Viking Brewery Tour

Poulsbo pours its Viking spirit into every glass. I like the small group of no more than 10 people and the unusual mix of local brewery access, Viking stories, and a hands-on tasting card at The Sip. The tour also gives you four drinks, including two full pints and a pull from a 4-liter Scandinavian drinking horn. The main consideration is that you walk about half a mile between the three stops, and the afternoon schedule leaves little room for a slow, independent visit at each place.

The experience runs about three hours and begins at 3:30 p.m. in downtown Poulsbo. I especially like that your guide is easy to identify by a nametag and Viking drinking horn. Still, this is best for adults who enjoy beer, cider, wine, or craft soda, rather than for anyone seeking a quiet brewery tasting with little storytelling.

Key points at a glance

• Start with 36 rotating taps: At The Sip, your prepaid $12 card lets you choose beer, wine, cider, or craft soda.
• A true small-group outing: The maximum group size is 10, giving the guide room to answer questions and keep the Viking tales lively.
• See inside a working brewhouse: Western Red Brewing provides the tour’s main behind-the-scenes look at brewing equipment and process.
• Finish with a 4-liter horn: Valholl Brewing closes the afternoon with a pint, Viking lore, and a shared drinking-horn pull.
• Only half a mile of walking: The route links the three stops on foot through downtown Poulsbo.
• Good value for drinkers: The $79 price includes four beverages, guided interpretation, and brewery access, though gratuity is extra.

Why this Poulsbo tour feels different

Many brewery outings are simply a succession of tasting rooms. This one gives you a theme and sticks with it. The Viking idea begins at the first meeting point, continues through the walk downtown, and ends with a Scandinavian-style toast at Valholl Brewing.

Your PNW Skald, or Viking storyteller, sets the tone at The Sip. You learn how the taps work, get a little background on Poulsbo, and hear stories about Viking life and drinking customs. That gives the afternoon more shape than a standard pub crawl.

The tour also works well for mixed drink preferences. The four beverages are not limited to beer. Your $12 card at The Sip can be used for wine, beer, cider, or craft soda, and the later stops include a pint at Western Red and a pint at Valholl. If you do not want alcohol at every stop, the first tasting card gives you some flexibility.

The group limit matters here. With no more than 10 people, you can expect a more personal pace than on a large bus tour. Kyle, one of the guides, earned praise for being fun and for handling difficult questions. That is useful on a tour built around both brewing and Viking lore, since a good guide needs to keep the history entertaining without turning the afternoon into a lecture.

Starting at The Sip with a $12 tasting card

Meet your guide at The Sip, at 18801 Front Street NE. The business was formerly known as Slippery Pig Brewery, so you may see or hear both names during your visit. Your guide will be waiting at your reserved section with a nametag and a Viking drinking horn.

The first stop lasts about 45 minutes. The Sip has 36 rotating taps, offering beer, wine, cider, and craft soda. Rather than receiving one fixed sample, you use a pre-loaded $12 beverage card and choose your own pour. I like this setup because it gives you control over the first drink and lets you select something that fits your taste.

The card is also helpful if your group has different preferences. One person can choose beer, another cider, and someone else can pick craft soda. The tour description identifies the card as one of four included beverages, so you should treat this first stop as a tasting opportunity rather than expecting the full value of a pint from the card.

The guide explains how the taps work before moving into Poulsbo and Viking history. This is a practical touch. Self-serve taps can be confusing at first, and the short introduction means you can spend less time figuring out the equipment and more time enjoying the drink.

The first stop is likely the most flexible part of the tour, but it is still guided. You are not simply left to sample at your own pace for hours. The scheduled 45 minutes keeps the whole outing moving, which is helpful when you have three stops to cover, but it also means you should arrive ready to begin at 3:30 p.m.

Walking through Poulsbo’s historic center

From The Sip, you walk about half a mile to Western Red Brewing and then continue to Valholl Brewing. Along the way, the guide points out some of Poulsbo’s notable sights, including the Hostmark Building, described as the town’s oldest structure, and the charming Red Phone Booth downtown.

This walk is short enough to connect the breweries without turning the tour into a walking expedition. It also adds context that you would miss by traveling directly from one tasting room to another. You get to see a few recognizable Poulsbo details while hearing stories about the town and its Viking theme.

The walking distance is worth noting for anyone with mobility concerns. The total route is only about half a mile, but it is still walking between stops, and the tour does not end where it begins. You finish at Valholl Brewing on 3rd Avenue NE, not at The Sip on Front Street.

Since the tour involves alcohol, the walk provides a natural pause between tastings. It also lets you experience the center of Poulsbo at street level. You will want comfortable shoes, and you should plan your transportation around the final stop rather than assuming you can return to the starting point with the group.

Behind the scenes at Western Red Brewing

Western Red Brewing is the second stop and lasts about 45 minutes. This is the strongest part of the tour for anyone who wants to understand how craft beer is made rather than simply drink it.

You step into the brewhouse and see the equipment used to produce the beer. The guide explains the brewing process and discusses the flavors that help define Western Red’s beers. The access is described as a backstage tour, so you should expect a closer look at the working side of the brewery than you would get from sitting in the taproom.

A pint is included here. That makes Western Red an important part of the tour’s value, since you receive a full serving while also seeing the place where the beer is made. The tasting becomes more useful when you can connect what you are drinking with the equipment, methods, and flavor choices being explained.

The main limitation is time. Forty-five minutes is enough for a guided look and a pint, but not enough for a long, relaxed visit with a broad sampling of the menu. The tour is designed to give you an introduction, not a complete study of Western Red Brewing.

For curious drinkers, this is likely the most substantial stop. The Sip gives you choice, and Valholl supplies the Viking finale. Western Red gives you the clearest look at brewing itself.

Finishing at Valholl Brewing with a Viking toast

The final stop is Valholl Brewing, at 18970 3rd Avenue NE. You spend about 30 minutes here, including a pint and the tour’s most theatrical moment: a pull from a legendary 4-liter Scandinavian drinking horn.

Valholl is described as Poulsbo’s most on-the-nose Viking brewery, and the name fits the theme. The guide explains what it meant to be a Viking, then brings the afternoon to a close with the large horn. The horn is more than a novelty. It gives the group a shared ritual and a clear ending, which helps the three stops feel like one experience rather than three unrelated tastings.

The final toast is also the part most likely to produce memorable photos. The drinking horn is large, unusual, and tied directly to the tour’s theme. If you enjoy playful group activities, this will probably be the highlight. If you prefer restrained tastings, it may feel a little performative.

Valholl is where the tour ends, after the walk from The Sip through Western Red. Plan accordingly if you have a car, a dinner reservation, or another activity afterward. The stated duration is approximately three hours, so a 3:30 p.m. start should carry you into the early evening.

What the $79 price includes

At $79 per person, the value depends on how much you want from the guided side of the experience. The package includes:

• A $12 prepaid beverage card at The Sip
• One pint at Western Red Brewing
• One pint at Valholl Brewing
• A pull from the Viking longhorn
• Viking lore and local interpretation
• A behind-the-scenes look at Western Red Brewing

For someone who would visit all three locations independently, the included drinks help offset the price. You are also paying for the guide, the organized route, the brewery access, and the storytelling. The small group size adds value because you are not being moved through a large crowd.

The price is less compelling if you mainly want to drink at your own pace. The tour has fixed times, a set route, and only about 30 to 45 minutes at each stop. You also pay for the experience of the guide and the Viking theme, not just for three alcoholic drinks.

Tips and gratuities are not included. Plan to leave something extra for the guide if the service is helpful, especially since the afternoon depends heavily on the guide’s ability to explain the brewing process, answer questions, and keep the Viking stories lively.

The experience is booked, on average, about 15 days in advance. That does not guarantee that every date will sell out, but it is a useful reason to reserve ahead if your Poulsbo plans are fixed.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the tour to adults who like local beer, cider, wine, or craft soda and want more than a basic tasting. The flexible first stop makes it suitable for a group with different preferences, while the two included pints give beer drinkers a clear reason to join.

It is also a good match for visitors who enjoy local stories and light historical interpretation. You hear about Poulsbo, see several downtown sights, and get Viking lore at each stage. The experience is playful rather than academic, so you should expect entertainment and conversation rather than a detailed study of Scandinavian history.

The small group should appeal to people who like asking questions. Kyle was singled out for answering tough questions while keeping the outing fun, which is exactly the sort of guide you want on a themed tour.

I would think twice if you do not drink at all, although non-alcoholic options are available through the first beverage card. I would also choose another activity if you want long, unhurried visits at each brewery or if the final stop at Valholl is inconvenient for your return plans.

Service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but the walking route and alcohol-focused format still make personal comfort and transport planning important.

Booking, timing, and cancellation details

The tour is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is received when you book, and the maximum group size is 10 people.

The start time is 3:30 p.m. at The Sip. The tour ends at Valholl Brewing after about half a mile of walking between the stops. Since the final location differs from the starting point, check your onward plans before booking.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time.

Should you book the Viking Brewery Tour?

Book it if you want a compact Poulsbo outing with local drinks, a small group, Viking storytelling, and a real look inside a brewhouse. The four included beverages and the 4-liter horn make the $79 price easier to justify, especially for visitors who would otherwise pay separately for tastings and brewery visits.

Skip it if you want a long, quiet tasting session or do not enjoy themed group activities. The best reason to book is the combination: The Sip gives you choice, Western Red gives you brewing access, and Valholl provides the memorable finish. For a three-hour introduction to Poulsbo’s beverage scene with a strong sense of place, it is a well-focused pick.

FAQ

Where does the Viking Brewery Tour begin?

The tour begins at The Sip, formerly known as Slippery Pig Brewery, at 18801 Front Street NE in Poulsbo, Washington.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Valholl Brewing, located at 18970 3rd Avenue NE in Poulsbo.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 3:30 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

How much walking is involved?

The route includes about half a mile of walking from The Sip to Western Red Brewing and then to Valholl Brewing.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 10 people.

What drinks are included?

You receive four beverages: a prepaid $12 card for The Sip, one pint at Western Red Brewing, one pint at Valholl Brewing, and a pull from a Viking longhorn.

Can I choose a non-alcoholic drink?

Yes. The beverage card at The Sip can be used for beer, wine, cider, or craft soda.

Is a brewery tour included?

Yes. The experience includes a behind-the-scenes tour of Western Red Brewing and an explanation of its brewing process and equipment.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.