ABOUT THE EVENT
Home of Carlsberg Celebrates: 150 Years of the Carlsberg Research Laboratory
A Special Guided Tour with Beer Tasting at the Carlsberg Research Laboratory
Explore the world's oldest beer laboratory on exclusive guided tours when the doors open for a limited period. Learn about groundbreaking scientific discoveries and the rich history behind the laboratory in exceptional architectural surroundings.
The tour includes a 30-minute guided tour followed by a 30-minute beer tasting at the authentic Lab Bar, where three beers representing the past, present, and future will be served and discussed.
The laboratory is an active workplace for over 100 researchers daily and is normally closed to the public. There are limited spots, and the tours are only available on Sundays in April and May 2025. The tours alternate between Danish and English.
Date: Sundays in April and May
Price: 225 DKK
Home of Carlsberg Fridays
The first Friday bar of the year at Home of Carlsberg will be themed around science. The old courtyard will host an expert in regenerative agriculture, which is the future way to grow more climate-friendly and biodiversity-enhancing crops. Guests can experience demonstrations of ice made from porter beer and taste Fonio beer, brewed from the drought-resistant fonio grain from West Africa, where it has been used for millennia. A glimpse into the beer of the future from the laboratory.
Date: April 25 at Home of Carlsberg. Home of Carlsberg Fridays continues the last Friday of every month until September.
Price: Free
Home of Carlsberg & the Bloom Science Festival
Join us for a science Weekend during the nature and science festival Bloom. In the courtyard, there will be free demonstrations of the brewing process, the chance to experience beer yeast with all your senses, meet a researcher, and taste a special anniversary beer from the laboratory.
Date: May 24 and 25. Further program details to follow.
Experiments in the Exhibition at Home of Carlsberg
Visitors to the exhibition at Home of Carlsberg will have extra opportunities to dive into science, with experiments and demonstrations in the Science department taking place throughout April and May. For example, seeing yeast under a microscope is very different from the one in your fridge, and different varieties of beer react differently on the pH scale.
Background: 150 Years of Science on Valby Bakke
It's been 150 years since J.C. Jacobsen founded his laboratory atop Valby Bakke. Inspired by H.C. Ørsted's lectures, the brewer believed that beer quality could improve by understanding the science behind it.
Since 1875, groundbreaking discoveries have benefited global beer brewing and spread to fields like medicinal chemistry and energy optimization. The laboratory was home to the discovery of the pH scale, the purification of yeast, and click chemistry (which earned a Nobel Prize in 2022). The science continues with a strong focus on future sustainable and climate-resistant crops.
There is much to celebrate
As the laboratory is a modern, active workplace for over 100 researchers, the birthday celebration will take place a little further down the road at the cultural attraction Home of Carlsberg. There will be a public celebration in April and May with exclusive guided tours of the laboratory, experiments, talks, and beer tastings.
Tine Kastrup-Misir, Director at Home of Carlsberg, says: "At Home of Carlsberg, we look forward to diving into science. For all of us without a research background, science can sometimes be challenging to approach, so we make a special effort to open up this fascinating world in an understandable way, so everyone feels welcome. It's important for us to show locals, Danes, and international guests the significant impact the Carlsberg Research Laboratory has had and continues to have worldwide.
Read about five of the most significant scientific discoveries HERE.
A rare opportunity
Further up Gamle Carlsberg Vej, Vice President and Research Director at the Carlsberg Research Laboratory, Birgitte Skadhauge, is sitting in the laboratory's beautiful surroundings, saying:
"The Carlsberg Research Laboratory is the oldest beer laboratory in the world, and we've contributed to some of the most outstanding scientific achievements in the industry. It started as a search for a scientific foundation for malting, brewing, and fermentation and is today a world-leading laboratory for brewing-oriented research.
We think, study, and innovate brewing every day. From crop refinement to the final product, we have everything under one roof with independence, allowing us never to be afraid of venturing into the unknown.
While we share our science with the world, the laboratory is usually closed to the public. We are excited to open the doors and offer a rare opportunity to experience this unique place."