Where to Try Danish Beer

Beer remains a defining element of Danish culture. In fact, Denmark has the most breweries per capita of any country in the world. Although the traditional Carlsberg and Tuborg pilsner varieties are still the main options at most bars and restaurants, there are more brews on offer than ever before. The number of brewpubs with handcrafted brews has increased, and so has the number of places offering beer-pairing menus.

Charlie's Bar. Charlie's Bar has 19 drafts, six of which are cask-conditioned ale—unfiltered, unpasteurized beer served from casks. There's a wide range of international and Danish beer, including house lagers Hancock and Thisted. Pilestr. 33, Centrum, Copenhagen, 1112. 33/32-22-89. www.charlies.dk.

Den Tatoverede Enke. Den Tatoverede Enke is a bar-restaurant specializing in Belgian food and beer. There are 16 brews on tap and 100 varieties in bottles. Many of the dishes are prepared with beer (try the mussels here, which are some of the best in town), and there's a beer and food pairing menu. Baron Boltens Gaard, Gothersgade 8C, Centrum, Copenhagen, 1123. 33/91-88-77. www.dentatoveredeenke.dk.

Ølbaren. Ølbaren is a local favorite with a wide selection of international and Danish beers—about 115 of them bottled and 9 of them on tap. Ølbaren also offers beer tastings "on demand." Elmegade 2, Nørrebro, Copenhagen, 2200. 35/35-45-34. www.oelbaren.dk.

Plan B. At Plan B, a retro-style café, expect beer bottles lining the walls; cozy couches; tapas and other café fare; and more than 400 varieties of beer, including several Danish microbrews. Frederiksborggade 48, Centrum, Copenhagen, 1360. 33/36-36-56. www.cafeplanb.dk.

Brew Pub. The Brew Pub microbrewery and restaurant has a beer garden and 11 beers on tap as well as a beer-sampler menu and dishes made using beer. Vestergade 29, Centrum, Copenhagen, 1456. 33/32-00-60. www.brewpub.dk.

Bryggeriet Apollo. Near the main entrance to Tivoli is Bryggeriet Apollo, which opened in 1990 and is one of the first restaurants in Copenhagen to brew its own beer. It offers traditional draft and specialty brews. Vesterbrogade 3, Vesterbro, Copenhagen, 1620. 33/12-33-13. www.bryggeriet.dk.

Færgekroen Bryghus. In Tivoli Gardens, Færgekroen Bryghus serves traditional Danish fare with home-brewed blonde and amber ales. on border of Vesterbro district, Centrum, Copenhagen, 1630. 33/75-06-80. www.faergekroen.com.

Nørrebro Bryghus. Nørrebro Bryghus is one of Denmark's most popular brewpubs thanks, in part, to its beer-pairing menu and the tours of its brewing facility. Ryesgade 3, Nørrebro, Copenhagen, 2200. 35/30-05-30. www.noerrebrobryghus.dk.

Vesterbro Bryghus. Vesterbro Bryghus is just across the street from Tivoli Gardens and has five brews on tap as well as beer tastings until 10:30 pm. Vesterbrogade 2B, Vesterbro, Copenhagen, 1620. 33/11-17-05. www.vesterbrobryghus.dk.

Carlsberg Visitors Center & The Jacobsen Brewhouse. The Carlsberg Visitors Center & The Jacobsen Brewhouse is in a building dating from 1860 in the original Carlsberg brewery. Take one of the self-guided tours to learn all there is about Carlsberg. The entry fee of DKr 65 includes two beers in the Jacobsen brewpub at the end of the tour, which takes approximately 1½ hours. To get here hop Bus 26 (the trip takes 10-15 minutes from Centrum) any day but Monday, when the facility is closed. Gammel Carlsberg Vej 11, Vesterbro, Copenhagen, 1799. 33/27-12-82. www.visitcarlsberg.com.