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Glasgow, Scotland, is a city that is near and dear to my heart. I lived there for a couple of years in college, so I go back every year or so. Over the years, my friends there have introduced me to the Scottish craft beer scene. It’s interesting to go back now, knowing that my first experiences drinking beer there were fueled entirely by the local mass-produced lager, Tennent’s. Nowadays, we check out the latest places to drink good beer. Based on these experiences, here is my guide to the best craft beer in Glasgow, including beer bars, breweries, taprooms, bottle shops, restaurants, & more.
The Best Craft Beer Bars in Glasgow, Scotland
The Grunting Growler
The Grunting Growler is one of my favorite craft beer bars in Glasgow. While it specializes in growler fills (hence the name) and take-away bottles and cans, there’s also space for a few tables where you can sit and enjoy a beer. They have the best overall beer selection in the city, with a wide variety from across the UK, including local favorites such as Overtone.
Address: 51 Old Dumbarton Rd, Glasgow G3 8RF, United Kingdom (map)
Inn Deep
Inn Deep is one of the most popular (and unique) beer bars in the West End of Glasgow. The bar is located underneath arches along the River Kelvin as it winds its way through the city, but it’s also accessible from street level on Great Western Road. Just enter & take the stairs down. It’s kind of a crazy spot with the perfect name.
Once you figure out how to get inside, Inn Deep has 31 taps, plus over 100 bottles and cans. There’s also sourdough pizza, tacos, burgers, and poutine.
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Outside, there’s a bit of a patio, including an entire arch that is outdoors but covered.
Address: 445 Great Western Rd, Glasgow G12 8HH, United Kingdom (map)
Koelschip Yard
Koelschip Yard (website) is a fantastic craft beer bar in Glasgow’s South Side. It has 14 taps and a cask, plus a nice selection of bottles and cans. The pub specializes in having lots of local beer, including tap takeovers.
Not only is the beer selection excellent, but everything else is as well. The bartenders & drinkers are all up for friendly conversation, whether it’s about music or somewhat oddly, the NFL.
One of the bartenders was a fellow Jimmy Eat World fan, so he put on an entire album of theirs. The rest of the music was metal & rock. Koelschip Yard is the closest bar in Glasgow to one of my favorite beer bars in San Francisco, Toronado. It’s everything I want from a beer bar.
Address: 686-688 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G41 2QB, United Kingdom (map)
Curious Liquids
Curious Liquids is a wine, beer, & spirits shop in Shawlands that’s really a whole lot more.
There are fridges with a ton of local craft beer, including Overtone & many more.
It’s a busy spot on weekends, thanks to the excellent selection of drinks, plus pizzas, cheese, and snacks.
Address: 28-30 Kilmarnock Rd, Shawlands, Glasgow G41 3NH, United Kingdom (map)
The Allison Arms
Just down the road from Koelschip Yard is another bar with a great selection of craft beer. From the outside, you might think that it’s a regular pub, but The Allison Arms has several fridges full of excellent beer.
Best of all, the fridges are located across from the bar rather than being hidden behind it, making for easy browsing. The Allison Arms feels almost as if it is hidden, but if you know that it’s there, it’s one of the best places for craft beer in Glasgow.
Address: 720 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G41 2AD, United Kingdom (map)
Blackfriars
Blackfriars is located in Merchant City. It’s a fun place that skews on the older side. They have lots of cask ales and macros, but look in the side fridges and you’ll spot a small, but quality selection of bottles and cans from around the U.K., as well as the United States and Europe.
Address: 36 Bell St, Glasgow G1 1LG, United Kingdom (map)
The Best Breweries in Glasgow, Scotland
Overtone Brewing Co.
Overtone Brewing Company started brewing in 2018 and quickly became one of the best breweries in Scotland. The brewery specializes in IPAs, but everything they make is excellent. Overtone was started by American head brewer Danial Miller & founder Bowei Wang.
Although Overtone does not yet have a taproom open to the public, its beers can be found at almost any top beer bar in Glasgow and all over the rest of the UK. If I see that a bar has Overtone, I know I’m in a great place.
Drygate Brewing Co.
Drygate is located near Glasgow Cathedral, in an area with a rich brewing tradition. Breweries have existed in this neighborhood for hundreds of years. Drygate’s brewery & brewpub is located just next to the massive Tennent’s complex. If it seems surprising that they would build in the shadow of a large producer, it makes more sense when you learn that Drygate is actually a joint venture of the owner of Tennent’s & Williams Bros Brewing.
The brewpub is sprawling, with some outdoor areas to enjoy on those rare days when Scotland’s weather cooperates. Had Drygate existed back when I was at the nearby University of Strathclyde, I would have spent a lot of time and money there.
Address: 85 Drygate, Glasgow G4 0UT, United Kingdom (map)
Innis & Gunn
Innis & Gunn (website) is based in Perth, but has a few taprooms around Scotland, including one in the West End of Glasgow and one in the city centre.
The West End Innis & Gunn taproom is located on Ashton Lane, a beautiful street known for its bars and restaurants.
The brewpub has around 23 taps of beer, including the core Innis & Gunn range, their one-offs and specialty brews, and up to 10 guest taps, including some from great Scottish breweries such as Overtone & Vault City. There is also an extensive list of cans and bottles.
There is a full food menu, which also includes weekday lunch specials where not only are the meals cheaper, but they also come with a half pint of their beer or another drink.
Address: 44 – 46 Ashton Ln, Hillhead, Glasgow G12 8SJ, United Kingdom (map) – West End
Address: 22-24 W Nile St, Glasgow G1 2PW, United Kingdom (map) – City Centre
Shilling Brewing Company
Shilling Brewing Company is one of the more prominent recent entrants to Glasgow’s craft beer scene. Thanks to it being the most central craft beer bar in Glasgow, it has quickly become popular. I first visited during the holiday period, and it was very crowded.
However, Shilling Brewing Company was a quiet place for a pint on subsequent weekday visits. During the daytime, large windows let in whatever Scottish sunshine is available for the day. The bar has art deco decor with copper, metal, and clean lines.
It’s definitely the place to go for a wide selection of beer. There is also a full bar & some great pizza available.
With brewing done on the premises, Shilling offers a few of their own beers on tap directly from tanks. Guest beers round out the lineup, with some cans and bottles available as well. The bar has 31 lines in total. The guest beers tend to be mostly from very small breweries around Scotland & England, including local Overtone & The Kernel from London.
Address: 92 W George St, Glasgow G2 1PJ, United Kingdom (map)
WEST Brewery
WEST Brewery (website) is a beer garden located near the People’s Palace on Glasgow Green. It’s a huge place, both inside and out.
The brewery brews in accordance with German purity laws, so as you might expect the beers lean toward German styles such as lagers & radlers. They offer tours and events such as weddings.
There is a food menu with traditional German bar snacks, burgers, & hot dogs, but there’s also Scottish food as well. The beer garden menu is a bit more limited.
Address: 15 Binnie Pl, Glasgow G40 1AW, United Kingdom (map)
The Best Beer Bottle Shops in Glasgow
Valhalla’s Goat
Valhalla’s Goat (website) is located right on the same street as Inn Deep in Glasgow’s West End.
The bottle shop has an amazing selection of hundreds of craft beers from all over the world. They also have a great selection of wines, whiskies, ciders, and more.
Address: 449 Great Western Rd, Glasgow G12 8HH, United Kingdom (map)
Wee Beer Shop
Wee Beer Shop (website) is the premier bottle shop on Glasgow’s South Side. Since opening in 2017, the family-run store has specialized in selling the best craft beer from independent breweries.
Address: 623 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G41 2QG, United Kingdom (map)
Glasgow is a city with a great reputation for drinking. While much of this takes place in the mindset of drinking what’s cheap & convenient, it has been good to see everyone embrace craft beer in Glasgow more and more through the years.
Have you spotted any other great Glasgow beer bars or breweries? 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!
