Top cultural events in Croatia that you shouldn’t miss – Part I
December 13, 2025
Croatian Islands | Brač or Hvar
December 13, 2025Over the past decade, Croatia has established itself as one of the top 10 wine regions in the world (according to USA Today journalists and numerous awards won at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards). This comes as no surprise, considering that the tradition of winemaking in Croatia dates back more than 2,500 years (albeit with interruptions), as evidenced by numerous archaeological and written records. In addition to world-renowned wines, another asset has emerged on the scene that could enrich Croatia’s gastronomic and even tourism offering.
We’re talking about the production of craft beer.
Small independent brewers existed in Croatia even before the revolution that transformed the global beer industry. Like most small brewers, they started by experimenting with various recipes in their own garages, eventually encouraged by a new wave of popularity and high demand for craft beer to begin producing larger quantities and placing their products on the market. Over time, the craft movement grew increasingly popular—so much so that it moved beyond beer production alone. This is best reflected in the way young beer enthusiasts integrated art into the whole story. Believing that attractive visuals help sell the product, they decided to invite artists and designers to use their creativity to create a unique visual identity for craft beers.
What is the connection between craft beer and tourism?
The rapid development of craft brewing has enhanced Croatia’s gastronomic and tourism offering.
The craft movement began as a response from beer lovers who wanted to bring innovation to brewing—a kind of rebellion against the monotony of lagers from large global brands.
Although initially an alternative to pale lagers, craft brewing, due to its great popularity, could not resist commercialization. The potential of craft brewing—beyond food, music, and similar sectors—has also been recognized in the tourism industry.
Today, for example, there is a type of travel where craft beer enthusiasts explore new destinations to try both well-known and entirely new varieties of beer. This kind of travel has even earned an official name – Beercation (a blend of the words beer and vacation). In Croatia, around 40 small breweries have been established in the past five years, and the craft beer segment produces about 55,000 hectoliters annually. Many of these producers have also managed to break into the global scene.
Beercation is a new form of tourism in which tourists visit destinations known for producing renowned craft beers.
Because of all this, Croatia has become one of the world’s most desirable craft beer destinations. Additionally, when it comes to gastronomy, there is growing potential for Croatia to be recognized not only for its wine but also as a producer of high-quality craft beers. In recent years, significant investment has been made in promoting this image. Across Croatia, a large number of gastronomic festivals are organized, featuring renowned Croatian and international chefs who, by showcasing their skills, pair traditional and modern flavors with top-quality craft beers. Alongside local producers, the festivals also host some of the world’s most celebrated master brewers.
If you’re one of the beer lovers, don’t miss one of these gastronomic events taking place across Croatia this summer:
• R'n'B Festival – Zagreb
• Beerfest Sjever – Čakovec
• Picnic 2 beer and barbecue festival – Rijeka
• Fakin Craft Fest – Zagreb
• Krafting Festival – Makarska
• Dubrovnik Craft Beer Festival – Dubrovnik
• Craft Beer Festival – Županja
• S.A.R.S. Music and Beer Festival – Sinj
• Craft Beer Festival – Punat
• Dani piva (Beer Days) – Karlovac
• Medulin Craft Beer – Medulin
• Zadar Craft Beer Festival – Zadar
• Istra & Craft Beer Festival – Istria
What are the best craft beers in Croatia?
In Croatia, approximately 55,000 hectoliters of craft beer are produced annually.
Although it didn’t exist at all just ten years ago, the craft beer scene in Croatia is now constantly growing. Every day, young innovators emerge with beers of new flavors, and new pubs are opening, offering visitors a unique experience. With each new product appearing on the market, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to list all the available craft beer brands. To make your choice a bit easier, we’ve decided to compile a list of the most well-known craft beers you must try if you’re spending your vacation in Croatia. The most popular types of craft beers produced and consumed are pale ale, India pale ale, porter, stout, and dark beer.
Medvedgrad
Medvedgrad is the oldest microbrewery in Croatia. It has been producing beer for over 20 years. Initially, they brewed beer solely for their own pub in Zagreb, but thanks to the global wave of craft beer popularity, they decided to produce their first beer for the broader market under the name Grička Vještica (The Witch of Grič). Encouraged by the success and high demand for Grička Vještica, they expanded their range with varieties such as the Zlatni Medvjed pilsner, the dark lager Mrki Medvjed, the wheat beer Dva Klasa, Pale Ale, Agram Stout, India Pale Ale Fakin, and the black IPA Crni Jack.
Zmajsko Pale Ale
Zmajska Pivovara was one of the first small beer producers in Croatia. In addition to being pioneers of craft beer in the country, they are notable for being named one of the 10 best new breweries in the world by RateBeer in their very first year of operation. This was a major achievement considering the fierce competition from 3,800 breweries worldwide, and it served as an inspiration to other small brewers in Croatia. Zmajska’s most famous beer is undoubtedly their American Pale Ale, while other standout products include their Porter, India Pale Ale, and American Wheat Ale.
Vunetovo Aljaški Mrgud
From the sunniest island in Croatia comes a true refreshment that was named the best craft beer in Croatia in 2016. Crna IPA Obogaćena is the first craft beer from Hvar, characterized by a fruity aroma blended with citrus notes.
San Servolo
In 2013, the Grbac brothers from Istria opened a brewery and launched a craft beer on the market under the name San Servolo. Alongside Zmajska, the Buje Brewery is one of the first small beer producers in Croatia. Their dark beer, with its uniquely designed bottle, is ranked among the top five craft beers in Croatia according to RateBeer. In addition to their well-known dark beer, there are as many as eight types of San Servolo beers available: APA, Imperial Pils, Teranino fruit beer, Truffler Herb Beer, IPA, Amber Lager, Czech Pilsner, and Dark Pilsner.
Varionica Pale Ale
Varionica is a project born from the vision and dedicated work of two close friends. It was one of the key pioneers of the beer scene renaissance in Croatia. Currently, their selection includes Pale Ale, Neon Stout, and Sunny Lager Wave.
Barba
Barba, an Imperial IPA produced by the small Split-based brewery Split LAB, was named the best Croatian craft beer of 2018 by the American site RateBeer. Using only basic ingredients such as hops, barley, yeast, and water, “Barba” adheres to the Bavarian Beer Purity Law, Reinheitsgebot, from 1516. Split LAB is a small brewery founded in 2015 after years of experimentation and the pursuit of perfect flavors.
Nova Runda
Like most small producers in Croatia, Nova Runda began its journey as a “home workshop” in Daruvar, which gradually evolved into a full-fledged brewery now based in Zagreb. Their beers are at the top of the list of those you must try when visiting Croatia. Their selection includes as many as nine beers, eight of which are Pale Ales, with the most famous being the American Pale Ale and the C4 IPA.
Saison – The first beer from Vis
Did you know that the island of Vis also has its own craft beer? It’s worth noting that this beer is actually produced in Norway, as one of the brewery’s founders is Norwegian brewmaster Kjetil Jikun. The first beer from Vis is characterized by a light, fruity flavor and pairs perfectly with seafood dishes.
For those who prefer light lagers
Light lagers are the most popular among the local population in Croatia.
Despite the craft beer revolution sweeping across Croatia, light lagers remain a favorite among both locals and tourists. Interestingly, Croats are among the highest beer consumers in Europe, with 90% of the beer they drink being domestically produced. The most popular is Ožujsko beer, brewed by Zagrebačka pivovara. It’s estimated that an average of 10 Ožujsko beers are consumed every second. If you're looking for refreshment on a hot summer day, you’ll find Ožujsko beer practically everywhere. The second most well-known is the award-winning Karlovačko beer, named after the city of Karlovac where its renowned brewery is located.
90% of Croats choose light lagers from domestic production.
Osječko beer is considered the first commercial beer in Croatia, as records mention beer production in the Osijek area as far back as 1664. Interestingly, the producers even recommend using Osječko beer in pancake batter. Most Croatian lagers are light in color, but Tomislav beer stands out. This dark beer was first brewed in 1925 to mark the thousandth anniversary of the coronation of Croatia’s first king, Tomislav.
With such a wide selection of beers, you're sure to find the perfect refreshment for hot summer days. Before relaxing, don’t forget the rule that beer may only be consumed by persons over the age of 18. We also recommend that you avoid drinking beer if you’re driving a car.
