Earlier this year, I packed my suitcase and hopped on a flight to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. I had a few goals for the trip – one of them was to taste Slovenian food, but just as importantly, to try as much local beer as possible. Slovenia turned out to be a seriously cool country for a hardcore beer lover like me! Below is my guide to Slovenian beer.
The History of Slovenian Beer
As one of Europe’s leading producers of high-quality hops, it’s no surprise that Slovenia knows a thing or two about brewing beer. Although brewing in Slovenia has roots going back hundreds of years, it wasn’t until the 19th century that the modern brewing tradition really took shape.
Laško and Union
In 1825, in the small town of Laško, mead and gingerbread maker Franz Geyer started a craft brewery that marked the beginning of commercial beer production in Slovenia. In the early years, he brewed so-called Steinbier (stone beer) by adding red-hot stones to the mash tuns.
In 1838, the Laško brewery got a new owner, and the beer became popular even beyond Slovenia’s borders – reaching as far as Egypt and India. In 1864, the competing Union Brewery began production. Today, both breweries are part of the Heineken Group, and Laško and Union are the dominant beer brands in Slovenia.
Today: the golden age of microbreweries
Although Slovenia wasn’t among the early pioneers of craft brewing, the country has caught up quickly, and today there are more than 100 microbreweries.
Ljubljana is considered the beer capital of Slovenia, with numerous microbreweries, brewpubs, and bars specializing in craft beer. That said, you’ll also find local small breweries in smaller towns and villages. It’s safe to say that Slovenia is perfect for any beer enthusiast!
Below you’ll find the different Slovenian beers I’ve tried (in no particular order).
Slovenian Beers I Have Tried
Captain’s Cabin Lager – A fresh lager with a lightly sweet finish. Tried this at Captain’s Cabin (of course!) in Ljubljana.
Tektonik – Murky Hazy IPA (5.8%) – An easy-drinking New England–style IPA. Flavours of tropical fruit and low bitterness for an IPA. Bought at Makalonca in Ljubljana.
Loo-Blah-Nah
Since most people struggle to pronounce Ljubljana (even Slovenians, according to my Welcome Pickups driver!), this brewery is here to help. They’ve actually named the brewery after how the capital is pronounced! 😀
I visited their pub in the market arcade in the city centre, where they also offer beer tastings.
- Loo-Blah-Nah – Gold Ale (4.4%) – A nice golden ale using modern Slovenian hop varieties. Not bad at all!
- Loo-Blah-Nah – Little IPA (2.9%) – A pleasant low-alcohol IPA. Easy to drink – most people should handle this one just fine.
- Loo-Blah-Nah – Pale Ale (4.9%) – Citrus-forward pale ale, quite similar to their American IPA but with less bitterness.
- Loo-Blah-Nah – American IPA (5.6%) – Pronounced hop flavour but still very drinkable, with notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and pine. Contains seven different hop varieties!
- Loo-Blah-Nah – Belgian Quadrupel (9.2%) – A wild flavour bomb in true Trappist style. Notes of caramel, nuts, and dried fruit. Definitely not for everyone. At 9.2% ABV, this one can knock most people off their feet! It reminded me a bit of a very special barley wine I drank in Madeira. Weird – and intense! 🤣
Pelicon – The 3rd Pill (6%) – A perfectly decent IPA. Ordered at Slovenska Hiša (perfect place to try local food!) in Ljubljana.
Union Lager (4.9%) – A fresh lager with noticeable sweetness. Bought at the small restaurant Marley & Me in Ljubljana (recommended!).
Union IPA (4.8%) – An unfiltered IPA with light flavours of sweet summer fruits like peach and papaya. Very low bitterness for an IPA. (At the Union brewpub)
Tektonik OL #149 Smokey (5.0%) – A rauchbier with a dark copper colour. Mild smoky flavour, yet fresh and smooth. Served with tortilla chips, which worked surprisingly well. Big thumbs up! (At Tektonik & Tektonix Brewery & Taproom)
Tektonik OL #147 Luv Ju Helles Bock (6.5%) – I learned from the bartender that “OL” stands for Open League, meaning experimental beers. This one is a Helles Bock, with more bitterness and malt character than a standard Helles. The flavour reminded me of toasted bread with sugar from my childhood! 🙂
Reservoir Dogs – CruX (5%) – A sour, fruited gose. Quite sour, yet fresh, with flavours of mango and passion fruit. Guaranteed to pair well with grilled food. It reminded me of a Filipino beer called Engkanto Green Lava Double IPA. Tried at Lajbah pub in Ljubljana, which has an excellent craft beer selection – including a couple of Norwegian beers!
Brauhaus Bevog – Kramah American IPA (6.5%) – Slovenian IPAs tend to be much less bitter than I’m used to, but this one was more classic. Packed with hop flavour.
Lobik – Strawberry Cheesecake Sour (6.5%) – A smoothie-style sour, or “gelato sour beer”. Honestly, it doesn’t get much more unusual than this. Raspberry meets Italian gelato dipped in beer – that’s the best way I can describe this strange and very unique brew. Definitely worth trying if you like experimental beers.
Laško Zlatorog (4.9%) – A fresh and perfectly fine pale lager (Captain’s Cabin).
Crazy Duck Brewery – Ju-pi American Weisse (5.0%) – Fresh and mild wheat flavours, a beer you can easily enjoy several of in a row. (Perhaps not at the airport, or you might not be allowed onboard!)
Pelicon – Yes Boss! Pale Ale (4.8%) – Unfiltered beer with a lovely fruity flavour.
Laško Zlatorog Temno (4.9%) – Dark brown beer with characteristic flavours of burnt caramel, chocolate, and nuts. Delicious!
Crazy Duck Brewery – 1 Hour Crazy IPA (6.8%) – Fresh and fruity with moderate bitterness and flavours of orange, lychee, grapefruit, flowers, and pine. “1 hour” refers to hops being added continuously to the wort for a full hour.
How much does beer cost in Slovenia?
At a bar or restaurant, a 0.5-litre beer costs around 3 euro. In shops, you can find beer for as little as 1 euro for 2 beers!
So really – it’s time to book that trip to Slovenia right away! 😀
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