Everything you need to know about Brewery Bus Tours Liverpool

You can now book one of these Liverpool Brewery Bus Tours to get a real taste of the best beers in the city

From glass collector to pub owner and beer importer, Darren Gilligan knows his stuff when it comes to serving up the perfect pint.

And now he’s rolled 30 years of expertise into a unique experience that combines a fascinating glimpse into the city’s history with a study – and sampling – of some of its best homegrown beers.

Darren has launched Brewery Bus Tours Liverpool which will take people on a four-hour journey of some of the ‘coolest’ microbreweries, with the chance to raise a glass to them once the wheels start rolling.

He says: “It’s going really well, with bookings now and, already, for June and July.

“The Brewery Bus Tours are for anyone, from the city or visiting, who likes beer – or wines or spirits, our breweries make those too – likes Liverpool, and wants a memorable experience.”

Darren adds: “I’m passionate about beer and brewing in the city and hopefully that passion is passed on.  I’m overwhelmed at the response.”

Darren has carved a career in the Liverpool hospitality industry, starting as a glass collector in Mathew Street, and buying his first bar, The Picture House in London Road, at 25: “I worked my way up,” he says.

“I have a drinks wholesale business too and that’s where Brewery Bus Tours has really evolved from. I import beer from around Europe and then I started working closely with local breweries, and I just felt that they needed shouting about more.

“The beers are amazing, the breweries, their background… and we should be supporting local businesses. And that’s my mission, to get fellow Liverpudlians, tourists, and people from around the world, aware of how good our beers and breweries are.”

There are two different options from a general tour to a bespoke tour that can be tailored to suit, and from all sizes and occasions, from birthdays to anniversaries, work dos or corporate events, or just a mates’ get-together.

“On the general tour we pick people up at Queen Square and, after boarding the bus, guests are introduced to their Beer Guide who’ll give them an overview of the day before setting off on a four-hour tour of four or five of the 11 breweries we partner with. They’ll learn facts about beer production and brewing techniques, and have a tasting session led by a master brewer. It could be beers made that day or that week or something from a brewer’s core range.

“If it’s a private tour we’ll pick people up at their offices, for instance, and tailor it more to their age, and ask what beers they like, that sort of thing,” Darren goes on. 

“The last stop is food and that will depend on the day of the week or the time of the year, for example, now, it might be a 12” pizza from Love Lane Brewery, and in summer it could be burgers and a BBQ at Black Lodge.

“Along the way we’ll point out different landmarks of city, we’ll talk about the city’s brewing history that goes back 175 years, and every tour will be different – we’re even working on a Legends Brewery Bus Tour with a Liverpool player.

“I enjoy it, I love it…and I hope people will too.”

Find out more here.