Is this Europe’s best destination for beer lovers?
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The thirst for craft beer is as strong as ever, with the UK’s first-ever beer spa set to open in June 2024.
Lager lovers seeking a holiday further afield though, should head to Istria, the peninsula in northern Croatia that has long been known for brewing unique experiences.
From expert-led tasting sessions pairing organic beers with local meat and cheese to Croatia’s first and only beer spa, these are the best beer-led things to do in Istria:
Fermentation and Relaxation
Croatia’s Only Beer Spa at San Servolo, Buje
Located in Buje in north-western Istria, San Servolo is a wellness resort and beer spa founded in 2013. The property is famed for its production of unfiltered and unpasteurised beers which combine fresh water from the Sveti Ivan spring in the Mirna River with dry roasted malt, hops and yeast, which gives a bitterness in taste and irresistible smell. Popular varieties include the Red and Dark Lager, both of which are commonly distributed in shops and restaurants throughout the region.
San Servolo is also home to Croatia’s first and only beer spa, where guests can indulge in this unique wellness experience, helping themselves to a pint from the in-room taps while the massaging effect of natural foam and bubbles helps absorb vitamins and other essential components into the skin. Offering the complete package, the resort also boasts a steakhouse which serves-up the best flavours of Istria, from fresh black and white truffles to boscarin beef – a gastronomic delicacy in Istria – and of course, local beer, which is used to prepare many of the dishes.
Zero Waste and Unbeatable Taste
Istria’s First Microbrewery at Kampanjola, Svetvinčenat
Kampanjola is Istria’s first organic microbrewery, established in 2018 and now serving four distinct varieties of craft beer. Ranging from Organic Ale Svitla, Blonde Ale Bionda and Organic Porter Skura, to Red Ale Crvena, all varieties are 100% organic, produced without herbicides, pesticides or preservatives, and include only the simplest ingredients limited to water, barley, malt, hops and yeast.
Visitors can drop-by the brewery to taste test the range of light, ruby red and dark beers and enjoy delicious pairings with the property’s wide selection of local produce. Maintaining its title as the first organic microbrewery in Istria and most eco-conscious producer of its kind, Kampanjola carries out regular inspections to ensure its practices remain as sustainable as possible.
Grain to Glass Brewing
Taste Traditional Family Brewing Practices at Castellana, Kaštelir
Castellana microbrewery and bar is a family-run establishment located in the picturesque village of Kaštelir, on the western coast of Istria. The brewery was founded by young married couple Tina Kovač and Gabriel de Faveri in 2020 and has since been a fixture of culture and tourism in Kaštelir. Travellers seeking to escape the crowds on their beer tour of the region can visit the Castellana bar to taste the range of artisanal beers brewed entirely using barley produced on the family farm.
Visitors are also invited to bask in Castellana’s idyllic surroundings, encompassing breath-taking Aegean sea views and sweeping hillsides populated by vibrant olive groves and vineyards. The brewery produces 2,500 litres of beer a month across four distinct types – Pale Ale “Školar”, an amber beer recommended with orange or spicy dishes; Saison beer “Školarka”, often paired with barbecued meat and fish; and finally Blonde Ale “Bjonda” and White Ipa “Kaštelirka” – both of which pair perfectly with desserts, sweets and cheeses.
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