Northern Croatia & Slovenia

Zagreb is quite good beer wise. There are three to four several bars worth visiting - Fakin, Craft Room, Hop In, Valhalla. Each one has its pros and cons I've listed them in order, Fakin being the best IMHO. Garden brewery has a taproom/bar in city center, Medvedgrad brewery has two pubs in city center serving only their beer (Fakin is also theirs, but serves guest beers as well). Medvedgrad Ilica is better of those two. Spicy Days and Pivoteka are best shops, you can drink in Pivoteka as well.

Depending on where you'll be staying there are many other places serving smaller selection of good beer.

Haven't been in Istria in a long long time. Looking at RB map right now, but all the places seem not really worth visiting or the reviews are obsolete so wouldn't dare to recommend anything. On your way to Slovenia there is San Servolo brewery in Buje. I've heard the place is nice, but don't expect too much from the beers.

Not sure about Piran, but in nearby Koper you'll find Ghetto Something bar and Hoppiness - one of the best shops in region. Slovenia is full of small brewpubs/restaurants serving one or two of their beers.

On your way to Kobarid you can visit Reservoir Dogs brewery and taproom in Nova Gorica, one of the best Slovenian breweries.

In Ljubljana the best bar is Lajbah and under same ownership the best shop is Ze V Redu Primoz. Sir Williams Pub is nice. Patrick's Irish pub is OK, if you're up for ticking you can try some not so good beers at Union Brewery taproom.


Croatian breweries to look for - Nova Runda (tap only), Zmajska, Garden, Medvedgrad, Varionica, Pulfer
Slovenian - Lobik, Reservoir Dogs, Pelicon, Human Fish



If you need some more info let me know. Also if there is a chance you could bring some US beers to Zagreb please let me know. I'll cover the cost or we can trade/share/whatever. If you're up for a beer or want to meet beer people when in Zagreb also do let me know.

 

One more place I forgot is Harat's beer boutique in city center. It's a shop with 20 taps and 200 bottles. You can drink in or take growlers to go.

I'd say you'll have more luck with parking at Pivoteka since you can park in front. It's bit tucked between the buildings so check the map before going. Spicy Days doesn't have a parking in front so you'd have to park at big parking around the corner at Reljkoviceva st. Also easily doable since parking is 5 min from the store.

Hard to say which one off beers are going to be around during your visit. I would recommend Nova Runda IPA's (C4), Garden has all sorts of beers, Zmajska Pozoj IPA, Medvedgrad some traditional styles and a solid IPA, Pulfer has a nice hefeweizen and black IPA. Reservoir dogs has a gose called Crux, their Sour Sister IPA is nice. Try to find Lobik IPA's and sours they are quite good.

Let me know the dates and if I'm free I may join you for a beer or two.

 

No problem man. Should be available, but let's speak closer to the date.

 

Hey just a check are you coming on Monday?

 

I will be in Croatia on July 27th, what beer would you advise me from local?

 

Well highly depends on where you'll be coming in Croatia and depends on your preferred styles. Nova Runda, Zmajska, Pulfer, Mlinarica, Primarijus, Garden beers are good but as I said availability highly depends on the region you're visiting.

 

No advice here. Just came looking for info myself and thought it was funny that I’ll be getting to Croatia on the same same day (27th)

 

Are you coming to Zagreb or the coast?