Cheers!

Slovenia is a country rich in culinary specialities. The wealth of tastes provided by Slovenian soil can be recognised on your plate or in your glass. In addition to world-class wines, Slovenia can also boast excellent beer varieties. This incredible drink with frothy foam, which was first adored by our ancestors long ago, feels particularly good on hot summer days. Slovenians also like to make toasts using beer. In addition to the two largest Slovenian breweries in Laško and Ljubljana, there are also many other smaller breweries all around Slovenia. An annual festival in Laško is devoted to beer. When you visit the capital city, you can go on a guided tastings of craft beer. You can even undergo wellness treatments using beer or its ingredients. Let's have a beer! But with a good measure of reason and moderation.

From green gold ...

The story of beer begins in green hop gardens. Did you know that Slovenia is among the largest producers of “green gold” in the world? The centre of Slovenia's hop growing is the Lower Savinja Valley, where you can learn in greater detail about the hop growing and beer making tradition at the Eco-Museum of Hop Growing and the Brewing Industry in Žalec.

... to beer

Beer has special significance in Slovenia. The first written records about beer brewing in the area of today’s Slovenia reach back to the 12th century. The boom of micro and craft breweries began in the 19th century. During this time, there was a brewery in Mengeš, from which there are three bottles of the oldest preserved beer in Slovenia and in continental Europe. They are kept at the Mengeš Town Museum. After World War II, the brewing industry was dominated by the Union, Laško, and Talis breweries, and in recent years there has been a renewed rise in micro breweries, of which there are now over 100.

Have a beer from a beer fountain

As you explore the hop growing capital, the town of Žalec, you will see a special fountain in the town centre, from which beer flows. One decilitre of a local beer variety can be poured from each tap. For this, you need a glass beer mug with a chip, which you can purchase in various locations in Žalec.

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Beer experiences in Laško

Laško is one of the main centres of the Slovenian brewing industry. This is also the location of the oldest still operating and also one of the two leading breweries in Slovenia. Its beginnings go back to 1825. In Laško, you will encounter its rich brewing tradition at every step. Every year in July, its streets come alive to the sound of music and you can enjoy beer and other special local features, various workshops, and other events within the Beer and Flowers Festival. Try to escape from a unique brewing-themed escape room in the house in which the first jug of beer was brewed. At Thermana Laško, you can even enjoy a wellness treatment using beer or its beneficial ingredients.

A brewing stroll through Ljubljana

The Slovenian capital has been attracting more and more beer lovers. With its numerous bars, pubs, and specialty shops, Ljubljana offers a wide array of local and foreign beers. In another of the major Slovenian breweries with a tradition reaching back more than 150 years, you can have an unforgettable beer making experience – visit a museum of the brewing industry and learn how beer is made. And make a toast using the brewery’s own beer in its spacious beer hall. Join the Ljubljananjam group and find about the best beer bars and nooks in the capital. You can also learn about local beers from all around Slovenia in a fun and interactive way. Also visit the first speciality beer shop in Ljubljana, Pivoljub, where you can find different varieties of Slovenian craft beer as well as other, most recognised beer varieties in the world.

Enjoy every sip and bite

The culinary experiences of Slovenia are inseparably connected with the natural elements of Slovenian landscapes. Local produce is available in picturesque marketplaces in Slovenia, and local dishes are the hallmark of many events.

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