What better way to unwind and relax with your friends than with a nice, refreshing glass of beer? Even better, a beer rich in aroma, as well as technique, produced right here in the heart of Zagreb!

Luckily, there are plenty of cool spots where you can enjoy yourself. If you ask me, a mix of a fantastic atmosphere, good company, and a well-brewed pint is a winning combo!

The basics of a good brew

You are probably familiar with the term "craft beer", but just in case you need a reminder – craft beer is essentially beer made with traditional ingredients such as grains, malt, hops, water, and yeast. Other ingredients can be added, but only for flavor-enhancing purposes. It's usually made in smaller batches, focusing on the innovative brewing techniques and flavor, as the core of the final product.

Image credit: Lice Grada

Compared to regular beer, craft beer is unpasteurized and unfiltered, which means it has a shorter shelf life, up to a year. This kind of production is more akin to winemaking than brewing, as we have known for centuries. When you pair creativity with incredible craftsmanship, the result is quite delicious!

Bir spot you can't miss out on

If you're on the lookout for a new, fresh craft beer hangout, look no more, because Bir Craft Brewery & Bar is your destination! Somewhat new to the craft beer scene, they have most certainly proved they deserve their spot! Their cool open-space layout gives you an inside look at the brewery as you make your way to the pub, or the spacious terrace.

As for the craft beer selection, you can try various kinds, such as IPL, IPA, amber, and many more, all made in-house, with constant new additions to their beer chart. What makes their brew unique is following a Bavarian recipe and their exclusivity – you can only drink it in their brewery and the owner's brother's coffee shop next door. The beer is also available to-go and via delivery services. Sounds like a must-try if you ask me!

Image credit: Bir Brewery

In case you get hungry, they've got you covered with a well-curated menu, using only fresh, local ingredients and even making their own bread rolls and sauces. The focus is on simplicity, without sacrificing quality. You can choose from a classic combo, such as burgers and fries, chicken wings, homemade sausages, or a refreshing salad. For all meat-lovers, you can even try their beef tartare, meat platters of various stakes. The choice is all yours!

Image credit: Bir Brewery

Make sure you follow them on Facebook and Instagram so you don't miss out on any updates! If you decide to pay them a visit, I'm sure you won't regret it!

A place where something good is cookin'

A storm that's been dominating the craft beer market comes from a zagrebian brewery PriMarius, which is known to be one of the best small breweries in the region. What started as a homebrewing activity, soon turned into a professional occupation. To make a stand in the craft beer community and differentiate themselves from their competitors, hoppy amber Zornjak is their first-ever crafted brew. Since then, they have introduced and perfected over a dozen craft beers from their brewing facility right here in the city center.

Image credit: PriMarius Craft Brewery

Their most unique project is craft beer, more precisely, barley wine Podmorius brewed under the sea. Yeah, you heard that right! Paired with wine experts who picked PriMarius' brewery among the selected few, they were more than excited to execute this experiment. After nine months spent under the waves of the Adriatic sea, the result is a tangy, sourish aroma of a craft beer that's quite exquisite!

Image credit: PriMarius Craft Brewery

You can purchase their delicious concoctions in numerous convenience stores and specialized web-shops or enjoy their craft beers on tap in taprooms across Zagreb, such as Kvart, Pločnik, Tolkien's House, Harat's Beer Boutique... In addition, PriMarius is also planning on opening their own beer-tasting spot right in their brewing facility, so you will get to experience their expertise in all things craft beer firsthand! Pretty exciting, don't you think?

If you want to learn more about this zagrebian craft beer brewery, you can follow them on their social media Facebook and Instagram. 

Grab a friend, or two, and check out our mouth-watering suggestions. I'm sure you will more than enjoy them! Cheers!

Header image credit: Lice Grada

Author: Ayna Emina Kapetanović