Berlin: Craft Beer Tour in Friedrichshain with Pizza Pairing

Summary

Berlin craft beer bars, local stories and pizza in Friedrichshain

You’ll taste your way through Berlin’s craft beer scene in Friedrichshain with a guide who knows every story behind each pour. Expect fresh pizza to start things off, 6-9 unique beers across three bars (sometimes more), and plenty of local color along the way. You’ll leave with new favorites — or at least a few good laughs and stories to tell.

What’s the experience like?

Someone’s already sliding a pizza across the table before I even sit down at Salami Social Club — the crust is still warm, and you can smell yeast and tomato in the air. Our guide, Max (who apparently brews his own stuff at home), grins as he pours our first craft beer. He says something about “hops from Bavaria meeting Berlin attitude” and I laugh because I’m not sure what that means, but it sounds right for this city. There’s a group of us — some friends from Sweden, a couple from Spain — all crammed into this cozy spot with music humming somewhere above us.

We wander out into Friedrichshain after that, Max leading us through streets where punk stickers cover every signpost and someone’s always cycling past with a dog in their basket. The second bar smells faintly like caramel and wood polish; I try an IPA that tastes almost like grapefruit rind (in a good way). Max tells us how Berlin’s craft beer scene started as kind of a rebellion against the old rules — there’s history here, but also politics and chemistry mixed in. At one point he tries to explain “Reinheitsgebot” to me and I definitely butcher the pronunciation. He just laughs.

By the third place my notes get fuzzy, but I remember the bartender giving us this tiny sample of something smoky — honestly not my favorite, but everyone else seemed into it. There’s this moment where we’re all just standing around comparing flavors, arguing about which was best so far. The rain starts up outside but nobody seems to care; inside it’s all clinking glasses and half-finished stories. It doesn’t feel like a regular tour at all — more like being let in on something local, something growing right under your nose if you know where to look.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Craft beer tour in Friedrichshain

• Meet at Salami Social Club
• Explore Friedrichshain neighborhood
• Sample 6-9 local craft beers
• Visit three unique craft beer bars
• Enjoy artisanal pizza and beer pairing
• Learn about Berlin's beer history
• Discover Berlin's craft beer culture

Top questions

How many beers do you taste on this Berlin craft beer tour?

You’ll sample between 6 and 9 local craft beers during the tour, depending on what’s available that season.

Is food included on the Friedrichshain craft beer tour?

Yes, an artisanal pizza pairing is included at the beginning of the experience.

Where does the Berlin craft beer tour start?

The tour starts at Salami Social Club in Berlin's Friedrichshain district.

How long does the craft beer tour last?

The experience lasts about 3.5 hours from start to finish.

Are vegan or vegetarian options available for food?

Yes, vegan and vegetarian options are available for those who request them.

Is there a minimum age for joining this Berlin beer tasting?

The minimum drinking age in Germany is 16 years old for this tour.

How big are the groups on this Berlin craft beer experience?

The maximum group size is 12 people per booking.

Does the tour include information about Berlin's history?

Your guide shares stories about Berlin's history, politics, and how they connect to its craft beer culture throughout the walk.

What’s included

Your evening includes an artisanal pizza and beer pairing to kick things off at Salami Social Club, followed by tastings of 6-9 hand-picked local craft beers across three unique bars in Friedrichshain — all led by a guide who knows both brewing and Berlin inside out.