Beer in Lithuania: history, traditions and breweries
In the north of Lithuania an old farmhouse brewing tradition has survived – with beers and brewing methods that have almost vanished elsewhere.
History
In Lithuania beer was always brewed on the farms. Old traditions even tell of a god of brewing and fermentation: Rūgutis, also called Ragutis. Beer was part of festivals and rituals.
In 1784 the merchant J. W. Reincke founded a brewery in Klaipėda, then called Memel. It became Švyturys, the oldest brewery in Lithuania.
In the north, around Biržai, Pasvalys, Kupiškis and Pakruojis, the farmhouse ales survived the Soviet era too. Some are brewed without boiling the wort, sometimes with house yeasts passed down for generations.
After independence in 1990 many small breweries were founded. In 2013 the New York Times named Lithuania one of its places to visit because of its village beers.
Traditions and drinking culture
Beer comes with hearty snacks, above all “kepta duona”: strips of fried rye bread with garlic, often with a cheese sauce.
Beer routes lead through the north to small farmhouse breweries. The toast is “Į sveikatą!” – to your health.
Fun facts
- Some Lithuanian farmhouse ales are brewed without boiling the wort – a method that has almost died out elsewhere.
- Lithuania is among the European countries with the highest beer consumption per person.
- In the past “Alutinis” was celebrated on 21 September, a festival at which the new beer was tasted.
- Biržai in the north is considered Lithuania’s beer capital.
- Švyturys means “lighthouse”.
Typical beer styles
- Farmhouse ale (Kaimiškas)
- Lager
- Porter
- Craft beer of all styles
Beer cities and their stories
Biržai
This town in the north is considered Lithuania’s beer capital. Farmhouse breweries around it brew to old recipes, for example the Rinkuškiai family brewery.
Pasvalys
Traditional farmhouse ales are brewed around Pasvalys too, often with house yeast.
Klaipėda
Švyturys has brewed in this port city, formerly Memel, since 1784.
Vilnius
The capital has many beer bars with Lithuanian farmhouse and craft beers; the Vilnius Beer Fest takes place in November.
Breweries and their stories
Švyturys
Founded by J. W. Reincke. The brewery has used the name Švyturys since 1946; today it belongs to Carlsberg.
Known for: Švyturys Ekstra
Rinkuškiai
Family brewery in Biržai, known for beers made to traditional recipes.
Jovarų alus
Small farmhouse brewery that brews its ale to a handed-down recipe.
Dundulis
Small brewery that revives old Lithuanian beer styles.
Timeline
- for centuriesBiržai
Farmers in the north brew their own beer, often with their own yeast.
- 1784Klaipėda
The merchant J. W. Reincke founds a brewery in Memel, today’s Klaipėda – the origin of Švyturys.
- 1946Klaipėda
The brewery, destroyed in the war, brews again, now under the name Švyturys (“lighthouse”).
- 1990whole country
After independence many small breweries are founded.
- 2013Vilnius
The New York Times names Lithuania one of its places to visit because of its village beers.