Craft beer in Croatia: Introduction

Published: February 26, 2025

The Balkan countries, located in the southeastern part of Europe, are growing in popularity both as a travel destination and as a craft beer region. Of the Balkan countries, Croatia in particular attracts holidaymakers, but its neighboring countries are also on the map for backpackers, caravaners and package holiday tourists alike, especially during the summer season. In the Balkan countries, travelers are delighted by the stunning coastline, beautiful nature, historical towns, delicious food and low price level. Trying to find quality craft beer in the Balkans was not a very fruitful endeavor in the mid 2010s, but during the past ten artisan brewing has taken great strides forward.

The popularity of craft beer is growing in Croatia

The boom of modern craft beer reached Croatia, like the Balkan region in general, a little later than the rest of Europe. Beer itself is very popular in the Balkans, even if the peninsula is largely a traditional wine-making area. Just ten years ago, craft beer was still an almost unknown term in Croatia, but the first new wave breweries were already taking their first steps, and some of the traditional lager beer breweries also started to diversify their selection.

Recently, beer consumption in general has declined in Croatia bit, but craft beer breweries have been able to increase their production volumes and market share. The interest in quality craft beer in increasing, and also tourists more often ask for local artisan beer options. However, the market is not easy, and there is still a lot work to be done to attract more consumers to quality artisan beer. Inflation and rising production costs are causing pressure to the pricing of the beers, and due to the dominance of large breweries, it is challenging to get shelf space and ensure proper storage conditions for beers in supermarkets. Despite the challenges, artisan breweries have a good, revolutionary spirit, and they want to think positive about the future.

The country’s beer capital is Zagreb, but domestic artisan beers are also readily available from coastal cities and tourist destinations, for example. There are microbreweries all over the country, but the majority operate close to the capital city. In this post we shortly introduce seven breweries; Medvedgrad, Zmajska, Varionica, The Garden Brewery, Pulfer, Nova Runda, Mlinarica and Primarius, all located in or around Zagreb. More thorough brewery introduction posts about breweries that we visited in 2024 will be linked to the post.

Zagreb as a beer travel destination

Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, located inland in the northern part of the country, is unfortunately often overlooked by tourists heading to the coast, but it’s a lovely place for a few days city holiday. Zagreb is a city with a long history, and there is beautiful architecture, vibrant culture and plenty of restaurants and cafes. During the summer season, Zagreb is quite peaceful and quiet, with many locals heading to their summer homes in the countryside or on the coast.

For beer lovers, Zagreb has plenty of places to visit. In the city center, you can find several nice beer pubs with cozy terraces and a good selection of both local and international craft beers. There are beer menus available also in many restaurants, so pairing craft beer with food is easy. Should you take a sightseeing walk in the historic center and around the beautiful Zagreb Cathedral, there is a handful of good beer bars and restaurants to choose from. You can stop for a pint of local craft beer at, for example, the 12-tap Valhalla pub or the popular Lord of the Rings -themed Tolkien’s House pub. Of the food restaurants, for example, Barbeerian BBQ & Beer offers a wide list of domestic and foreign beers as well, and Medvedgrad’s Pivnica restaurants have a diverse selection of the brewery’s own beers on tap and in bottles.

Perhaps Zagreb’s most diverse beer shop, Goblet Beer Store, is located in the Trnje district near the banks of the Sava River, and a great selection of Croatian and imported artisan beers can also be found at Ambasada Store. In Croatia, beer shops usually have a few beer taps, so the shops also function as beer pubs.

Microbreweries in and around Zagreb

Pivovara Medvedgrad

Croatia’s largest and oldest craft brewery is Pivovara Medvedgrad, that celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. This family-owned brewery started back in 1994 by making beers for the family’s restaurant in Zagreb, turning it into a German-style brewery pub. At first, their own beers were made in a small brewery room next to the restaurant, with a 500-liter equipment, but today Medvedgrad produces beers on a wide scale in modern premises in Zagreb. Nowadays there are several Medvedgrad restaurants in Zagreb, and alsi a pub called Fakin Craft Bar. A separate post about Medvedgrad will follow soon.

Zmajska Pivovara

Croatia’s first new wave artisan brewery is Zmajska Pivovara, that was founded in 2013 as a result of intensive home brewing hobby. The brewery started in small premises in the center of Zagreb, and after a few years it was time to think about expansion. The current brewery and taproom are located in Jankomir area, in the western part of Zagreb. Zmajska team cherishes creativity and innovativeness, and constantly launches new artisan beers in different styles. In the taproom next to the brewery, you can taste the brewery’s beers fresh from eight taps. A separate post about Zmajska Pivovara will follow soon.

Varionica

Varionica started around the same time as Zmajska, and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024. Varionica’s story also began with home brewing and sharing the products with friends and friends of friends. Commercial brewing started after a restaurant chain wanted to have the beers on their menu. Varionica first brewed as a gypsy brewery, and opened their own brewery in the village of Pisarovina, south of Zagreb, in 2019. Varionica’s mission is to produce high-quality, creative craft beers and cooperate with restaurants. Varionica does not have its own taproom, but their beers are available in numerous pubs and also in many grocery stores around Croatia. A separate post about Varionica will follow soon.

The Garden Brewery

The internationally best known Croatian microbrewery is The Garden Brewery, located in the Peščenica – Žitnjak district in Zagreb. The brewery was founded in 2016, originally to make artisan beer for a large music festival held on the Croatian coast. Today, Garden, which has grown into a rather large brewery, makes a core series of 14 beers and constantly launches new, more experimental beers. Garden makes collaboration beers with international craft breweries almost monthly.

Nova Runda

Another internationally well known Croatian artisan brewery is Nova Runda Brewery located in Zabok, northwest of Zagreb. Nova Runda is in fact one of the pioneers of craft beer in the country, as the founders started home-brewing already in 2009. At the end of 2012, they decided create a brewing business, and registered Nova Runda in 2013. After five years of gypsy brewing, Nova Runda brewery and taproom was built. Nova Runda’s mission has been from the beginning to bring something new, complex and generously hopped to the Croatian beer market, and they have launched more than 200 craft beers in different styles. A separate post about Nova Runda will follow soon.

Pulfer Brewery

Pulfer Brewery has also gained an international reputation, especially with their delicious Smoothie Sours. Pulfer, located in eastern Zagreb, was born out of a love for good beer. First, a small home brewery was built in a garage, and commercial operations started as a gypsy brewery in 2016. In 2019 Pulfer built their own brewery, where the small crew produces new, innovative artisan beers at a fast pace for both Croatian and international markets. The first super fruity Smoothie Sours were released in 2021, and since then these thick and juicy beers have captivated beer enthusiasts all over Europe. A separate post about Pulfer Brewery will follow soon.

Mlinarica

Mlinarica brewery started in 2016 by making beers for a family-owned restaurant by the same name in Zagreb. The small brewery located next to the traditional restaurant first only made two craft Lagers, but has since brought a rather wide range of different beer styles to market. What makes Mlinarica special, is the brewery’s passion towards wild beer. Mlinarica specializes in mixed fermentation Sour Beers aged in wine barrels. These specialty beers, rare in Croatia, are often flavored with fruits during aging, and the results are sophisticated, complex and funky. A separate post about Mlinarica will follow soon.

PriMarius Craft Pivovarna

PriMarius Craft Pivovarna is a small brewery founded in 2017 by a long-time home brewer Mario Zerjav. PriMarius also operates in Zagreb, and in 2024 it moved to larger premises in the Hala Zagreb event center. PriMarius beers are served there in a rock-spirited taproom bar, behind the wall of which is the production area with a charmingly rustic, self-built brew house and a neat line of fermenting vessels. More about PriMarius will follow in a separate post soon.

Craft beer elsewhere in Croatia

Those heading further north in Croatia should put the charming town of Varazdin on the map. The small, beautiful city has a couple of excellent beer pubs, and the nearby village of Gojanec is home to the Saperlot microbrewery. Also nearby is the lovely small town of Čakovec and the Lepi Dečki brewery.

Craft beer is gaining popularity also in coastal Croatia, but there are only a few breweries along the coast. However, you can find decent craft beer pubs in most of the popular coastal destinations, serving Croatian craft beer. A tip for those driving through Rijeka; we recommend the Goblet Beer Bar & Shop, an excellent craft beer shop and pub located in the city center.

Craft beer in Croatia: Introduction

Craft beer in Croatia:
Introduction

Craft beer in Croatia: Introduction