Beer in Lithuania facts for kids

Lithuania has a special and old tradition of making beer. This tradition is strongest in the northern part of the country. Towns like Pasvalys, Pakruojis, Kupiškis, and Biržai are well-known for it. People in these areas use old methods and local ingredients. This makes their traditional "farmhouse" beers very unique. These beers often taste a bit sweet and malty, and the hops (a plant used in brewing) don't make the flavor too strong.

Lithuanian Beer Traditions

A Long History

Beer has been an important part of Lithuanian culture for a very long time. It was first mentioned in old writings from the 11th century. In ancient times, people brewed beer for special Baltic festivals and ceremonies. They even had a god for brewing beer and mead (another old drink) named Ragutis or Rūgutis. A special day called Alutinis or Ragautuvės was celebrated on September 21st. This was when the first beer was made using the new harvest of the year.

Lithuania might not be famous worldwide for its beer, but it's special because its brewing traditions are truly its own. Unlike many other countries, Lithuanian breweries didn't just copy styles from elsewhere. They kept their unique "farmhouse" brewing methods alive. Even during the Soviet era, these traditional ways started to grow bigger.

Growing Breweries

After Lithuania became independent again, the brewing industry grew quickly. Soon, there were more than 200 breweries! Many of them later closed, but Lithuania still has about 80 breweries today. About 60 to 70 of these make beers in styles you won't find anywhere else in the world. Some are very similar to the old farmhouse brews. Others have grown from these traditions into larger regional breweries.

Lithuania is unique because farmhouse brewing survived there more than anywhere else. Because of history, Lithuanians developed a business around their special farmhouse traditions. In 2015, Lithuania was one of the top 5 countries in Europe for how much beer was enjoyed per person. At that time, there were 75 active breweries, and 32 of them were small, local ones called microbreweries.

Modern Brewing Scene

In recent years, the number of microbreweries in Lithuania has been growing. Many bars in Vilnius and other cities now focus on serving these local beers. These unique Lithuanian beers have started to get attention from around the world. Beer writers and bloggers discovered them, leading to a big article in Beer Connoisseur magazine. The New York Times even listed Lithuania as one of the best places to visit in 2013, partly because of its village beers! You can even go on special "beer routes" to visit the main breweries in northern Lithuania.

Big and Small Breweries

Some of the biggest commercial breweries in Lithuania are located in these towns:

• Utena (Utenos alus)
• Panevėžys (Kalnapilis)
• Klaipėda (Švyturys)
• Kaunas (Volfas Engelman)
• Vilnius (Tauras)

There are also many popular smaller breweries, including:

• Dundulis in Panevėžys
• Sakiškių alus in Sakiškių village
• Genys brewing in Kaunas
• Jovarų alus in Pakruojis
• Joalda in Joniškėlis

Beer Festivals

Lithuania hosts two beer festivals every year:

• The Beer Fair “Žmogšala” in March
• Vilniaus alaus festivalis (Vilnius Beer Fest - VAF) in November