Carlsberg Brewery Tours (Home of Carlsberg)

Where Danish Beer History Took Shape

Home of Carlsberg occupies the hillside where brewer J.C. Jacobsen founded his pioneering brewery in 1847, turning a rural edge of Copenhagen into an industrial powerhouse. Today the red‑brick complexes along Gamle Carlsberg Vej retain their 19th‑century gravitas, with ornate gatehouses, brick chimneys and decorative details hinting at the company’s ambition. Walking into the courtyard, you stand inside the birthplace of one of Denmark’s most recognisable exports, surrounded by buildings that once housed fermenting tuns and laboratories. Carlsberg’s story stretches beyond beer into science, philanthropy and art. The site helps you trace how laboratory breakthroughs in yeast, quality control and refrigeration made their way from these cellars to breweries worldwide. Throughout the area you encounter the Jacobsen family name, reminders that this is as much a family saga of ideals and disagreements as it is a corporate success story.

An Exhibition That You Can See, Smell and Taste

At the heart of the experience is a sprawling, contemporary exhibition laid out across several floors of the old brewery. Modern scenography, atmospheric lighting and interactive screens guide you through themed zones on ingredients, brewing techniques, design, and global expansion. You can experiment virtually with recipes, learn how different malts and hops influence flavour, and follow beer from grain to glass. Smell stations invite you to lean in and compare aromatic hops or roasted barley, while digital games let you test your skills as a brewer or designer for Carlsberg’s famous labels. A highlight is the cool, dimly lit hall housing a vast bottle collection, with shelves stacked floor to ceiling with thousands of unopened beer bottles from around the world. It is both a visual spectacle and a timeline of branding trends across more than a century.

Courtyards, Horses and Sculpture Corners

Outside the exhibition, the historical brewery grounds feel like a compact village. The main courtyard is framed by brick façades and chimneys, with cobblestones underfoot and occasional display of vintage delivery vehicles. One side opens toward a small sculpture garden, where greenery softens the industrial lines and statues nod to the company’s long links to the arts. A short stroll away, the stables house Carlsberg’s majestic draught horses. Once essential for hauling heavy barrels through the streets of Copenhagen, they now serve as gentle, living symbols of the brewery’s heritage. The mix of horse smell, polished harnesses and wooden stalls creates a tactile sense of the working brewery’s past, underscored by display boards and historic photographs.

Cellars, Secret Stories and Tastings

Beneath the brick buildings lies a warren of cool cellars, some of which can be explored on guided tours. These vaulted spaces once stored barrels in steady temperatures; now they host storytelling about early experiments with yeast, father‑and‑son disagreements over brewing philosophy, and the global spread of lager. The low ceilings, echoing footsteps and faint scent of damp stone lend a slightly mysterious atmosphere to tales of scientific discovery and commercial rivalry. Beer tastings, often held in these cellars or adjacent bars, introduce a range of Carlsberg brews and related brands. Guided by staff, you can compare different styles, learn tasting techniques, and connect flavours to brewing decisions you saw upstairs in the exhibition. Even those who prefer soft drinks get an insight into the craft that underpins each glass.

Modern Bar Life in Historic Walls

Beyond the curated experiences, the complex doubles as a relaxed social space. The Carlsberg bar pours freshly tapped beer into chilled glasses, with indoor seating framed by industrial beams and outdoor tables spilling into the courtyard in warmer months. It is a place to linger and people‑watch, surrounded by brickwork that hints at boilers and mash tuns long gone. A contemporary brand store showcases glassware, apparel, posters and design objects that extend Carlsberg’s visual identity into souvenirs. Together, the bar, shop, courtyards and exhibition create a hybrid space: partly museum, partly working event venue, partly neighbourhood hangout. Even if you are not a dedicated beer enthusiast, the blend of architecture, storytelling and gentle bustle makes this corner of Vesterbro a distinctive stop in Copenhagen.