Worl Beer Review: Croatia

[ignotus]

*I hope that Iz Man, who started this "livers around the world" journey, won't be angry but I'm kinda expert on this...

In Croatia we drink Lager Beers.

1. OŽUJSKO (popular name: Žuja)
Croatia's most popular. Although personally I think it's a bit sour.
Specs & trivia: Light Lager, made in capital Zagreb since 1893 mostly in March (March=cro. Ožujak), 5,2% alcohol, one of the biggest sponsors of our national team.



2. KARLOVAČKO
Croatia's second most popular beer and my favorite. Recently involved in a scandal (dumping dangerous gases that resulted with one death; toxic, but it tastes goooooooood!).
Specs & trivia: Light Lager, made in town Karlovac since 1854, has won a special award (so called beer Oscar) on international beer contest in Munich in September 2005, 5,4 % alcohol, every year they organize a huge beer festival in Karlovac at the end of August (Karlovački Dani Piva).



3. OSJEČKO (Light)
Sour like pickled gherkin.
Specs & trivia: Lager, made in Osijek in eastern Croatia (in biggest region Slavonia) since 1856, 5% alcohol, for some strange, sick reason Croatia's third beer (by consumption).



4. PAN (Light)
You can drink a tanker of this beer and you won't get drunk!
Specs & trivia: Light Beer, made in Koprivnica (northern region Podravina) since 1997, alcohol 3,5 %. My friend from Koprivnica jokes (or does he?) that PAN is abbreviation for Podravski alkoholni napitak (Podravina's Alcohol Beverage).



5. TOMISLAV
Strong black beer that could kill an ox if needed (...for some reason).
Specs & trivia: Dark lager, made (by same company that makes Ožujsko) since 1925, with more than 7% alcohol strongest beer in Croatia, this beer got his name from first Croatian king Tomisav (910-928, crowned 925).



6. VELEBISKO
Dark (or light), you simply can't miss with Velebitsko.
Specs & trivia: Dark Lager, made by small brewery in Pazarište (Croatian hilly region Lika) since 1997, 7% alcohol, certainly one of Croatia's best kept beer secrets.





At the end:
Croatian word for beer is: "Pivo".
How to say Cheers: "Živjeli!"

[Iz Man]

This is awesome.
Many thanks for your contribution!
I must say I've never had a Croatian Lager (or any Croatian brew for that matter).
I may be traveling near a very fine package store today, I think I'm going to run in and see if I can find one of these fine beers.
Thanks!

I'd love to see others from around the world contribute as well. Even my fellow Americans, as there are now too many microbreweries in the U.S. to be able to check them all out.

[Simonov]

Ožujsko is good to drink when you're having a meal - eating pizza or something. but it's quite a lousy beer if u ask me. tomislav is the only good one listed here, it's damn strong you drink 2 of these and you'll start feeling hazed.

i prefer to drink irish beers when i go out usually - especially guiness. mmm... guiness! I didn't actually like it the first time i tasted it but later i got hooked up to it.

p.s.

if your sole reason for drinking is to get drunk try mixing brandy and beer - we call this "concrete" cause it hits you in the head pretty hard.

[ignotus]

if your sole reason for drinking is to get drunk try mixing brandy and beer - we call this "concrete" cause it hits you in the head pretty hard.

In Croatia we prefer mixed drinks (mostly with Coke), so you cold try one or two of next recipes:

1. Diesel (like the fuel): Beer + Coke (ratio 50%:50%, but you could alter it a bit for the Beer, for showing off in front of girls)

2. Gemišt (German word that can be translated as "Mixture"): White Vine + Mineral Water (ratio 50 : 50, drinked most by old guys, traditional drink in northern region Zagorje, in southern region Dalmatia you they drink vine and regular water and call that bevanda, but I think that Gemišt is better)

3. Bambus (Bamboo, it even tastes like that): Black wine + Coke (ratio 50:50, one of the most popular drinks in Croatia, because even shitty black vines are good for making this and it tastes good, a drink for all parties)

...all sorts of whiskey-colas (ratio 15:85; whiskey approximate 0,03 l, the rest cola), joice-vodkas (85:15, votka 0,03 l)...

Try some of it on your parties. I recommend Bamboo, but if someone gets sick notice its smell is hard to clean out of your sofa (first hand information!)

[2dimes]

Bump