Lithuanian Farmhouse Beer

In the northern region around Birzai, a farmhouse brewing tradition survived that beer historians travel the world to taste: raw, unboiled ales made with old family yeast strains, sometimes buried underground or brewed with hot stones. Earthy, fruity and unlike any industrial lager, kaimiskas alus is one of the great living beer traditions of Europe.

What you actually see

• Raw farmhouse ales - unfiltered, unboiled beers with old family yeasts.
• The Birzai region - the northern heartland of the tradition.
• Traditional methods - stone-brewing, buried fermentation and heirloom yeast.
• Specialist bars - a few Vilnius bars pour the regional farmhouse beers.

When to go

Year-round; the tradition is strongest experienced in the north around Birzai, though good bars in Vilnius now feature it. Seek out a bar that lists regional farmhouse producers.

Honest expectations

These beers are earthy and unusual, and lovers of clean industrial lager may find them strange at first. The real thing is regional and small-scale, so it takes seeking out rather than grabbing any supermarket can. It is a taste to explore with curiosity.

Nearby

Birzai in the north has its brewing heritage and a castle; specialist beer bars cluster in Vilnius old town.