Beer Tasting Session in Edinburgh's Underground Vaults | 1 hour

Recommended by 94% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Edinburgh, Scotland

1 hour (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

In the depths of an historic Edinburgh close, taste local beer and learn about the differences and delights of a range of brewing styles. Discover the history of beer brewing in Edinburgh, and taste the difference between light and golden beers and their darker, roastier cousins. Edinburgh has a rich beer drinking heritage—get to know more about beer in the heart of the old part of town.

The ideal small group tour for anyone interested in beer, local history, or both
Learn how to taste beer like a pro
Experience the atmosphere of a truly historic old building in the heart of Edinburgh
Suitable for adults only due to the alcoholic nature of the tasting event

What's Included

Alcoholic Beverages

Four beers from local breweries
Experienced local guide
Exclusive access to The Lost Close

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

John's Coffee House & Tavern
1a Parliament Sqr, Edinburgh EH1 1RF, UK
Behind St Giles Cathedral, in the corner of Parliament Square, you'll fin the statue of James Braidwood, and next to that is the Code Pod Hostel, 1A Parliament Square, EH1 1RF where we'll meet you at reception! Your guide will meet you there and then take you down into our location.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

The Lost Close

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
The tour is strictly for adults. Children under 18 and infants under 1 year old cannot be accommodated.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Alice_C

Very enjoyable and we learned a lot about good Scottish beer! Also the atmosphere was great and it felt like an unique experience.

Reviews

4.7

based on 66 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Authentic and casual beertasting

Lene_V, Dec 2025

Low-key, short and sweet beertasting in an authentic location. Interesting, casual and fun. Perfect when youre looking for beertasting central located, without using half the day in a brewery.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for the great feedback! We’re happy you enjoyed our relaxed beer tasting in the vaults. Emilie – Marketing Manager

The coolest place you’ve ever drank beer

Nicole_D, Aug 2025

This was very cool! Tour guide Mark was incredibly knowledgeable and it was a great way to taste local Scottish beers in a place with a fascinating backstory.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

We’re so glad you enjoyed exploring the history of The Lost Close alongside tasting our local beers! — Emilie, Marketing Manager

I was expecting more

Marta_C, Aug 2025

I came to the bar where it was the meeting point and I let the host know that I was there, and they asked me to wait for the group. I grabbed a drink and waited . It was already past 10 minutes after the beginning of the tasting and I had to ask again. Another person told me the group already left. No idea how did they miss me why they didn’t let me know , it was not announced. Finally, they took me to the place where the group was, the cave. The beers were good and explanation about them.. It was good, but that was all. I saw it was going to be more about the history of the place more than sitting in a room to drink beer. I was excited about this and I was expecting way more

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for your honest feedback — I’m really sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet expectations, especially at the start. You absolutely should have been informed when the group was leaving, and I completely understand how frustrating and confusing that must have been. We always aim to deliver a seamless, welcoming, and memorable experience from the very beginning, and it’s clear we fell short in this case. I’ve shared your comments with the team so we can address this with our hosts and ensure clearer communication going forward. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. – Emilie, Marketing Manager

Very enjoyable and we...

Alice_C, Aug 2025

Very enjoyable and we learned a lot about good Scottish beer! Also the atmosphere was great and it felt like an unique experience.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for joining us! We're so pleased you enjoyed the Scottish beer tasting and the unique atmosphere of our venue. We love sharing hidden gems of Scottish brewing history, and we're glad that came through in your experience. – Emilie, Marketing Manager

Overall an alright...

Matthew_S, Jul 2025

Overall an alright experience, got to test out and be given some background information on local breweries. This was the first formal beer tasting that I’ve done and felt that it perhaps could have been slightly more dynamic. However, part of that may have been because it was simply myself and one other solo traveller. The session in total lasted about 45 minutes, which perhaps seemed somewhat short.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed trying beers from local breweries and that the background information added some context to the tasting. We completely understand how the experience might have felt a bit more low-key with such a small group — the energy and conversation can definitely vary depending on the dynamic. Thanks again for joining us — and for your thoughtful suggestions! – Emilie, Marketing Manager

Cody good time

GitteHerdin_A, Jul 2024

Cosy and informative. Good variety, adapted to the guests. My tastebuds are open to new types of beer.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Thanks for coming along, and it's great to hear you had a good time exploring some new beers with us! Look forward to welcoming you back sometime :) Cheers, James

Good beers and fun

Shari_V, Jul 2024

Fun beer tasting. Great variety and cool location. Our guide was quirky and fun. She knew more about the breweries than how beer was made. Worth it.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Great to hear that you enjoyed our underground beer tasting! We strive for fun and engaging, so I'm glad this came across in the session :) Look forward to welcoming you back sometime! Cheers, James

Edinburgh’s beer

MC_C, Apr 2024

Very nice experience! I wasn’t expecting to taste so many and diverse beers from around Edinburgh. Recommended.

Response from Host, May 2024

Great to hear you enjoyed our selection of quirky beers from around town, hopefully we'll see you again sometime! Cheers, James

Fun experience

Denise_O, Mar 2024

We enjoyed learning about the building and its history. Great experience we do it again. Local beers.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Lovely to hear you enjoyed yourselves, and hopefully we'll see you again next time you're in town :) Cheers, James

Great experience

Michelle_G, Dec 2023

Nikki was a great host. The experience was so unique with great information. The beers were great and the venue was fascinating.!

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Thanks for coming along, great to hear you enjoyed our quirky underground beer adventure, and look forward to welcoming you back in the future! Cheers, James

A memorable evening

Ian_M, Dec 2023

Despite living in Edinburgh, I'd never heard of The Lost Close until friends bought me a voucher for the beer tasting session. Three of us went along and had as good a time as can be had in a stone cellar in December. Padge was a fun, amiable host who put all the visitors at ease and we enjoyed 5 different samples over the course of an hour. Padge graciously then spent another hour in the small bar chatting and serving drinks as we got to know the other visitors. There are also gin tours and whisky tours available, so we'll certainly be back.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Great to hear you enjoyed our wee space, and it's always a huge compliment when the locals get to see somewhere they've never heard of, so thanks for coming along! Look forward to welcoming you back sometime :) Cheers, James

Tasty Time!

Sally_V, Nov 2023

I am not a big beer fan so was unsure about this tour that my sister had wanted to take. I was totally surprised at how much I enjoyed myself. Meeting other travelers and chatting over beer was great fun and George was an excellent guide. He carefully explained the difference between the 5 beers that we were given to taste, how they were brewed and the subtleties of flavor. What a great way to end our stay in London!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Great to hear you enjoyed our underground beer adventure in (ahem) Edinburgh's Old Town :D Hope to see you again next time you're in town! Cheers, James

Beer there, done that!

Jade_P, Oct 2023

Our guide Terry was fantastic! We met folks from all over the world and tried 5 good beers. The experience was so great we wished it lasted more than the hour. Beers varied, so there's something for everyone here, all set in a really unique setting. Would recommend to any of my friends.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Great to hear that you enjoyed our underground beer tasting session! We do try to offer up a real range of different flavours from our excellent Edinburgh breweries, and happy that you enjoyed the mix :) See you again next time! Cheers, James

The best beer tasting experience

John_W, Sep 2023

Sarah's knowledge, enthusiasm and passion. She made it an excellent evening and experience for all of us.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Glad you had a good time on our underground beer tasting! Hope to see you again sometime :) Cheers, James

Fantastic tasting with an awesome guide!

Steven_L, Sep 2023

Our experience with the beer tasting was absolutely fantastic! Sara is an awesome tasting guide! She is very knowledgeable, and made the experience so much fun! We appreciated all of her help and recommendations! We also enjoyed chatting with her for a while after the tasting. Highly recommend this tasting!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Great to hear you enjoyed our underground adventure! Sara loves beer, and that really shines through in the stories :D Hope to see you again some time! Cheers, James

10/10

Therese_F, Jun 2023

A fun and very interesting event. Sarah who held the beer tasting told us a lot of interesting historical facts of both beer and Edinburgh. Only local beer which was fantastic.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thanks for coming along, and great to hear you enjoyed yourselves! Look forward to welcoming you back sometime :) Cheers, James

Surprisingly fun and interesting experience, loved it!

Bridget_B, Jun 2023

It was a fun experience. Even after reading the reviews about the great beer tasting, it was better than expected. Sarah does a great job of giving you the history of the location (quite interesting) and the history of how the local beers were made. Well worth every Penny and a great way to spend a couple hours while in Edinburgh.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Glad to hear you enjoyed your beer in our quirky underground venue! Hope to see you again sometime :) Cheers, James

Nicky was a great host!

Mary_D, May 2023

Historic “close” location was super-duper interesting and Nicky was a great and informative host!!!!

Response from Host, May 2023

Glad you had a good time at the beer tasting! Nicky really does love her beer, and I'm happy that you like what we've done with our quirky underground space :) See you again next time! Cheers, James

Great experience

Cherie_P, May 2023

Learning about the history of brewing beer our Lady was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The beers were an interesting variety.

Response from Host, May 2023

Glad you enjoyed the beer tasting! Hope to see you again sometime :) Cheers, James

Beer in the basement

Adrian_D, Nov 2022

What a wonderful experience. Sarah was exceptional, she had a great knowledge of beers and a friendly bubbly personality. The location was fantastic and a generous amount of beer on offer.

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Great to hear you had a good time on the beer tasting! We love being able to showcase local breweries, and the setting and stories make it all the more fun :) Hope to see you again next time you're in town. Cheers, James

A don't miss tour.

Carol_L, May 2022

Our host was so knowledgable.. He was great. We took this tour last September and a lot has changed with new discoveries underground. Fascinating. The beer tasting was definitely good too. A great bargain. Don't miss it.

Response from Host, May 2022

So glad you enjoyed yourselves - it was lovely meeting you all and sharing a few beers and stories :) Hopefully see you again in the future! James

Fun, educational beer fest

Carol_L, Sep 2021

Our guide was very knowledgeable about the beer and the fascinating location. The price of the tour was extremely reasonable considering how much beer was offered.

Response from Host, Nov 2021

So glad you enjoyed the evening, and we love the building too! It's such an incredible space, and we're really lucky to be able to share it with people :) See you next time you're in town! James

Beer tasting

John_G, Sep 2021

Walked to Rose st area where Google maps said the The Lost Close events & experience was situated, and couldn’t find the event 😞🥲

Response from Host, Nov 2021

Hi John, sorry to hear about this problem. Google maps does clearly show our location as Parliament Square though, we called you on the number given to TripAdvisor before heading underground but to with no response. If you're coming back to Edinburgh let me know and I'll get your booking transferred to a new time slot, and hopefully this time we'll find each other! Kind regards, James

Enjoyable Break

Yvette_B, Sep 2021

Fun and educational. The instructor was knowledgeable with a fantastic personality. Loved the lesson, location and history of The lost Close. Worth the time and money.