The interactive and inspiring Tartu A.Le Coq Beer Museum shows the way to the future
Isn't it true that a proper 21st-century museum opens a window to an admirable journey, to learn from it and in turn inspire the future?
Our last truly enjoyable weekend began with the setting Friday evening as we set off from Tallinn towards Tartu. The hour was already late, but it was still so brightly summery outside, the highway traffic had completely cleared, and a summer night mist was hovering over the surrounding meadows. We admired the surrounding Estonian nature in silence and with smiles - the best time is right here and now.
With every passing kilometer, everyday thoughts drifted further away, and plans for the upcoming mini-vacation began to form in our minds. We hadn't been to Tartu for too long, we realized upon arriving at our accommodation. It's a Friday evening in May, the rare temperature of +25 degrees outside, and life in Tartu is bustling!
This time, I booked us an Airbnb on the border of the city center and Tähtvere - jackpot! On the right is the city center and on the left are the nostalgic and charming wooden houses that are symbolic of Tartu. The excitement of people over the arrival of summer is contagious, so we take our things inside and go for a walk.
We start the morning in a way worthy of a perfect day off - Ben brings iced coffee and pastries from the Thyme Bread Palace located in the same building as us, and we just murmur in delight at how delicious and refreshing everything is! Definitely add a visit to Thyme to your Tartu plans!What's next? I look at the map again to see our location and surroundings - in the immediate vicinity are Raekoja Square, Emajõgi River, the Botanical Garden, and the Beer Museum. The Beer Museum opens at 11 o'clock!
The plan is made, let's wander spontaneously towards Tähtvere and A. Le Coq Beer Museum! Google Maps offers a shorter route to the museum, but I know that you can access the museum via Laulupeo Boulevard through the factory gatehouse. It's Saturday morning, the sun is already blazing high, but on the streets, there is only the pleasant scent of lilacs, birdsong, and their biggest fans, who accompany us for a bit.
We admire every house and yard. We must admit that while staying in Tartu, we have mostly remained around the Town Hall Square and have not previously walked the streets of Tähtvere. This positive surprise - what a beautiful area it is!
And we have only walked for 10 minutes when we already arrive in front of the historic A. Le Coq Beer Museum and see that we are not the first. Three people are already sitting on the terrace and cooling off with a drink. We hear Finnish - cool, foreigners have also found the Beer Museum!
Upon entering, we are greeted by the A. Le Coq gift shop and a cheerful service staff. We browse the gift shop a bit and chuckle to myself, thinking that my stepfather would definitely like the shirt with the text “Beer 13 - our beer stories” and what a disapproving look I would get from my mother for this gift...
There are indeed many gift ideas here that spark conversation and excitement, from beer gourmets to Limpa Lemonade fans, and I found many new drinks that I hadn't noticed before.It is also possible to buy gift cards, so if anyone has thought that it is hard to buy gifts for men, here is a good gift suggestion for you - a Beer Museum gift card . We also got our tickets from the bar to explore the museum located on the lower floor.
By the way, a full ticket is 10 euros and it also includes a glass of crisp beer or refreshing lemonade. A family ticket is 20 euros (2 adults and 2 children up to 18 years old). To get the best experience, it is worth allowing about 1.5 hours - suitable, the ideal time to take a refreshing and educational break from the blazing heat outside.
Õllemaailm already looks very stylish and modern upon enteringand I want to take a picture of every thoughtfully designed interior element. Overall, such historical places bring out a certain childlike curiosity and excitement, so we both tend to wander off at our own pace and in our own direction.
We had just come down the stairs whenBen comments on how he continues to be surprised at how modern and interactive Estonian museums are, and A. Le Coq, founded in 1807, has indeed created an exhibition worthy of Estonia's oldest beverage producer, with such a good balance of history, style, and humor.
Every corner of the room is very thoroughly thought out by the curators and perfectly demonstrates how culture and traditions are valued here and every effort is made to pass it on to future generations. Did you know, for example, that beer is one of the world's oldest drinks, brewed for more than 12,000 years?
And in the historic industrial building, special attention is given to one of the most important ingredients of beer - malt. The malt drums dating back to 1898 tell the science of malt making: barley is sorted, washed, soaked, germinated, dried, cleaned, and only then does it become a component of beer. In the malt cultivation exhibition area, various types and degrees of roasted malt are displayed for viewing and tasting, and our favorite caramelized malt was also available for purchase as a souvenir in the gift shop.
ur exploration is joined by museum director Mart, who shares many interesting stories and answers even the silliest questions with a smile :) You can hear fascinating legends and memories. Mart has so much to share that, honestly, I thought it would be amazing to compile them into a book.
Unknowingly, you gather new surprising facts about the history of beer and its types, and you get to see interesting devices and one of the world's oldest preserved beers. During this journey, the more than 200-year-old noble history of A. Le Coq unfolds along with the development story of Tartu as a beer city. I particularly remember how the brewery office had electric lighting before the lecture halls of the University of Tartu. Additionally, you get a sense of what beer making looked like in the past and how beer is brewed today.
And by the way, Mart has been working at A. Le Coq for 48 years! This speaks volumes about A. Le Coq as an employer, and it's only logical that A. Le Coq was ranked 3rd in the manufacturing sector in the "Top Employer 2024" survey.If possible, we highly recommend taking a guided tour to hear colorful stories, ask questions, and learn which distinguished guests have already visited the Beer Museum and what their impressions were! It's worth it :)
I have to admit, we expected Beer World to be a relatively small museum, but room after room opened up with exceptionally well-preserved elements, making it a larger museum than you might think.
In Beer World, you will find rare production equipment that has been in the factory since its inception, and the heart of the Beer Museum is the historic Tartu malt tower. One of the most unique and well-preserved buildings in Europe, it is itself an attraction and a monument to industrial beer production.
And these rooms are also perfect for hosting memorable events - whether it be a grand private party or a corporate event.Additionally, you can rent the Sassi seminar room separately - a great way to offer your team a change of scenery and combine work with an interesting Beer World tour.
We discussed how the world is moving at an increasingly rapid pace, and we hear daily about new startups and green developments, butA. Le Coq certainly deserves separate recognition in this regard - Estonia's oldest beverage producer, which keeps pace with the times and developments so exemplary that it was named the Sustainable Company of the Year 2023, which is the highest national recognition for companies.
We sincerely encourage you to visit the Beer Museum when you find yourself in Tartu - with friends, family, or a partner. PS. It's also a very cool dating idea!
And of course, the Beer Museum experience ends with a refreshing beer, which can be enjoyed either in the museum or at the bar in the gift shop. Younger visitors to the museum can enjoy the legendary Traditional Lemonade.
True beer enthusiasts can also order a 4-tasting session, where you can taste two beers that you can't find elsewhere ;)
And finally, I hope that A. Le Coq Beer Museum inspires other Estonian museums to hold their flag just as high.
Check out Beer World's options HERE or keep an eye on their activities on Instagram.
More of our vacation pictures and stories can be found on our Instagram and TikTok!
Safe travels!
Liis and Ben