# Slovak Beer Guide: Brands, Styles and How to Order

Source: https://taply.sk/slovak-beer-guide/ (Taply, updated 2026-10-13)

Slovak beer is mostly Czech-style pale lager, and the easiest way to taste a range of it is a guided beer or food tour in Bratislava, which you can compare on Klook. Order pivo (beer) at any pub and you will usually get a half-litre of local draught lager.
The big names are Zlatý Bažant, Šariš, Topvar, Steiger and Corgoň, and a smaller craft scene has grown alongside them. Beer is cheap by Western European standards, so a pub stop fits almost any budget. Pair it with local food from our [Slovak food guide](https://taply.sk/slovak-food-to-try/).
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## Key points
- Most draught beer is pale lager, sold as 10 or 12 degree.
- The degree is the Plato scale, not the alcohol percentage.
- Heineken, Šariš and Steiger breweries supply many pubs.
- Craft breweries exist, with ERB in Banská Štiavnica as one example.

## Quick facts
- Main style: Pale lager (10 and 12 degrees)
- Typical serve: 0.5 litre draught
- Big brands: Zlatý Bažant, Šariš, Steiger
- Toast: Na zdravie

## Best ways to taste Slovak beer, ranked
1. **Beer and food tours on Klook** (best for First-time visitors): Klook lists food, drink and pub-style tours in Slovak cities. Check whether beer tastings are included and how many stops the tour makes.
2. **Experiences on KKday** (best for Comparison shoppers): KKday sometimes lists drink experiences in European cities. Compare the current offers for your dates.
3. **Audio walk with WeGoTrip** (best for Independent travellers): Use a WeGoTrip Old Town audio tour to learn the streets, then choose your own pub. Tastings are not included.
4. **A local pub, no booking** (best for Budget travellers): Walk in, say jedno pivo, prosím, and ask for the house draught. Side-street pubs cost less than main squares.

## 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.

## A short history of Slovak beer

Beer has been brewed in the area since at least the 15th century. In the Middle Ages brewing rights mostly belonged to townspeople, and the first brewing guild was founded in Bardejov in 1450. Around 1900 Slovakia had almost 40 industrial breweries. After the Second World War breweries were nationalised and merged into a small number of state companies, and after 1989 most large breweries were privatised and bought by foreign groups. The rise of microbreweries in recent years is the newest chapter. If the history of the country interests you, see [Slovak history for travellers](https://taply.sk/slovak-history-for-travellers/).

## 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, based near Banská Štiavnica, makes Steiger, Stein, Kachelmann and Sitňan. 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. About 18 industrial breweries are active, and the number changes, while microbreweries add to the choice.

## Brewery map at a glance

Brewery | Place | Brands to look for | 
Hurbanovo | Hurbanovo, southern Slovakia | Zlatý Bažant, Kelt, Corgoň, Martiner, Gemer | 
Šariš | Veľký Šariš, near Prešov | Šariš, Topvar, Smädný Mních | 
Steiger | Banská Štiavnica region | Steiger, Stein, Kachelmann, Sitňan | 
Urpiner | Banská Bystrica | Classic, Premium, Radler styles | 
ERB | Banská Štiavnica | Pale lager, dark, wheat and smoked lager | 

Typical Slovak beers sit around 3.8 to 5.0 percent alcohol by volume. Šariš tends to be the beer people name in the east, so ask locally when you travel there, see [Prešov](https://taply.sk/presov/) and [Košice](https://taply.sk/kosice/).

## 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](https://taply.sk/banska-stiavnica/).

## Prices and ordering

Half a litre of domestic draught beer in an ordinary pub has been around 2 euros in recent years, and prices in tourist squares are higher, so check the menu. 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](https://taply.sk/slovakia-travel-cost/).

## How to order, step by step

- Find a table and sit down. You rarely order at the bar in a traditional pub.
- When the waiter arrives, say jedno pivo, prosím (one beer, please), or point to a tap on the menu.
- Choose 10 degree for a lighter beer or 12 degree for a fuller one. Ask for svetlé (light) or tmavé (dark).
- Add food if you wish, such as fried cheese or sausages. See [Slovak food to try](https://taply.sk/slovak-food-to-try/).
- Order a second round the same way, as the waiter keeps a running tab.
- When you finish, say účet, prosím and pay by card or cash. Check the card terminal before ordering, as small pubs may prefer cash, see [money in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/money-in-slovakia/) and [tipping in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/tipping-in-slovakia/).
If you want a lighter drink, ask for a radler, which mixes beer with fruit soda. Several Slovak breweries offer one. Non-alcoholic beer is common in pubs and is a better choice if you drive.

## 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](https://taply.sk/wine-regions-of-slovakia/) and [Bratislava wine tasting](https://taply.sk/bratislava-wine-tasting/). Do not drive after drinking, because Slovakia has strict limits, and use a taxi or the train. See [driving in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/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](https://taply.sk/bratislava-at-night/). Combine a pub evening with a food tour from [Bratislava tours](https://taply.sk/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](https://taply.sk/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](https://taply.sk/banska-stiavnica/), or with a city day in Bratislava.

## Common mistakes with Slovak beer

- Reading the degree as alcohol. A 12 degree beer is not 12 percent alcohol.
- Judging by the first tourist-square pub. Walk a few streets away for lower prices and local choice.
- Expecting a Belgian-style or IPA list everywhere. Outside big cities the menu is mostly lager.
- Drinking and driving. Slovakia has very strict rules, so see [driving in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/driving-in-slovakia/).
- Ordering large rounds in a hurry. The pace is slow, so settle in.
If you travel alone, a pub is an easy place to meet people. See [Slovakia for solo travellers](https://taply.sk/slovakia-for-solo-travellers/) and [Bratislava nightlife](https://taply.sk/bratislava-nightlife/) for where to start.

## FAQ

**What is the most popular beer in Slovakia?**
Zlatý Bažant, Šariš and Topvar are among the best-known brands, and local lagers are everywhere.

**What does 10 degree or 12 degree beer mean?**
It is the Plato scale, a measure of wort sugar before fermentation, not the alcohol percentage.

**How much is a beer in Slovakia?**
Around 2 euros for a half litre of domestic draught in an ordinary pub, more in tourist squares.

**Is there craft beer in Slovakia?**
Yes. Microbreweries such as ERB in Banská Štiavnica brew craft beer, and bars in the larger cities carry them.

**How do you say cheers in Slovak?**
Na zdravie, pronounced roughly nah ZDRAH-vee-eh.

**Is Slovak beer strong?**
Most Slovak beers are around 3.8 to 5.0 percent alcohol by volume. The degree number on the label shows the Plato scale, not the alcohol content.