Heading for the Baltics and Helsinki. I have the Garshol book on Lithuanian Beer and we are having someone show us around. Interested in places to eat and drink beer and interesting sights not in the tourist guides.
In Vilnius, try Nisha Craft Capital and Alaus Biblioteka. To eat and drink: BeerHouse & Craft Kitchen. In Kaunas, try Vingiu Dubingiu Alude, Nisha Bar’o Perspektyva and Hop Doc Gastropub. In Riga, try Beerfox Artisan Beer Bar, Alus Darbnīca Labietis and TAKA bar. In Tallinn, try Koht, Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room, and Põrgu Õllelokaal. In Helsinki, try Oluthuone Kaisla, Sori Taproom, One Pint Pub, Stadin Panimobaari, Bryggeri Helsinki, Black Door and St. Urho's Pub.
Thank you Sigmund for all of the great recommendations in the Baltics. We didn't have a chance to visit them all. I think the region is a greatly underappreciated for their beer . I particularly enjoyed the Sahti and Lithuanian farmhouse ales. There were many fine brewpubs and taverns many with excellent food. We had arranged for locals to show us around Finland and Lithuania which was a great help.
Anyone looking for a relatively inexpensive "beer vacation", the Baltic states can't be beat. Each has a variety of top notch places for enjoying beer. In Vilnius places like Busi Trecias, Snekutis Mikolajus and others offer good food and good beer. Many pubs offer western style beers such as Hazy IPA's, Pastry Stouts, etc. Good bar snacks and an overall welcoming environment were everywhere we went. Jonaiste from Gero Alaus was a terrific guide and was instrumental in allowing us to visit a variety of farmhouse brewers. Lithuanian farmhouse ale is best tasted "on the farm". This was a very eye opening experience which I can recommend to any beer lover. Expand your beer knowledge and visit the Baltics!
