Bogotá: Craft Beer Tour with Tasting

Beer tells Bogotá’s story well. This three-hour tour links local breweries, neighborhood bars, and Colombian traditions in a way that makes each drink mean more. I like the mix of craft beer tasting and cultural history, and I like that the small group is limited to 10 people, which makes meeting others easy. The main catch is simple: you drink quite a bit, and some early start times can make the first bars feel quiet.

You meet at the Cranky Croc hostel on Cl. 12d #346. From there, an English-speaking guide leads you through a series of beer stops in Bogotá, beginning with a traditional game and ending at a bar with one of the city’s biggest beer selections.

The price is $58 per person. That includes a bottle of beer, five pints or glasses, and extra samples. It is a fair deal if you want several tastings, local guidance, and a social evening in one package. If you do not drink beer, the experience is less suitable, though some guides have helped guests find alternatives.

Five things to know before you book

• The tour starts with Tapazo: This traditional Colombian game breaks the ice before anyone has to make small talk over a beer.
• The history is part of the fun: You learn how Colonial, Republican, and Modern Colombia shaped local beer production and drinking culture.
• You visit several different beer settings: Huitaca, Manigua, Medellin, a trendy in-house brewery, and a final bar with a wide selection each bring a different mood.
• The tasting goes beyond beer: Chicha, aguardiente, flavored spirits, and local ingredients such as coffee, chocolate, and passion fruit may appear along the way.
• It works especially well for solo visitors: Guides including Melissa, Cristian, Camila, Andrea, and Alejandra have been praised for making newcomers feel comfortable.
• Plan for a proper drinking session: A bottle, five pours, and samples in three hours can leave you feeling the effects, so eat beforehand and pace yourself.

Starting with Tapazo at the Cranky Croc

The meeting point is the Cranky Croc hostel, a practical place to begin in Bogotá. The tour opens with Tapazo, a traditional Colombian game used as a warm-up. You get a quick introduction to the other members of the group, and the awkward first minutes of a social tour disappear fast.

This opening matters more than it may seem. The group can include solo visitors, couples, and friends from different countries. A game gives everyone something to do before the first tasting. Several people have found the social side to be one of the best parts of the afternoon, especially when they joined alone.

Your guide also sets the tone. Melissa has received especially warm praise for her friendly style and clear explanations, while Cristian has been described as making the afternoon feel like being shown around by a local relative. Guides have included Camila, Andrea, Alejandra, Maria, Yuly, Luciani, and others, so the exact personality of the experience depends on who leads your group.

The tour is limited to 10 participants. That is a useful size for a tasting. You can ask questions without shouting across a crowded room, and the guide can keep track of everyone as the group moves between stops.

An old Bogotá house and the first Colombian brewer

After the game, the tour moves to an old house connected with the first beer brewed by a Colombian. This gives the tasting a sense of place before the glasses begin to arrive. Instead of treating beer as a modern import or a list of trendy labels, the guide places it within Colombia’s past.

The history is divided into three periods: Colonial, Republican, and Modern. You learn how each period affected beer production and the culture around drinking it. The point is not to memorize dates. It is to understand how a drink can reflect the country’s changes in politics, society, and daily life.

This section also helps explain why the tour includes more than standard pale ales. Colombian drinking culture includes older local drinks and indigenous traditions, and some guides have added chicha or aguardiente when guests wanted to try something distinctly local.

Chicha is particularly useful in this setting. It is not simply another beer sample. It connects the drinking experience to indigenous communities and traditions that are easy to miss on a normal bar crawl. If you want a taste of Colombia rather than only a taste of imported brewing styles, pay attention here.

Huitaca brings tropical flavor to the tasting

The first brewery stop is Huitaca, where you enjoy a pint of tropical beer. The exact beer selection can change, but the important feature is the use of regional flavor and a style that feels suited to Bogotá’s growing craft scene.

A tropical beer is a good early pour because it gives you an immediate contrast with the mass-market lagers commonly associated with Colombia. You begin noticing fruit, sweetness, bitterness, and texture rather than simply deciding if a beer is cold.

The guides explain the drinks as you go. Past participants have especially enjoyed learning about beers made with local ingredients, including passion fruit, coffee, and chocolate. Those additions can be a fun way to connect a glass to Colombia’s produce and food culture, though not every beer will suit every palate.

That is one point to keep in mind. A tasting tour is not a parade of universally perfect drinks. Some pours may be favorites, while others may seem too sweet, too bitter, or simply less interesting. The value comes from trying a range and learning what you like.

Manigua and Medellin: two more local beer stops

The route continues to Manigua and Medellin, two local craft beer spots that add more variety to the afternoon. Rather than staying in one brewery, you see how different bars present local beer and how the atmosphere changes from stop to stop.

This variety is a strong reason to choose the tour over ordering random beers on your own. You get a guided route through places you might not find easily, plus an explanation of what is in your glass. You also get a short walking tour between venues, which helps connect the bars to the city around them.

The experience can be flexible. One past group found that a planned location had run out of beer, so the itinerary changed. That is not ideal if you expect every stop to follow a fixed script, but it also reflects the reality of small independent breweries. Stock can change, and a good guide needs to adjust.

The tour has sometimes included other Colombian drinks at these stages. Aguardiente and chicha may be available or introduced by request, depending on the group and the stop. If you have already tried the main beer styles, ask your guide about local alternatives.

If you prefer not to drink beer, speak up early. One guest who did not drink beer was helped with alternative drinks, but another noted that alternatives were not available at every venue. This is a beer-focused tour, not a general nonalcoholic tasting.

A working mini-brewery in a Bogotá bar

One of the more interesting stops is a trendy Bogotá bar that makes its own beer. Here, the drink comes with a look at a mini-brewery in action. You can see how the bar’s own brewing operation forms part of its identity rather than treating beer as something that arrives from a distant factory.

The atmosphere also shifts. This is a place where locals may be stopping for a drink after work, so you get a better sense of ordinary city nightlife than you would at a tour designed only for international visitors. One of the tour’s strengths is this mix of places aimed at visitors and venues used more by Colombians.

That difference can be subtle but valuable. A polished craft beer room tells you about Bogotá’s newer brewing scene. A local bar tells you how people use these spaces in everyday life. Together, they make the tour feel less like a simple tasting menu.

The timing affects this stop. One person found the start time too early, with few people in the first bars. A late-afternoon or early-evening departure may provide a livelier mood, but availability varies. Check the starting time when you book and remember that the activity lasts about three hours.

Finishing at Casa Magola and Bogotá’s widest beer choice

The final stop is a major part of the experience. It has one of the biggest craft beer selections in Bogotá, so you can finish by choosing something close to your own taste. If the earlier pours have shown you that you prefer fruit-forward beers, dark beers, or something more bitter, this is your chance to make a more informed choice.

Casa Magola has also been praised for its food and atmosphere, making it a satisfying end to the afternoon. Food is not listed as part of the included package, so do not assume a meal is covered. Still, the final stop gives you a chance to order something if you are hungry after several tastings.

This is also where the social side often reaches its high point. The group has shared several venues, learned a few facts together, and usually has enough common ground for easy conversation. Some groups have continued drinking or socializing after the official tour, occasionally much later than planned.

That can be a plus if you want a night out with new friends. It can also be a warning. The scheduled tour is three hours, but the alcohol can make the evening feel longer, and you may be tempted to keep going. Know your limit and arrange your plans accordingly.

What you actually receive for $58

The $58 price includes:

• One bottle of beer
• Five pints or glasses of beer
• Additional samples
• An English-speaking guide
• A small group capped at 10 people

On a simple bar crawl, that amount of alcohol could cost a large share of the price. Here, you are also paying for the route, the explanations, the game, and help navigating places you might not choose by yourself.

I think the value is strongest for someone who wants structure. You do not need to research Bogotá breweries, decide where to go, or work out how to move between several venues. You simply meet the guide and let the afternoon unfold.

The value is weaker if you only want one or two beers, or if you already know Bogotá’s craft beer scene well. It is also less compelling for a person who does not drink beer and does not want to spend three hours around alcohol.

The 4.9 rating from 120 verified bookings reflects the tour’s main strengths: warm guides, good social energy, strong drink selection, and a useful connection between beer and Colombian culture. The occasional drawbacks are practical rather than dramatic: an early start, a venue running low on beer, or limited alternatives for people avoiding beer.

Safety, comfort, and practical planning

Wear comfortable shoes. You will move between several bars and breweries, and the experience includes walking through the city rather than staying in one building.

Do not bring luggage or a large bag. The tour is not designed for hauling travel gear between stops. Pets are not allowed, and the activity is not suitable for pregnant women.

The tour is wheelchair accessible. If you use a wheelchair, it is still sensible to confirm the day’s route and venue arrangements before departure, since the listed stops can change.

Eat before you arrive. The included package focuses on beer and samples, not a full meal. A proper meal also helps you handle the tasting pace, especially if you are not used to Bogotá’s altitude or to drinking several portions in a short period.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful when your Bogotá schedule is still shifting.

Who will enjoy this Bogotá beer tour most?

I would recommend it first to solo visitors and social couples. The Tapazo game and small group make it easy to meet people, and several guides have been praised for helping groups connect. It is a friendly way to spend a late afternoon before dinner.

It also suits anyone interested in Colombian culture but tired of formal museum tours. The history is delivered through places, drinks, and conversation. You learn about beer, but you also hear about Bogotá and Colombia more broadly.

Craft beer fans should enjoy the range of styles and local ingredients. You will not love every pour, but you will leave with a clearer sense of what Bogotá’s independent brewers are doing.

I would be more cautious if you dislike alcohol, need a quiet schedule, or want a tightly fixed itinerary. The group energy can lead to an extended evening, and the route may shift if a venue lacks a particular beer.

FAQ

Where does the Bogotá craft beer tour meet?

The meeting point is the Cranky Croc hostel at Cl. 12d #346 in Bogotá, Colombia.

How long does the tour last?

The scheduled duration is three hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

How much beer is included?

The package includes one bottle of beer, five pints or glasses of beer, and additional samples.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour has a live English-speaking guide.

Is the tour suitable for someone who does not drink beer?

It is possible to ask about alternative drinks, and some guides have helped guests with options such as other local drinks. However, alternatives are not guaranteed at every stop because this is primarily a beer tasting.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve your place and pay later.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want more than a flight of beer. You get a small-group route through Bogotá, a playful start with Tapazo, stories tied to Colonial, Republican, and Modern Colombia, local craft breweries, chicha and other possible tastings, and a final bar with plenty of choice.

The strongest reason to go is the guides. Melissa, Cristian, Camila, Andrea, Alejandra, and others have made the experience feel personal, safe, and easy to join. The main reason to hesitate is the alcohol pace and the occasional early, quiet start.

For a solo visitor, a curious beer drinker, or anyone wanting a social introduction to Bogotá, $58 is a reasonable price. Eat first, wear good walking shoes, skip the large bag, and arrive ready to try something beyond beer.