I love Albania and I love beer. This is my small guide to Albanian beer for those of you who are either traveling beer enthusiasts or just want to quench your thirst in the Albanian heat.
Albania may not have the largest selection of beers, but it boasts several large and small breweries that produce fresh and delightful beer. The availability of beer in bars, restaurants, and stores may vary depending on your location in the country. Prices also vary, and as usual, they tend to be a bit higher in places frequented by tourists. At popular beach bars, the cost may be double compared to a small local tavern in a hidden alley in Tirana.
Birra Korça
Albania’s modern beer history began almost 100 years ago when the Italian investor Umberto Umberti, with permission from King Zog I, initiated the construction of what would become the country’s first commercial brewery in the small town of Korçë. With the assistance of German engineer Hebard Geraldine, the Korça brewery started beer production in 1928. They have retained the brewing method they used back then, and now you can find their beer all over Albania.
Korça Tradicionale Bjonde
Korça’s bestseller is a light and fresh pilsner with a pleasant aroma and a lot of flavor. It works perfectly as a thirst quencher in the heat or paired with grilled meat, for example. You can find this beer in almost every store and bar/restaurant in Albania. Korca beer is definetely a winner when it comes to light, but tasty beers in Albania!
Korça Tradicionale e Zezë
Korça e Zezë is pretty much the opposite of Korça Bjonde. It is a dark lager with a crisp and light feel. As a fan of dark beers, I really enjoyed this one. It’s not as readily available as Korça’s light pilsner, but I found it in several stores in Tirana.
If you’re wondering what to eat in Albania, let us guide you through the delicious Albanian local cuisine.
Birra Tirana
Birra Tirana is said to be the best-selling beer in Albania and has been in production since 1960. Originally named Birra Malto, it changed its name in 2006. They use water transported through special pipes from the Salita source high up in a nearby mountainous area for production.
Birra Tirana Premium Pilsner
As the name suggests, this is a light pilsner. It has an okay taste, but personally, I prefer Korça’s pilsner.
Going to Tirana? Check out our guide!
Birra Elbar
Elbar is one of the newest additions to the market in Albania. The first units reached the shelves in 2015. The brand has achieved rapid success, likely due in part to having Heineken as one of its owners. The large Albanian company Agna Group handles the production. They invest heavily in marketing and sponsor everything from concerts to sports events.
Birra Elbar
A decent pale lager that works well as a thirst quencher.
Elbar Weiss
Albanian and German apparently go well together—Elbar Weiss is a wheat beer of the hefeweizen type with a delightful complex taste. Clearly one of my Albanian favorites.
Birra Stela
Birra Stela is the second-largest brewery in Albania, located in the capital, Tirana. It started in the mid-90s, a time when Albania was going through an uncertain period transitioning from communist rule to democracy. This brewery actually produces an alcohol-free version of Birra Stela that is halal. A significant portion of Albania’s population practices Islam, and Birra Stela 0.0% Alc is made by Muslims who recite a prayer during production.
Birra Stela Lager
A light lager that resembles Birra Elbar, with a slight hint of corn. This is the brewery’s best-seller by far.
Cek Pilsener
This one was harder to find; I searched in many stores before finding it in a small supermarket in Tirana. As the name suggests, it’s a pilsner inspired by the Czech Republic. Good balance between sweetness and bitterness, suitable for warm weather.
Birra Kaon
Birra Kaon started as a microbrewery in 1995 but has since grown substantially. The name is derived from antiquity when the Illyrian tribe Kaonians ruled what is now the southern part of Albania. The Kaonians were known for their beer production through the fermentation of barley and honey. The brewery is inspired by ancient craft methods and now produces several different beer varieties.
Kaon Lager Beer
This was the only beer from Birra Kaon that I found in Tirana. The beer has a nice golden color and a fresh taste.
Birra Peja
Technically, Birra Peja is not Albanian; it is brewed in neighboring Kosovo. However, I feel it’s worth mentioning here. Firstly, Albania and Kosovo share ethnicity and history, and secondly, Peja beer is very popular in both countries.
Peja Pilsner
Peja’s pilsner is quite decent, with a slightly sweet and fruity taste with just the right amount of bitterness.
Peja Crudo
Peja Crudo stands out with its unique bottle design, inspired by the growing trend of craft breweries and creative bottle design. Crudo is unfiltered and has a considerably more complex taste than the pilsner. I liked this one a lot!
Birra Puka
The small town of Pukë in the northern mountainous regions of Albania is known for its excellent skiing opportunities in winter, but it also houses a small craft brewery called Birra Puka. The brewery belongs to the Turizem Puke hotel and produces only a small amount of beer each year.
Puka Beer
I was lucky to find a small gastropub in Tirana that had Puka Beer on the menu. Lovely red-colored unfiltered lager beer with a sweet caramel taste. This one is worth seeking out.
Birraria e Gjyshit
The newest beer on the market started as a hobby project in 2019 at the grandfather’s house of one of the guys who now runs the brewery. “Birraria e Gjyshit” simply means “grandfather’s brewery.” Only natural ingredients are used, and everything is done by hand at this microbrewery.
Birraria e Gjyshit IPA
This IPA has a nice light orange color and a pleasant tropical taste with a distinct hint of citrus fruit.
How Much Does a Beer Cost in Albania?
In 2024, a half-liter of beer typically costs between 2-5 euro at a pub/restaurant or 1,3-2 euro at the grocery store/supermarket.
The Future of Beer in Albania
Currently, the beer selection in Albania is somewhat limited. However, since the trendy bars in Tirana have started to pay attention to what’s happening in the rest of the beer world, I predict that in the coming years, several new microbreweries will emerge in Albania. It has become cheaper and easier to start small-scale brewing. I look forward to tasting new and exciting Albanian beers in the future!
Gëzuar! 😀
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