Croatia's Favorite Beers: Exploring Local Preferences

Croatia has a thriving beer scene, with beer being a popular drink in the country. In 2010, Croatia was the 14th country in the world by beer consumption per capita, with approximately half of the adult population being beer consumers. The country's beer market is dominated by well-known brands such as Ožujsko, Karlovačko, and Pan, with Ožujsko being the most popular. However, in recent years, there has been an exciting influx of craft beers, with local breweries like Garden Brewery, Medvedgrad Brewery, Varionica, Zmajska Pivovara, and Nova Runda offering innovative brews and creative approaches.

Popular Croatian beers

Beer is a popular drink in Croatia, with about half of the adult population consuming it. In 2010, Croatia was the 14th country in the world by beer consumption per capita. While wine was the more popular drink during antiquity and the Middle Ages, beer's popularity rose in the 18th century, and industrial-scale production began in the late 19th century. Today, more than 90% of all beer sold in Croatia is domestically produced, with the six largest beer companies sharing more than 90% of the revenue.

Ožujsko

Ožujsko is the most popular beer in Croatia, with 10 bottles consumed every second. It has been produced since 1892 and the main factory is in Zagreb. The beer is now part of the MolsonCoors brewing company.

Karlovačko

Karlovačko is the second most popular beer in Croatia and is also the national beer. It is brewed by the Karlovac Brewery in the city of Karlovac, from which it gets its name. It is flavourful and has 5.4% alcohol. Heineken acquired the brand in 2016.

Osječko

Osječko is the first Croatian beer ever produced, dating back to 1697. The main factory is located in Osijek, the city from which the beer got its name.

Velebitsko

Velebitsko is a popular beer brand from Croatia, brewed near Gospić on the Velebit mountains in Lika by the Pivovara Ličanka. The brand includes a pale lager with an alcohol content of 5.1% and a dark lager with an alcohol content of 6.0%.

Tars

Tars is the first beer from Rijeka and is brewed according to the Bavarian purity law, Reinheitsgebot. It is a lager produced by the Kaltenberg Adria brewery in Kukuljanovo.

Tomislav

Tomislav is the second strongest beer in Croatia, with a 7.3% alcohol content. It is brewed by Zagrebačka pivovara, the same company that produces Ožujsko.

Pan

Pan is a Carlsberg-owned beer company that offers a variety of beers, including lager, light, and lemon beer. Pan Zlatni (or Pan Gold) is a popular, premium pilsner.

Laško

Laško is a beer company headquartered in Slovenia, but the beer is still popular in Croatia. There is a new factory in Split that produces the beer, but it is hard to find in the country.

Craft Beers

The craft beer scene in Croatia has exploded in the last decade, with breweries like Garden Brewery, Medvedgrad Brewery, Varionica, Zmajska Pivovara, and Nova Runda offering innovative brews and creative approaches.

The rise of craft beer

Croatia has a rich history of beer drinking, with consumption dating back to antiquity and the Middle Ages, though mentions in historical sources were sporadic. Beer's popularity rose in the 18th century, and industrial-scale production began in the late 19th century. Today, beer is a popular beverage in Croatia, with around half of the adult population consuming it.

The craft beer movement in Croatia has experienced a renaissance in recent years, with a growing interest in craft beer brewing. This has led to the emergence of small-scale, independent breweries that produce a diverse range of beers, including light lagers, pale ales, stouts, IPAs, porters, and sour beers. The rise of craft beer has brought innovation and creativity to the Croatian beer scene, enriching the drinking landscape and offering alternatives to the mainstream, industrial lagers that once dominated the market.

One of the pioneers of the craft beer movement in Croatia is Zmajska Pivovara, which started brewing in 2014 and quickly gained recognition from beer critics across Europe. Located in Zagreb, Zmajska Pivovara offers a wide variety of beers, including American pale ale, bitters, stouts, and a toothsome wheat beer. Their American pale ale, crafted with a combination of four varieties of hops, delivers a refreshing, crisp taste with a mango and citrus scent.

Another notable craft brewery is Nova Runda, founded by a group of friends who developed a passion for home brewing in 2009. Initially focusing on pale ales, Nova Runda has since expanded into the world of porters, with their APA (American Pale Ale) and bold, hoppy IPA (India Pale Ale) earning them a dedicated following.

The Garden Brewery, based in Zagreb, is known for its elegant and professional approach to brewing. They offer a range of beers, including a Citrus IPA, and provide tours of their brewery and taproom.

Varionica, whose name means "brewing shop" in Croatian, embodies the spirit of the craft beer movement by prioritizing quality over quantity. Their Neon Stout and hoppy Siesta Session are unique and experimental offerings that showcase their brewing expertise.

Other craft breweries making waves in Croatia include Vunetovo, which produces a range of exceptional stouts and dark beers on the island of Hvar, and Zeppelin, a small independent brewery in Bjelovar that names its unorthodox beers after unusual animals.

Croatia's beer history

Croatia has a long history of beer drinking, and it is a popular beverage in the country. While there are sporadic mentions of beer in historical sources during antiquity and the Middle Ages, its popularity rose in the 18th century, and industrial-scale production began in the late 19th century. Today, more than 90% of the beer sold in Croatia is domestically produced, and the country ranks highly in global beer consumption per capita.

The first Croatian beer ever produced is Osječko, which has been brewed in Osijek since 1697. The city of Osijek is also home to Osječka Pivovara, the first Croatian brewery, founded in the same year. Their most popular beer is Osječko 1664, named after the year of the oldest recipe they have.

In modern times, the most popular beer in Croatia is Ožujsko, with 10 bottles being consumed every second. It has been produced since 1892 and is now part of the MolsonCoors brewing company. The second most popular is Karlovačko, which is also the national beer. It is produced in the city of Karlovac and owned by Heineken.

In recent years, Croatia's beer scene has undergone a renaissance, with a growing interest in craft beer brewing. Zmajska Pivovara, the first independent Croatian craft brewery, started brewing in 2014 and quickly gained recognition for its wide variety of beers, including American pale ale, bitters, stouts, and wheat beer. Other notable craft breweries include Nova Runda, which began as a home-brewing project in 2009, and The Garden Brewery in Zagreb, known for its elegant and professional range of beers, including a Citrus IPA.

Croatia's beer culture is deeply rooted in its social and cultural settings, with drinking often accompanying gatherings, celebrations, and simple meetings with friends. The country's drinking customs are also influenced by its geographical location at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, resulting in a blend of Mediterranean and Central European influences in its cuisine and beverages.

Where to drink beer in Croatia

Beer is a popular drink in Croatia, with the country ranking 14th in the world for beer consumption per capita in 2010. If you're looking for places to drink beer in Croatia, here are some suggestions:

Bars and Restaurants

If you're looking for a refreshing beer, Karlovačko is a good option. Brewed in the city of Karlovac, it is flavourful and has an alcohol content of 5.4%. It is widely available in bars and restaurants throughout the country and is typically served in bottles, cans, or on draught.

For a cheaper option, look for locally brewed beers, which are usually more affordable. One example is Osječko, the oldest Croatian beer produced since 1697 in the city of Osijek. It is named after the city and is particularly popular in the restaurants of Osijek.

If you're in the capital, Zagreb, you can visit Mali Medo, a restaurant with its own brewery, Pivovar Medvedgrad. Their wheat beer and Pilsner are both refreshing choices, and you can also take a tour of their brewery.

Breweries

Croatia has a growing number of craft breweries, which offer unique and interesting beers. Here are some to consider:

• Zmajska Pivovara (Dragon Brewery) in Zagreb was the first Western-style craft microbrewery in Croatia. Their American pale ale is highly rated, with a refreshing, crisp taste and a mango and citrus scent.
• Nova Runda is a new craft brewery in Croatia, but their American Pale Ale (APA) has made a bold impression with its pronounced aroma and bitterness.
• Varionica, another craft brewery, offers a pale ale with hints of grapefruit, bitter orange, herbs, and spices, resulting in a palate-pleasing, crisp, and clean beer.
• Daruvar brewery's ABV – 5th Element is an unpasteurized and unfiltered golden beer with a citrus and fruity aroma. It offers a refreshing balance of sweet and bitter flavours.
• Hold'em brewery in Zagreb brews a hoppy craft beer called "All In", with fruity, grassy, and citrus notes and a light bitterness.

Beer Festivals

If you're visiting Croatia during the summer, you may be able to attend a beer festival, such as the Split Beer Fest, which showcases the latest Croatian craft beers.

Croatian drinking culture

Croatia has a rich drinking culture, with a wide variety of beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, that play an essential role in social and cultural settings. Drinking customs are deeply rooted in the country's social fabric, and beverages are often consumed during family gatherings, festive celebrations, or simple meetings with friends.

Beer is a popular beverage in Croatia, with the country ranking 14th in the world for beer consumption per capita in 2010. Approximately half of the adult population consumes beer, and more than 90% of the beer sold in the country is domestically produced. The most well-known Croatian beer brands include Ožujsko, Karlovačko, and Pan, with the former two being the most recognised. Ožujsko is also the most consumed beer in Croatia, with 10 bottles being consumed every second.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in craft beer brewing, with classic Croatian brands now facing competition from smaller craft breweries. This has led to the emergence of countless exciting beer labels and styles, such as IPA, porter, and sour beers. Some popular craft beer options include Zmajska Pivovara, Nova Runda, and The Garden Brewery.

In addition to beer, other popular alcoholic drinks in Croatia include wine and rakija (fruit spirits and liqueurs). Croatia has a rich wine-making history and is known for its quality wines, with the most famous wine regions including Istria and Kvarner, Dalmatia, Slavonija and Danube, and Croatian Uplands. Rakija is a strong fruit brandy that is deeply ingrained in Croatian culture and cuisine. It is typically served as a digestif after meals or offered as a welcoming drink to guests, and it comes in various flavours such as plum (šljivovica) and grape (lozovača).

Non-alcoholic beverages also play an important role in Croatian drinking culture, with coffee being a big part of it. Coffee drinking in Croatia is a ritual that often involves sitting for hours and socialising with friends and family. Croatians favour espresso-based drinks, with traditional bijela kava (white coffee) and macchiato commonly enjoyed in the mornings and afternoons. Additionally, Croatia has some unique soft drinks, such as Cedevita (a vitamin C supplement drink), Pasareta (a red-coloured soda), and Pipi (a lemonade-like soda).

Frequently asked questions