Reykjavik: Private Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting at Malbygg & RVK

Inside Iceland's Craft Beer Scene: Two Breweries, One Afternoon

You visit two Reykjavik microbreweries — Malbygg and RVK Brewing — in one private tour, tasting their full range of beers in the taprooms themselves. Along the way you learn the short, intense history of craft beer in Iceland, how local ingredients shape the flavor, and what it takes to brew in a harsh climate. Alcoholic beverages are included throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Visit Malbygg Microbrewery
• Learn brewing history and process
• Sample beers at Malbygg
• Visit RVK Brewing Company
• Learn about Icelandic beer history
• Sample beers at RVK Brewing

The Experience

The brewer at Malbygg doesn't rush the explanation. He walks you through the tanks, points to the hops, and when you ask why everything tastes so different here, he laughs a little and says the water, the barley, the cold — it all changes what you can do. Malbygg started in 2017, and the whole operation still feels like people making beer they actually want to drink, not a formula. You'll taste their hoppy beers first, then move into the kettle-soured stuff, the stouts, the wild ales. It's not a tasting menu where everything is tiny; you're in the taproom, and the samples are real pours.

Then you head to RVK Brewing, and the story shifts. The founder, Siggi, spent years in New York finance before he decided that was not it — he wanted to make good beer in Iceland instead. That matters because beer was literally illegal here until the late eighties. Smuggled in, watered down, not great. So when RVK started, they weren't just opening a brewery; they were writing the next chapter of something that barely existed. You'll learn about the local ingredients, the specific challenges of brewing in Iceland's climate, and taste what they've figured out so far. The two breweries show you two different angles on the same small, young scene.

The whole private tour keeps groups small, which means you're not standing in a crowd of thirty people trying to hear over noise. You move between the two taprooms, sample as you go, and the brewers or staff talk to you directly — not a script, just people who know their work. If you're into beer or curious about how a place with almost no brewing tradition built one in five years, this is where you see it happen.

What’s included

• Visits to Malbygg Microbrewery and RVK Brewing Company.
• beer tastings at both taprooms.
• lessons on Icelandic brewing history, the brewing process, and local ingredients.
• insight into the challenges of brewing in Iceland's climate.
• alcoholic beverages throughout the tour.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Your Friend In Reykjavik

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand how Iceland's craft beer scene works without arranging transport between two separate breweries or navigating the taprooms alone — the private format and guided tastings do both at once.

Top questions

How long is the private brewery tour in Reykjavik?

The itinerary doesn't specify a total duration, but you visit two breweries with tastings at each, so plan for a few hours.

Which breweries are included in this tour?

Malbygg Microbrewery and RVK Brewing Company. Malbygg opened in 2017 and focuses on hoppy beers, kettle-soured beers, stouts, and wild ales. RVK was founded by Siggi, a former finance worker from New York.

What beers will I taste?

At Malbygg, you'll sample their hoppy beers, kettle-soured beers, stouts, and wild or sour ales. At RVK, you'll taste their range of beers. Both breweries use local Icelandic ingredients.

Is this tour suitable for non-beer drinkers?

The tour is designed for beer enthusiasts, but you'll also learn about Icelandic brewing history and the challenges of brewing in Iceland's climate, which may appeal to those interested in the cultural side.

Are alcoholic beverages included?

Yes, alcoholic beverages are included throughout the tour.

Is public transportation available to the breweries?

Yes, public transportation options are available nearby both breweries.

Why is Icelandic beer different from beer elsewhere?

Iceland's harsh climate, local water, barley, and ingredients create unique brewing conditions. Beer was also illegal in Iceland until the late eighties, so the craft beer scene is very young — only about thirty-five years old.