Serbia’s Craft Beer, Like The Balkans, Unexpected

This was published on the 18th at 18:18 in 2018, and Serbia is about 4 years now into craft beer.  This is not a list of rare, hard-to-find, one-off specialty beers.  Since the craft beer scene is still new; the insanity of “whalez” and over-hyped release dates are not a thing, yet.  This is also not a “Best Of” list.  Serbia’s beer scene is small; you can’t say you’re the best if you, and one other brewery, are the only ones making a particular style.

This a beginner’s list for any first time visitor to Serbia, who doesn’t expect to find any craft beer.  According to extensive research that I just made up, foreigners have on average at least eight beers on their first night here.

This list introduces you to eight different major Serbian craft brewers.  There fine examples of familiar beer styles, and some odd surprises that you can only find in Serbia.  You can go to any craft beer bar or beershop in Belgrade, and these beers, if not available on tap, should be in bottle.

Or maybe not.  The first thing to expect in The Balkans is the unexpected.  Ziveli!

 

Eight Serbian Craft Beers For 2018

Crow Brewing Alien Pale Ale

Style: International Pale Ale

ABV: 5.2%

There is a mysterious mountain, Rtanj, in Eastern Serbia.  It is known for UFO sightings and other exotic phenomena.  On this mountain grows a endemic herb, used in healing teas, which is found here and nowhere else in the world.  Crow Brewing, known for creative beers, made Alien Pale Ale with this Rtanj Tea herb.  Since you probably don’t know rtanj tea, imagine something like camomile, thyme and sesame.  The taste is like an herbal old-time cough syrup, but that’s not a bad thing.  The hops are barely there, which is better as there’s plenty of different flavors I can’t even describe.  It must be the aliens.  Try this in Serbia, and see for yourself.  You’ll never have it anywhere else.

 

 

Dogma Brewery Hoptopod

Style: American IPA

ABV: 6.5%

Hoptopod was not the first IPA in Serbia, but it set the bar for what a proper hoppy American-style IPA should be here.  Last year, I brought some bottles back to my beer geeks in my city of St. Louis, and their analysis was something like: This is American hoppy! It’s really good for a country that…um…where are you again?  Dogma Brewery went to the extreme, getting Citra and more quality hops straight from the USA’s legendary Yakima Valley.  Following that, it’s dry-hopped too.  It smells resiny, almost dank, with hints of vanilla and mint.  Initially it tastes sweet.  Grapefruit, tropical fruit and malt are at the beginning.  On the finish, the bitter piney hops comes into play with some spiciness.  Every brewery in Serbia has an IPA; this is the one to start with.

 

Kabinet Brewery Olga

Style: Baltic Porter

ABV: 7.5%

Kabinet Brewery is everywhere in Serbia (and Europe), from the little beer geek pubs to fancy restaurants.  Try their other beers, but seek out Olga, their massive, voluptuous Baltic Porter, one of the first of its kind in Serbia.  It is heavy, boozy and complex.  I can only briefly describe it, and I expect you’ll taste something I didn’t.  The aroma of chocolate, creamy coffee and hazelnuts hits first. The taste is of cocoa, caramel, heavy malt and plumy wine.  Being American, I’m used to big girls, and Olga’s heavy alcohol didn’t bother me.  Although for my Serbian friends, not accustomed to such big beers, it was a challenge.  On the finish, the hop dryness adds a slightly odd aftertaste, but I imagine aging this beauty would take the edge off.

 

 

Kas Balkan Brewtopia Dark Ryzen

Style: Rye IPA

ABV: 6.5%

Serbia’s experimenting with Black IPAs has made me a fan of a style I never cared much for before.  Kas Balkan Brewtopia was the first to make a Rye IPA here, so they took it a step further with this version with roasted malts.  It smacks you like a freshly-cut Christmas tree, with juniper and pine on the nose.  There’s a little roasted maltiness and herbalness when it warms up.  It’s light in body and doesn’t have much hop, slightly metallic, but easy to drink.  The rich chocolatey finish is fine.  This is an unusual style, and worth finding as interesting break from the citrusy IPAs and APAs that are everywhere.

 

 

NikolaCar Brewery Rich Kids On Lager

Style: European Lager

ABV: 4.8%

Nikolacar is everything punk rock that you need in a brewer.  If you get the reference from Rich Kids On Lager, then you can call yourself a proper old-school punk rocker.  Most beer geeks aren’t chasing lager beers, and it’s good to see a Serbian brewer sticking this style right in the eye of all the “big beer” brewers. (Cue NOFX…)  It opens very crisp and fresh, with a notable hop bite up front.  The slight hop taste seems American, yet it has that sweet beery maltiness that I enjoy from many classic German lagers.  For 2018, I will visit their recently-opened brewpub, get this on tap, then buy a bottle anyway so I can break it over someone’s head.

 

 

Razbeerbriga Black Rider

Style: American Stout

ABV: 5.5%

Razbeerbriga brought modern craft beer to Serbia’s second city, Novi Sad.  They lead the way with this solid American Stout, The Black Rider.  The roasty aroma compliments the nice color of this beer when it pours.  Slight sourness, not a bad thing, comes first, then a full coffee flavor, bitter chocolate, leather and a touch of dried plum at the end.  Mouthfeel is creamy and satisfying, although the ABV seems a little low for the style.  For a stout, this can be pretty sessionable.  If you have the opportunity, go to Novi Sad and get this at the source.

 

 

 

Tron Brewery Matador

Style: Red IPA

ABV: 6.5%

I suffer from a sweet tooth, mi amigo.  Tron Brewey’s Matador Red IPA, as fits the style, may be too sweet for many beer lovers, but it sits right with me.  The aroma is a pleasure, with passionfruit, sour berries and lots of caramel.  It’s light, and the sweetness overpowers most of the hoppy bitterness, but it remains balanced.  Generally, its taste is even more caramel, with some sweet bread, and a little pungent pineapple with citrus right at the end.  This is another unusual beer style, yet it’s popular and surprisingly easy to find it on tap in many bars in Belgrade.

 

 

Zebrew Lollihop

Style: New England IPA

ABV: 7.0%

Lollihop is the first New England IPA I’ve had in Serbia.  Zebrew keeps it true more to the original conception, without the ridiculous extreme haziness and additives now found often in this style. It’s a tropical jungle from the get go: pineapple, mango and other fruit at first pour.  The Simcoe and Citra hops are very evident, and it’s juicy like a carton of OJ.  It does have a a certain sticky sweetness like its name, with a touch of caramel at the finish.  Zebrew is one of Serbia’s smallest craft brewers, but shouldn’t be missed.  And how could you miss them?  Look at their cute packaging.