Beer is, without a doubt, the most popular drink in Croatia. While most beer is mass-produced, there are a few businesses led by beer enthusiasts passionate about serving the greatest pints of this beloved beverage. 

Tvornica piva Rijeka is one of them. We talked to its founder Ivan Rumora about brewing beer, running a successful pub, and the most popular beer in Croatia!

‍From Beer Lover to Beer Brewer - The Beginnings of Tvornica Piva Rijeka

Rumora, a self-professed beer lover, has been to more than a few pubs in his lifetime. While traveling through the Czech Republic, he was intrigued that every pub in Prague offered its housemade craft beer. Moreover, he was impressed by the quality of the most ordinary lagers produced by those pubs so much that he wanted to start a beer-importing business ― he was sure that they would outshine the offer on the Croatian market, quality-wise! 

Rumora decided to brew beer with the help of a small Slovenian brewery close to the Croatian border, Pek. He started experimenting with the recipe, and in no time, the Kućni svijetli lager (House Lager Light) was born!

After making the first lager, it was time for redecorating ― in 2015, Tvornica piva Rijeka opened its doors! Rumora admits that at first, it was a bit of a challenge to persuade Croatians to try craft beer because the grip that the mass-produced beer companies held was so firm, but Tvornica piva Rijeka persisted. Its primary focus was (and still is!) promoting Croatian microbreweries and the local craft beer scene by connecting great local beers with even greater local beer lovers. 

The Rotating Craft Beer Menu

Tvornica's menu is constantly evolving: there is a new beer on tap every week, and no beer or brewery can have a monopoly for too long. The goal is to allow everybody to show off their work. The pub is like a living organism ― always experimenting, transforming, and tasking risks. Tvornica gets a barrel to test it out when a new beer arrives on the scene. If it's a success, they will try to obtain more. Still, many microbreweries produce exclusive beers in a limited quantity or for a special occasion, so once the last drop disappears ― it's gone forever! Tvornica collaborates with many microbreweries all over the country, and Rumora is very proud of the collaboration with Rijeka's local breweries Morčić, King's Brew Pub, and Paliska Brewery. 

Of course, Tvornica offers a few of its house beers regularly, which are still being brewed by the Slovenian brewery Pek. 

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Which Craft Beer Reigns Supreme?

And what do the customers think of the beers? What beer type is the most popular? Rumora reinforces the notion that lager still reigns supreme. One of Tvornica's lagers is Hartera, named after the notable paper mill in Rijeka, which closed its door in 2005. It was the industrial heart of the city for 200 years, and today its legacy lives on not just in this golden Pilsner beer but in the logo and the pub's name.

Tvornica also produces premium dark lager, Kućni tamni lager. Many great memories are tied to that beer, as Rumora recalls a few older customers who have never tried craft beer before, falling in love with its strong taste!

‍Research: Before or During Drinking?

Rumora also notes that the locals inquire about the beer and love to ask the staff for recommendations. Unlike their Croatian counterparts, foreign patrons prefer to conduct their research online: they like to study the menu in advance, check the reviews, and come to the pub already sure of their order. And for the indecisiveness, the beer flight is pretty popular, as it allows the customer to sample 4 beers before deciding on the one they'll commit to for the night ― or one pint only!

If you're looking for the perfect pint to spice up your day, visit Tvornica piva Rijeka! You can find their weekly-updated menu there, and you can find them on Instagram, too!

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