10 Great Balkan Brews (and a Few That Suck!)
Although the Balkans aren’t known for their brews, I have found them to be just as tasty as any beer I have had yet. This post covers mainstream brews found in the region, craft beers will be confined to a separate post. In other words, we are sticking to Macros not Micros. These brews range from the 2L plastic bottles that are so prevalent in the region to the finest breweries of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Table of Contents
The Good
1. Sarajevsko (Bosnia)
At in the #1 spot we have Sarajevsko, a simple brew in the Austro-Hungarian tradition. Unlike some of the beers on this list, this brewery has not been bought out by multinational interests, choosing to remain independent.
If you have read my Sarajevo post you will know that this fine drink is brewed in the most impressive location, a beautiful old brewery in the heart of the city. Today, the city supplies most of the beer in Bosnia and imports to neighbouring Albania, Montenegro and Croatia as well. The water comes from an underground spring 300 feet below ground and has been brewed on location since 1864. Today operations have rebounded to surpass pre-war sales volumes.
The two main beers are the Sarajevsko Premium, a pale lager and the Tamno, a dark lager. This beer can be found anywhere in Bosnia for a good reason, it is much better than its competitors.
Alcohol Percentage: 4.9% Premium / 4.9% Tamno
2. Niksicko (Montenegro)
Produced by Trebjesa Brewery, based in the town of Nikšić this beer has a long tradition dating back to 1896. It was established by Nicholas I the enlightened ruler of the newly formed principality of Montenegro. Very popular in its home country, this beer has captured 90% of the Montenegrin market. During Yugoslav times this was the leading brewery of the Balkans with exports to all seven Yugoslav republics. Although Yugoslavia is no more, this beer remains very popular in Serbia and can be found adorning the patio umbrellas of many bars in Belgrade. With its acquisition in 2012 by Molson Coors, the brewery is currently expanding the range of its operations to include many European countries as well as North America.
Although I often struggled to pronounce the name of this beer correctly, it is a personal favourite from my trip. I first had it in a bar in Belgrade and continued to buy it whenever I could find it. Like its cousin Sarajevsko this beer is a lager and comes in two main varieties; a darker lager (Nikšićko Tamno) and a pale lager (Nikšićko Gold). For some reason Tamno is much easier to find in Serbia and difficult to find in Montenegro.
Like most beers, this one brags about its use of almost mythically delicious spring water from the town of Nikšić at the base of Prokletije, also known as the Dinaric Alps or the Accursed Alps. If beer had a cool origin story sounds this would be it (although it does seem like most beers have some mountain water story). I don’t know much about the fresh spring water but I do know that there is nothing like sipping a Nikšićko Pivo on the sunlit Montenegrin Coast.
Alcohol Percentage: Gold 5.2% / Tamno 6.2%
3. Tomislav (Croatia)
A beer fit for a King, quite literally. This porter, with history dating back to 1925, is named after king Tomislav and was introduced for the one-thousandth anniversary of his coronation.
This caramel flavoured beauty has been brewed in Zagreb’s Zagrebačka Pivovaraâ brewery. This reliable facility also brews another favourite on this list, Ožujsko but they are separate brands.
Zagreb is often passed over in flavor of Croatia’s coastal gems – stay for the beer and enjoy one of the prettiest inland cities in the Balkans.
Alcohol Percentage: 7.3%
4. Skopsko (Macedonia)
The dark horse on this list, Skopsko is a solid beer. Produced since 1922, the bitter lager can be found under the Cyrillic label Скопско. It currently holds 64% of the North Macedonian market. The two liter bottles are a great bang for your buck without a drop in quality, but the glass bottle remains the standard. I hear they now brew a dark beer (temno). I did not try this beer so I can not vouch for this but I have included it here for reference sake.
I was introduced to this wonderful drink my first night in Ohrid, one of the best nights out from my 2017 trip. Therefore it will remain a special brew in my heart. If you have been to Skopje, a large billboard with this beer can be seen above the main square, testament to the influence this beer has on its patriotic countrymen.
Alcohol Percentage: Skopsko 4.9% / Temno 5.2%
5. Ožujsko (Croatia)
I first spotted this beer on the Croat side of Mostar. Recently I have noticed that it is sold in Canada. This Lager has been brewed uninterrupted since 1892. If you drink this beer in front of a Bosniak they will call it a ******* fascist beer, drink a Sarajevsko in front of a Croat they will ask you why you are not drinking a Croatian beer. Politics and beers, a match made in heaven… Said no one ever!
Alcohol Percentage: 5%
6. Korça (Albania)
Albanians are not known for their beer, that’s why I was so pleasantly surprised by this brew. In a beer drinking landscape that includes Bierra Tirana this drink is a godsend. I will preclude this by stating that the Zezë (dark) lager is of much better quality than the lighter pilsner.
Founded in 1928 in the town of Korça it is the third largest brewery in the country. In my opinion this is by far the best beer in Albania. I had my first Pils e Zezë at the restaurant at the top of Tirana’s Mt. Dajte, a sunset with a beer fit for a Canadian prince, attempting to escape winter back home.
Alcohol Percentage: Korça 4.5% / Pils e Zezë 4.5%
7. Jelen (Serbia)
Surprisingly drinkable in its 2L iteration, this pale lager sports a large golden red deer. Jelen is Serb for deer, nothing fancy here, but it will help you get through a heavy night of partying in Serbia’s capital.
This beer pours a beautiful golden hue just like its label. It’s as smooth as it looks and goes down easy. Oh and if that was not enough the two litre plastic bottles are dirt cheap. What more do you want?
Alcohol Percentage : 4.6%
8. Kamenitza (Bulgaria)
The pride of Bulgaria, this beer was created in 1881 when three crafty Swiss entrepreneurs built a brewery on the hill of Kamenitza in the central city of Plovdiv. This brewery was the first in the country to produce a dark beer to go with its distinctive Lager. This beer won many awards in the 1890’s including the Chicago and Brussels beer festivals.
Currently holding an 18% share in the crowded Bulgarian market this beer sports the slogan “Mujete znayat zashto” or “Men know why” in English. The distinctive green bottle can be purchased almost anywhere in the country.
Alcohol Percentage: Light 4.4% / Dark 6.0%
9. Laško – Union (Slovenia)
a) Laško
Known for its distinctive alpine goat logo, this beer has been brewed in the tiny mountainous Slovenia since 1825. By the end of the second world war Lasko was the 5th largest brewery in all of Yugoslavia. At the outbreak of the Ten-Day War in 1991, it was the largest brewery in the country. As you can imagine, this tremendous output of golden beer dropped dramatically when Slovenia left the Yugoslav state.
Today, Laško brews many products including its signature Lager, although I’m not fond of the light beer, I have included it on this list as I’m sure one of the many beers on offer by this brewery will suit you. I had a blueberry one in Ljubljana and that was just sublime.
Alcohol Percentage: Light 4.9% / Dark 5.9% (Laško)
b) Union
Union brewery was founded in 1864 and was brewed for export to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The history mimics that of Laško with nationalization during communist time and privatization after the Ten-Day War.
Unfortunately Heineken now owns Laško and Union and has merged both of these companies together under the name Pivara Laško Union. Don’t be fooled Union is the superior beer but Laško offers great specialty beers. If the Union beer was rated individually I would have put this selection much higher.
Alcohol Percentage: Light 4.9% / Amber 5.4% / Dark 4.6% (Union)
10. Timișoreana (Romania)
The last spot goes to Romania’s most popular beer, one with a history going back to 1718 in the city of Timișoara when it was ruled by Eugene of Savoy. I almost kept it off the list due to the fact that it almost falls into the mediocre category. I say almost because no other macro in Romania approaches this brew’s quality.
Alcohol Percentage: Light 5.0% / Dark 5.0%
The Mediocre:
Bierra Tirana (Albania)
The first on this list is Bierra Tirana, this uninspired brew is like a bad version of Heineken and I don’t rank Heineken very highly.
Alcohol Percentage: 4.0%
Karlovacko (Croatia)
Everyone raves about it and I don’t get why? Maybe I’m just weird, try this beer and let me know what you think. I am willing to give this one a second chance.
Alcohol Percentage: Light 5.0% / Crno (Dark) 6.0%
Pan (Croatia)
For a country that makes pretty good brews this Lager feels like a letdown. At 3.5% this beer won’t even make you forget how bad it is. May as well drink a Coors Light, both taste like water. I suppose it’s better than the cat urine taste you get from truly awful beers.
Alcohol Percentage: 3.5%
Peja (Kosovo)
Not a bad u, but apart from the distinct color, it is a rather forgettable beer. Good thing the Kosovans make up for it with some wicked Rakia.
Alcohol Percentage: 4.2%
The Bad and The Ugly:
Tuzla (Bosnia)
Nice springs, pretty town, lots of history, what could go wrong? Apparently lots… No clue what happened here but this is simply an awful beer. Although technically a microbrew, they are pretty big in Bosnia so I threw them on this list.
Alcohol Percentage: 4.7%
Lav (Serbia)
Just a bad beer, there is nothing more to say. I regret the 2L bottle but I drank it anyway. What does that say about me? I don’t know but this beer is god awful. There is no way a majestic animal like the lion should be associated with this foul drink.
Alcohol Percentage: 4.5%
Pils Helas (Greece)
This Pilsner is one of my least favourite beers ever, up there with Pabst Blue Ribbon and Malta’s Cisk. The Greeks can make great ouzo but I hope they get out of the beer game. Harsh, I know, but its just my opinion. it shouldn’t carry too much weight. After all I’m just some drunk guy typing at his computer!
Alcohol Percentage: 4.5%
