Brinkburn St. Brewery: Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting

Small brewery, big beer brainpower. At Brinkburn Street Brewery, I love the behind-the-scenes brewery tour and the beer tasting that moves from session ales to bold IPAs and stouts.

One heads-up: the brewery is small, so the space can feel snug compared with larger beer halls.

Key Takeaways Before You Go

• A guided look at how a working brewery runs, plus the brewery’s own history
• A real craft-beer tasting spread, including session ales, IPAs, and stouts
• Eclectic on-site spaces with local Northern creative artwork and collectible-style details
• VIP upgrade includes food from the Tap Room Restaurant, not just more beer
• ID may be required for beer tasting, so plan accordingly
• Small group options can make a 2-hour visit feel more personal

Brinkburn Street Brewery Tour in Tyne and Wear: A Craft Beer Hour That Feels Honest

If you like beer, you probably know the shiny version of the craft story. What I enjoy here is the practical version, the one you get when the brewery is still working and the tour stays focused on what’s happening, not just what sounds cool.

This 2-hour Brinkburn Street Brewery experience is built around two things: a guided walkthrough of the brewing process and a tasting that gives you a range, from easy drinking session ales to bolder IPAs and richer stouts. You’ll also spend time in an eclectic, art-filled brewery space that makes the whole visit more memorable than a standard industrial tour stop.

The value matters too. At about $40 per person, you’re not just paying for a pint and a look. You’re paying for a guide, a tour format designed for beer people, and the chance to compare styles side by side during the tasting portion.

Your 2 Hours at Brinkburn Street Brewery: How the Visit Flows

Even without a long itinerary, the timing works. Two hours is enough time to (1) get oriented, (2) see the brewery workings with a guide, and (3) taste multiple beers without rushing.

Here’s the flow I’d expect you to plan around, based on how the experience is described:

Getting oriented in the brewery space

The first part of your visit happens inside the Brinkburn Street Brewery setting, which is described as anything but ordinary. You’re likely to notice the artwork from local Northern creatives and the curious objects and collectibles that appear around the space.

Why this is worth a few minutes: it sets the tone. You’re not stepping into a sterile tour facility. The decor is part of the experience, and it also gives you natural places to pause before the tasting portion starts.

The guided brewery tour

Next comes the guided component. The tour is designed to show the brewing process and include the brewery’s history, which helps the beers feel less random and more intentional.

What I like about a tour like this is how it turns drinking into a clue game. Instead of tasting like a blind experiment, you can connect what you learn about brewing to what you taste later.

Practical note: the tour is live and in English, and it’s a small group option when you choose that format. That usually means you can ask questions and not get lost in a crowd.

The beer tasting portion

Then you shift into tasting mode. The tasting is described as a range of original craft beers, with styles covering session ales, bold IPAs, and rich stouts. Many of the beers are also brewed on-site in their microbrewery.

This is where the experience becomes genuinely useful for you. If you’re trying to figure out what you like, a mixed tasting is smarter than ordering one safe option. You get contrasts: lighter and more drinkable, hop-forward and punchy, and then darker and heavier.

Craft Beer Tasting: Session Ales to Bold IPAs and Stouts

The best part of this tour is the way the tasting covers different directions, not just different labels.

Session ales for easygoing comparisons

Session ales are a great starting point because they help you reset your palate. They tend to feel more approachable, and they make it easier to notice differences as the lineup gets more assertive.

If you’ve ever had trouble figuring out whether you actually like something hoppy, starting with session ales can help. Your taste buds wake up without getting shocked.

Bold IPAs when you want the hop hit

Then you move into bold IPAs territory. This is the section where you usually learn the most about what you mean by “good beer.” Is it about bitterness? Aroma? Body? You can taste those variables while someone explains the beer styles in context.

I find it especially helpful when a tasting spans styles like this because you stop guessing. You start building a personal map of what works for your preferences.

Rich stouts for the heavier finish

Finish with stouts, which are typically where sweetness, roast character, and weight come through. A stout finish also helps you understand balance. After session ales and IPAs, you get a clear contrast.

In practical terms, this ending makes it easier to decide what you want to order after the tour, whether that’s something light for round two or something darker and slower.

The Working Brewery Part: What the Tour Actually Teaches

A brewery tour is only as good as the connection between the process and the beer in your glass. Here, the tour is specifically framed around the brewing process plus the brewery’s history, so you’re not just walking through a space and hoping it makes sense.

Two details I’d take as signals of what you’ll get:

• A review notes the owner as welcoming, informative, and humorous, which usually means you’ll get explanations you can follow.
• Another review calls out lots of fun facts about beer, which suggests the tour doesn’t stay stuck in textbook detail.

What you should expect you’ll learn: how the brewery thinks about making beer, how different beer types fit into that process, and what makes Brinkburn Street Brewery feel distinctive enough to tour rather than just drink at.

And yes, it’s also a good reality check. If you’ve mostly experienced beer as a product you buy, this is the version where you see it as a process someone cares about day after day.

Eclectic Space, Local Art, and Where to Eat or Just Hang

A lot of breweries have “tap room energy.” This one seems to have something extra, based on the description: artwork from local Northern creatives, plus curious objects and collectibles around the space.

Why that matters to your trip: it makes the visit feel like a place with personality, not just a schedule. After you taste, you can linger in a setting that feels characterful and comfortable.

Also, the tour notes that you can upgrade to VIP packages and enjoy food from the Tap Room Restaurant. Even if you’re not doing the VIP option, it’s good to know the space supports eating and drinking, not just tasting flights and quick exits.

Price and Value at Around $40 for a 2 Hour Craft Tour

At $40 per person for a 2-hour experience, you should evaluate this tour as a bundle, not as a single activity.

Here’s what’s included in the standard package:

• Guided tour of Brinkburn Street Brewery
• Tasting of various craft beers
• Opportunity to purchase exclusive brewery merchandise

That mix is the real value. You’re paying for the guide’s time, the tasting lineup, and the experience of being inside a working microbrewery. If you love craft beer, tasting different styles under guidance tends to feel like better use of your evening than doing two separate plans (a tour somewhere else plus a beer stop later).

If you’re hungry, the VIP upgrade is the next value step because food comes into the mix via the Tap Room Restaurant. You’ll be spending your time in the same place instead of trying to squeeze in dinner around it.

Transportation is not included, so you’ll want to handle that on your own, either by planning a short local trip or arranging a ride.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Want Another Plan)

This works best if you like craft beer and you enjoy learning while you drink, even if you’re not a beer nerd.

You’ll probably enjoy it if:

• You want to taste a range of styles, not just one safe beer
• You like tours led in English with room for questions in a small group
• You enjoy quirky spaces and local art rather than sterile “industry only” stops

You should think twice if you’re looking for a large, sprawling facility. The brewery is described as small, and one review straight-up notes that size. If you need wide aisles and lots of open space, keep that in mind.

Also, it’s stated as not suitable for people with mobility impairments and wheelchair users. If accessibility is part of your planning, make sure you check other options that fit your needs.

Practical Tips to Get the Most From Your Beer Tasting

A few smart moves will make this go smoother:

• Bring ID, because it may be required for beer tasting.
• Plan around the fact that English is the live guide language.
• Remember smoking is not allowed.
• Wear comfortable shoes, especially if the brewery is compact.
• If you care about timing, check starting times since the experience runs for 2 hours.

And one more tip that sounds obvious, but matters: pace yourself during the tasting. The point is comparison across styles, so give your palate time to adjust instead of rushing straight through everything.

Should You Book Brinkburn Street Brewery?

If you’re excited by the idea of a working brewery tour plus a style-spanning tasting in a small, character-filled space, I’d say this is a strong booking choice. The standout theme in the reviews is how welcoming and engaging the guide is, and the tasting range seems to land with people who genuinely want more than one standard pour.

Skip it if you need wheelchair accessibility, or if you’re expecting a big, ultra-modern brewery complex. The size is part of the feel, not a flaw, but it is something you should know up front.

If you want a straightforward, beer-focused evening in Tyne and Wear, Brinkburn Street Brewery gives you a full 2 hours that mixes learning, tasting, and that lived-in brewery vibe.

FAQ

How long is the Brinkburn Street Brewery brewery tour and beer tasting?

The experience lasts about 2 hours.

How much does the Brinkburn Street Brewery tour cost?

The price is listed as $40 per person.

What is included in the standard Brinkburn Street Brewery experience?

It includes a guided tour of Brinkburn Street Brewery and a tasting of various craft beers. You also have the opportunity to purchase exclusive brewery merchandise.

What does the VIP upgrade include?

The VIP packages include food from the Tap Room Restaurant, in addition to the tour and tasting.

Is transportation to and from the brewery included?

No, transportation is not included.

Do I need ID for the beer tasting?

ID may be required for beer tasting.

What language is the live tour guide?

The live tour guide is in English.

Is smoking allowed during the tour?

No, smoking is not allowed.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments?

No. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments and wheelchair users.