Slovak Beer Guide: Brands, Styles and How to Order

What 10 and 12 degrees mean

Slovak beer is labelled by degrees on the Plato scale, which measures the sugar content of the wort before fermentation. It is not the alcohol percentage. A 10 degree beer is lighter and a 12 degree beer is fuller, and both are lagers. Darker beers are labelled the same way, and some craft makers brew 13 degree dark beers or stronger styles. Check the label for the actual alcohol percentage if it matters.

Main brands

The Hurbanovo brewery, owned by Heineken, makes Zlatý Bažant, Kelt, Corgoň, Martiner and Gemer. The Šariš brewery near Prešov brews Šariš, Topvar and Smädný Mních. Steiger, whose brewery traces its origins to 1473, makes Steiger and several other labels. Urpiner in Banská Bystrica and ERB in Banská Štiavnica are smaller names, with ERB brewing craft lagers, a dark beer, a Weizen and a smoked lager. Wikipedia lists around 18 active industrial breweries, though the number changes, and microbreweries add to it.

Craft beer and where to find it

Craft beer is easiest to find in Bratislava and Košice, where several bars carry local microbrewery taps. Look for chalkboard menus listing the brewery name. In smaller towns, expect the local lager and a couple of imports. Banská Štiavnica is worth a stop for ERB and its historic town, see Banská Štiavnica.

Prices and ordering

Numbeo listed about 2 euros for half a litre of domestic draught beer at the time of writing, and prices in tourist squares are higher. You order at the table in most pubs, and the waiter runs a tab you pay at the end, so say účet, prosím (the bill, please). Rounding up or adding around 10 percent is normal for good service. For a wider budget, see Slovakia travel cost.

Beer and other drinks

Many Slovaks follow beer with borovička, a juniper spirit, or slivovica, a plum brandy. Kofola is the local cola-style soft drink if you prefer something non-alcoholic. For wine, see wine regions of Slovakia and Bratislava wine tasting. Do not drive after drinking, because Slovakia has strict limits, and use a taxi or the train. See driving in Slovakia for the rules.

Beer in Bratislava

The capital has the widest range of pubs and bars, and many are within walking distance of the Old Town, see Bratislava at night. Combine a pub evening with a food tour from Bratislava tours.

Beer etiquette and pub habits

Pubs are relaxed, and you can sit anywhere unless a sign asks you to wait. Clink glasses and make eye contact with na zdravie. Beer is often poured with a thick head, which is normal. Many pubs serve snacks such as fried cheese or sausages, which suit the 12 degree beers, see Slovak food to try. Smoking is restricted in indoor public places, so check the venue.

Beer festivals and brewery visits

Some breweries run tours and tastings, and local beer festivals take place in summer in several towns. Opening times and tour availability change, so check the brewery's own website before planning a trip around it. Combine a brewery stop with a sightseeing town such as Banská Štiavnica, or with a city day in Bratislava.