Craft Beer Tour Bristol

Ten beers, four stops, zero guesswork. This Bristol craft beer tour strings together local breweries and tap rooms for an easy 3.5-hour afternoon, starting at Little Martha Brewpub. You’ll get expert-led tastings as you sample a total of 10 Bristolian beers, with a route that nudges you off the usual tourist trail.

I especially like that the price includes all drinks, so you can focus on the beer instead of adding up pints. I also like the small cap, up to 20 people, which keeps the vibe social without turning it into a loud cattle line. And the tour is guided in English, so you can actually ask questions instead of guessing.

One watch-out: meals and snacks are not included. Plan to eat before you go, because this tour is built around tasting, not a full lunch.

Key highlights you will feel right away

• 10 Bristolian beers tasted on an expert-led route
• All drinks included in the $61.70 price
• Small group size capped at 20, with time to talk
• Starts at Little Martha Brewpub (23 Oxford St, BS2 0QT) at 1:30 pm
• Ends at Left Handed Giant St Philips Brewery and Tap Room (BS2 0JE), so plan your return

A Bristol beer crawl built for real tasting, not just drinking

Craft beer in Bristol is not hard to find, but a good tasting route is another story. This tour is designed around learning as you sip, so each stop feels purposeful rather than random hopping.

The heart of the experience is simple: you sample 10 different Bristolian beers, and you do it with an in-person guide who talks you through what you are tasting. That matters, because beer is not just a flavor, it is ingredients, fermentation, and style choices that shape what you notice in the glass.

If you like meeting people who care about beer, you will probably have a fun time here. The max group of 20 keeps things lively and lets you actually chat while walking between venues.

The route, and why the Little Martha start makes sense

Your tour begins at Little Martha Brewpub, 23 Oxford St, BS2 0QT, Bristol. The listed start time is 1:30 pm, and the whole experience runs about 3 hours 30 minutes.

Starting at Little Martha is smart because it gives you a baseline before you head out to other Bristol breweries and beer bars. You get your bearings fast: you taste, you pick up a few style pointers, and then the rest of the day builds on that.

From there, the tour visits a mix of Bristol venues. One sample route described includes a stop at Left Handed Giant, and many people also mention Wiper and True as part of the day. The official end point is Left Handed Giant at Wadehurst Industrial Park, Unit 3, St Philips Rd, BS2 0JE, so expect at least that stop to be part of the closing leg.

Because the end point is not your starting address, I recommend you treat this as a half-day plan rather than something to bolt onto an afternoon schedule. Choose your travel back accordingly, and consider pairing it with an early dinner or a late lunch the same day.

What you actually get for $61.70, and where the value comes from

At $61.70 per person for roughly 3.5 hours, the best way to judge value is to look at what is included. Here, all drinks are included, plus admission and an in-person guide.

That shifts the math. If you were to buy a series of pints and tasters on your own, you would quickly spend more than the tour price, and you would still miss the structure that tells you what to look for in each style.

You also get the practical benefit of not having to plan stops or decide what to order. The tour brings you to places that fit the day’s theme: craft beer in Bristol, with tastings designed to help you compare flavors and styles.

The only part you need to handle yourself is food. Meals and snacks are not included, so eating beforehand is the easiest way to protect the vibe and keep your tasting steady.

Meet Nathan, the guide who turns beer into a story you can taste

The biggest theme in the guide feedback is consistent: the experience is made better by the guide. A name that comes up again and again is Nathan, described as friendly, funny, and full of beer facts.

That kind of guide energy matters on a beer tour. You want someone who can translate beer into plain talk, like what makes an IPA taste like an IPA, or why a stout feels heavier in the mouth. You also want someone who can keep the group moving at a pace that does not feel rushed.

Based on the descriptions, Nathan tends to cover a wide range of beer styles, from lagers to IPAs and stouts. That is a great mix for beginners, but it also works for people who already have strong opinions, because you can test those opinions against what is in the glass.

You should also expect the tasting lineup to be arranged in a way that makes comparisons easier. One route note mentions starting with smaller-to-larger expressions, which can help your palate adjust instead of getting hit all at once.

Stop-by-stop: how each venue slot works in the day

This tour runs on a simple rhythm: meet at Little Martha, taste and learn, walk to the next Bristol venue, taste again, then end after the final stop. Even with a small group, you still cover real ground, so it works best if you are comfortable with light walking between places.

Stop 1: Little Martha Brewpub (the start you build from)

You begin at Little Martha Brewpub on Oxford Street at 1:30 pm. The stop time at the first venue is listed as about 30 minutes, and that sets the tone for the rest of the tour.

This is usually where you figure out what you like quickly. If you are new to craft beer, you can use this start to learn basic flavor terms and get your palate warmed up. If you are a beer nerd, you can use the first tastings to benchmark style differences you will see later.

Stop(s) after Little Martha: Bristol breweries and craft bars

After the start, the tour continues to a variety of Bristol-based breweries and craft beer bars, keeping the total duration to about 3.5 hours.

The value here is variety. You are not just sampling beer in one type of place. Different venues often reflect different brewing approaches and different taps, which is exactly what you want for a tasting-focused afternoon.

The closing point: Left Handed Giant at St Philips

The tour’s end location is Left Handed Giant St Philips Brewery and Tap Room at Wadehurst Industrial Park, Unit 3 St Philips Rd, BS2 0JE. Ending at a brewery tap room can feel like a satisfying wrap-up because it typically connects your last tastings to the real brewing side.

If you plan dinner afterward, build in transit time from St Philips. Bristol can be easy to walk around, but this tour ends away from the Oxford Street start.

Who this tour fits best, and who might want to skip it

This is a beer tour, so it fits best if you genuinely enjoy drinking and comparing styles. You also need to be okay with tastings taking most of the time, because there are no meals or snacks included.

It is well suited for:

• First-time craft beer explorers who want structure and guidance
• Beer lovers who like learning the why behind flavors
• Groups who want a social afternoon with a small cap of 20

It might be less ideal if:

• You are looking for food-based sightseeing, because this is tasting-first
• You get frustrated when a day is guided and timed rather than wander-at-will

The tour is for 18+ participants. If you look under 25, you will need to show ID, so bring it.

Practical tips so you taste more and feel better

A tasting tour is fun when your pace is steady. Here are a few practical ways to make the day work for you.

Eat first. Since meals and snacks are not included, do not show up on an empty stomach. A simple meal beforehand can help you enjoy the full lineup instead of getting sluggish or queasy.

Go easy on heavy drinking habits before the tour. Even if you plan to taste rather than chug, beer is still alcohol, and the day is built around multiple stops.

Wear shoes that handle quick walks. The tour moves between venues around Bristol, and you will likely spend time on sidewalks, steps, and door-to-door transitions.

If you are sensitive to crowds, lean on the group size. With a maximum of 20, it stays manageable, but you will still be in a shared experience. Arrive a few minutes early at Little Martha so you start calmly.

Bring your ID. The tour runs in England and requires 18+, with ID checks if you look under 25.

Logistics you should know before you go

This tour offers a mobile ticket, and confirmation is received at the time of booking. It runs in English, and the meeting point is close to public transportation, which is helpful for connecting to the rest of your day.

The start and end locations are different. You start at Little Martha on Oxford Street, and you finish at Left Handed Giant on St Philips Rd, so plan your route back home accordingly.

The experience is also dependent on weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Should you book this Craft Beer Tour Bristol?

Book it if you want a guided, tasting-focused half-day in Bristol and you like the idea of 10 local beers with drinks handled for you. The biggest value driver is that all drinks are included, and the guide component turns random tasting into something you can actually learn from.

I would especially recommend it if you are traveling with one or two friends who want a structured plan, because the small group size makes it social without being exhausting. Also, if you like craft beer bars and breweries and want to see beyond the most obvious spots, this is a sensible way to do that in a limited time.

Skip it if you are not drinking-friendly, if you are hungry and want food included, or if you prefer a fully self-guided itinerary. This is a beer tour first, sightseeing second.

If you are on the fence, here is the deciding question: do you want someone to set the route and help you compare beers in plain talk? If yes, this tour is a strong bet.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and where does it end?

It starts at Little Martha Brewpub, 23 Oxford St, Bristol BS2 0QT. The end point is Left Handed Giant St Philips Brewery and Tap Room, Wadehurst Industrial Park, Unit 3 St Philips Rd, Bristol BS2 0JE.

What time does the tour start, and how long does it last?

The tour starts at 1:30 pm and lasts about 3 hours 30 minutes.

Are drinks included in the price?

Yes. All drinks are included, along with entry or admission fees and an in-person guide.

How many beers will we taste?

The tour is described as tasting 10 different Bristolian beers.

Is the tour for adults only?

Yes, it is 18+. If you look under 25, you will need to show ID.

Is the tour in English, and do I get a ticket on my phone?

The tour is offered in English, and it uses a mobile ticket.

What happens if the weather is bad or the tour cannot run?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. It also requires a minimum number of travelers, and if that minimum is not met you will be offered a different date or a full refund.