find German favorites like Paulaner and Erdinger, along with local craft beers such as their house Liverpool Rein, as well as fresh unpasteurized tank Pilsner Urquell. If you’re looking to try their rotating taps, you can do flights of up to 6 beers. There are also some bottles and cans. As is often the case in Liverpool, there are happy hour deals.
As you might expect, the food menu has plenty of German favorites like bratwurst and pretzels, plus lunch specials.
Address: 16 Hanover St, Liverpool L1 4AA, United Kingdom (map)
Bundobust
Most craft beer bars tend to have similar food menus featuring pub standards. Not Bundobust. The Manchester-based brewery has taprooms that not only offer good beer selections, but they also serve good Indian street food, all of which is vegetarian/vegan.
Bundobust’s Liverpool taproom is a colorful spot with Bollywood posters on the wall, plus 12 taps & 2 casks, as well as bottles and cans. The brewery frequently collaborates with other breweries such as Northern Monk, DEYA, and North. Bundobust is a cool fun concept all-around, a great place to visit with friends and get a bunch of dishes to share.
Address: First Floor, 17-19 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4DN, United Kingdom (map)
The Head of Steam
The Head of Steam has over a dozen locations around the UK, with one in Liverpool. The spacious bar is a dependable spot for some solid beer along with a good meal, especially if you want to watch live sport.
The gastropub has 20+ draft & cask craft beers and ciders, plus also dozens of cans and bottles.
Their food menu has a variety of dishes including kebabs, pizza, and burgers, as well as brunch. Half the menu is vegan.
Address: 85 Hanover St, Liverpool L1 3DY, United Kingdom (map)
The Ship & Mitre
Looking for a proper pub in Liverpool that also has an outstanding beer selection? The Ship & Mitre has you covered.
With lots of old wood and cozy corners filled with conversation, the bar feels like a throwback where you’d just order a pint of whatever they have because that’s all they offer. Instead, the Ship & Mitre has over 200 different beers on draft, cask, and in bottles and cans, including a particularly large German & Belgian selection. A couple of house beers are from the affiliated Flagship Brewery, while food from The One Pan Band includes scouse, fish & chips, and loaded fries. The chicken satay fries are delicious.
The vibe is very much a friendly neighborhood feel, skewing a bit older than the typical craft beer bar, which is part of the relaxed charm.
Address: 133 Dale St, Liverpool L2 2JH, United Kingdom (map)
The Angus Tap & Grind
The Angus Tap & Grind is a combination of a coffee shop & a craft beer bar.
A chill daytime hangout with large bright windows that then shifts as the hours grow later (including live music), The Angus Tap & Grind has up to 8 craft beer taps & 6 real ale casks, plus about a dozen local cans.
They also operate another small pub called The Coach House by The Angus.
Address: 83 – 85 Dale St, Liverpool L2 2HT, United Kingdom (map)
The Bridewell
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more original watering hole than The Bridewell.
Located inside a former police station from the 19th century, the holding cells are now all cool nooks for drinking in, also showing live sport on TV. Charles Dickens once visited (and was sworn in as a special constable) when he conducted research for “The Uncommercial Traveller.”
The unique spot has 5 craft beer taps (plus a few German offerings), as well 5 casks, and has been named a CAMRA Pub of The Year. The Bridewell’s sister pub The Denbigh Castle has a similar selection.
Address: 1 Campbell Square, Liverpool L1 5FB, United Kingdom (map)
Belgica
Fans of Belgian beer will enjoy Belgica. In addition to 11 Belgian taps, there are also a few dozen cans and bottles (including some that are local craft beer).
The multi-level bar has good music, open mic nights, and also shows live sport. On weekends, the basement cocktail bar, dubbed the Monastery, plays hip-hop, funk, and R&B. It also has a full food menu that includes classic Belgian dishes such as moules frites and waffles, as well as burgers, bratwurst, all-you-can-eat ribs on Thursdays, and bottomless brunches.
Address: 96 Wood St, Liverpool L1 4DQ, United Kingdom (map)
Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet is another 19th-century Liverpool pub that’s been lovingly brought into the modern era. The father & daughter-operated Baltic Fleet merits a visit simply for being cool.
The craft beer & cask ale selection isn’t massive, but it’s all local. There’s a large outside patio for warm days and an inside fireplace for cold days. The bar has creaky wooden floors and Cunard, White Star, and other ship posters on the walls, just as an old dockside pub should.
Address: 33A Wapping, Liverpool L1 8DQ, United Kingdom (map)
Hobo Kiosk
Hobo Kiosk is an intimate basement bar with a quirky Bohemian vibe, including 6 taps of local craft beer, plus some cans.
Owners Delia & Tristan have created a warm, fun spot with great conversation, board games, film nights, eclectic music, mismatched furniture, and well, mismatched everything.
Address: 9 Bridgewater St, Liverpool L1 0AR, United Kingdom (map)
The Grapes
The Grapes is another traditional Liverpool pub with wood floors, a bench pattern that’s somehow reminiscent of the southwestern USA, and a selection of craft beer. While it’s best known for its 9 cask real ale selection, they also have 4 craft beer taps.
Since the pub is a little bit outside of the main nightlife areas of Liverpool, it has more of a neighborhood vibe. Here I met a couple of regulars who were happy to give local recommendations about other cool things to see and do in Liverpool.
Address: 60 Roscoe St, Liverpool L1 9DW, United Kingdom (map)
The Belvedere Arms
The Belvedere Arms is another quieter neighborhood pub.
It has 4 casks and 4 craft beer taps, plus a nice little fridge with a small selection of a couple dozen or so local cans. Try the pork pies too!
Address: 5 Sugnall St, Liverpool L7 7EB, United Kingdom (map)
The Best Breweries in Liverpool
Love Lane Brewery, Bar, & Kitchen
Love Lane Brewery, Bar, & Kitchen is located in a nicely refurbished warehouse space in the Baltic Triangle. In addition to having taken over the brewing of Higson’s, a Liverpool beer brand that dates back to 1780, Love Lane also distills as the Ginsmiths of Liverpool. The brewery was originally located in an archway on Love Lane but quickly outgrew the space.
Inside their expansive new building, there are 6 taps (available as flights), live music, and a food menu featuring pizza, burgers, and snacks.
Love Lane beer is also available at many other Liverpool bars.
Address: 62 Bridgewater St, Liverpool L1 0AY, United Kingdom (map)
Black Lodge Brewing
If you visit enough craft breweries, sooner or later you’ll find yourself wandering around some off-the-beaten-path industrial estates. While Black Lodge Brewing isn’t in the middle of nowhere (it’s in the Baltic Triangle not far from Love Lane Brewing), getting to it isn’t as straightforward as it initially appears on a map.
Black Lodge is surrounded by brick walls on 3 sides, so you can only reach it from the west, which is probably the least likely way you’d be traveling from.
However, once you’re there, you’ll find a huge beer garden, 10 taps, plus a food cart with burgers outside.
Address: 3 Kings Dock St, Liverpool L1 8JU, United Kingdom (map)
Carnival Brewing Company
Carnival Brewing Company is located to the north of the Liverpool city centre near Princes Dock.
The bright airy space is only open on weekends, making it a popular spot after work on Friday evenings. The brewery has 12 kegs and 2 casks plus some cans, as well as punk & emo music playing on the stereo.
Address: Industrial Estate, Unit 3 King Edward St, Gibraltar Row, Liverpool L3 7HJ, United Kingdom (map)
Azvex Brewery & Taproom
Azvex Brewery & Taproom is the newest craft brewery in Liverpool. It’s located right across the street from Carnival Brewing Company.
Prior to finally opening their taproom to the public, Azvex beers could be found in some top Liverpool craft beer bars, quickly generating high ratings & acclaim. That’s not surprising, since founder Adam Henderson also started the well-regarded Neon Raptor in Nottingham.
Address: Unit 16 King Edward St, Gibraltar Row, Liverpool L3 7HJ, United Kingdom (map)
If you have any other favorite places for craft beer in Liverpool, let me know in the comments!
Do you love craft beer? Check out more of my recommendations for the best craft beer around the world!
Here are some great Liverpool tours & activities & other things to see & do in Liverpool.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Liverpool, check out these Liverpool hotels.
Another great write-up Jon! Followed in your footsteps a few months ago and travelled out a bit further to Waterloo and Crosby where my mate stays when he’s back home visiting family. A very different vibe to central Liverpool, but enough to recommend a decent day out in itself.
The Old Tap – small but well-curated craft beer spot in Crosby
The Volly (aka Volunteer Canteen) – authentic real ale and craft beer pub where it’s nigh on impossible not to get cosy with the locals around (either side) of the bar
Timberwolf – did not visit, but a logical stop off if you’re strolling between the two above serving coffee, craft and cakes
Crosby Coffee – excellent coffee shop and roastery and very close to…
The Oxford – newly opened. They do a fantastic breakfast until 2pm and then switch things up in the evening with an excellent evening menu. Had a couple of craft taps too.
And while you’re in the area you’d be remiss not to take a stroll down Crosby Beach to visit the Anthony Gormley sculptures before they become totally submerged by the drifting sands. There was also a pop-up bar in an old double-decker bus (called, appropriately enough, the Bus Yard) when we visited. The Guinness was adequate but the views over the Mersey phenomenal
Awesome, thanks for all the great suggestions! I’ll have to check them out next time I’m drinking in Liverpool