Though vineyards and fruit brandy are what most bright in foreign minds about Hungary, recently, there has been a surge in craft beer. Because of the growing interest of drinkers and brewers in Hungary, beer from local craftsmen has quickly risen in popularity. Covering everything from Gazsóig in Budapest to remote rural places, Hungary is enjoying a new age for beer culture.

A Look at the History of Beer in Hungary

People in Hungary have always appreciated beer, even though mass amounts of lager were the main brews from the beginning of the 20th century. At the time, you could find brands like Dreher, Soproni and Borsodi everywhere and people still know them today. Although their beers were of high quality throughout, they did not show as much variety as real craft beers have become known for.

Hungary had been slow to embrace craft beer until the early 2010s. Using examples from American, Belgian and German brewing, local brewers decided to experiment with various styles besides plain pale lager. A large number of young people and visitors wanted novel, tasty beer choices, leading to fast demand growth.

Why is Hungarian Craft Beer Special

International methods are mixed with Hungarian traditions, tales and character in Hungarian craft beer. You’ll often see acacia honey, elderflower, paprika and Tokaji wine in the recipes of Hungarian small-batch breweries, making their beers a true reflection of Hungary’s culture.

Creativity and innovation are important to many of these breweries which often make IPAs, sour ales, stouts and wheat beers with unique and eye-catching qualities. Sustainivity, transparent operations and involvement with the local community are areas that Hungarians tend to care more about now.

What Makes Hungary’s Crafts Special

Even though the market is still developing, you can already find many different kinds of craft beer.

Hazy and citrus-flavored India Pale Ales are a favorite among young people. U.S. hops play a key role in experiments brewers do. New varieties as well as those born and bred in New Zealand.

Sour Ales: The idea for these beers is based on Belgian lambic and Berliner Weisse and now, they’re often made by adding local fruits such as sour cherry, raspberry and plum.

Cocoa, coffee and toasted malt-flavored Porters and Stouts are popular dark beer choices in Hungary during the winter.

By following new methods, brewers give Pilsners and Lagers fresh hop tastes, a crisper bite or extra subtle spices from aging with specific yeast strains.

In autumn, you can usually try pumpkin ales, but wheat beers made with elderflowers and citrus are popular during the summer.

More experimentation by craftspeople has led to a scene in Hungary where styles are many and surprises are common.

Outstanding Breweries Found in Hungary

A number of breweries are paving the way for craft beer in Hungary. While many new players are being introduced, these companies are already famous and trusted around the world.

1. Mad Scientist in Budapest

Many people internationally recognize Mad Scientist for its bold beer choices and trendy marketing. Offering sours that highlight fruits and complex barreled stouts, they keep developing new tastes for everyone to try. If you love beer, you need to stop by their taproom in Budapest.

2. Budapest’s Monyo Brewing Co.

Based in the city, Monyo is famous for have a large selection of interesting brews. Beers such as “Flying Rabbit IPA” and “Franky Four Fingers Pale Ale” show they love to combine fun, great brewing and explosive tastes. The bright packaging and accessible tastes draw both beginners and experts in craft drinking.

3. Horizont Brewing in Budapest

Horizont manages to bring together creativity and skill, delivering clothing from timeless styles to the latest trends. People love their “Gentle Bastard” IPA and they regularly join forces with foreign breweries, reflecting a world view grounded in Hungarian flavors.

4. HopTop Brewery in Budapest

HopTop is famous for always giving top-quality beers with lots of hops. Their excellent IPAs, porters and wheat beers are continuously rewarded at regional and European beer events.

5. Zip’s Brewhouse in Miskolc

Located in northeast Hungary, Zip’s has made sure the craft scene reaches people beyond the country’s capital. Because technique is important, they brew beers that offer clear, classic flavors.

The Best Places to Try Hungarian Craft Beer

Budapest is the perfect spot to experience the nation’s craft beer scene. Bars, taprooms and breweries in the city are serving up a variety of local beers on tap. Examples of top spots are:

A landmark in Budapest’s 9th district, Élesztőház features over 20 regularly changing taps for craft beers.

KEG Sörművház is a well-equipped bar that offers customers more than 30 Hungarian and foreign beers.

Csakajósör: Opened in the city early on, specializing in packages of bottles and cans you won’t find elsewhere.

Cities such as Szeged, Pécs and Debrecen outside Budapest are following in Budapest’s footsteps with more microbreweries and brewpubs. Budapest Beer Week and Főzdefeszt are just some of the festivals that boost and celebrate Hungarian craft beer culture.

Problems and the Future

Even though the industry has grown, Hungary’s craft beer sector is still facing several problems. Aspiring to sell their beers broadly, paying hefty taxes and facing tough competition can make growing difficult for small breweries. Furthermore, laws for alcohol in Hungary are hard to navigate and often make it hard for companies to sell and promote their products.

Yet, the drive to do so is still quite lively. An increasing number of young brewers are trained abroad, more people are learning about beer and more craft brewers are joining collaborative brewing projects with Europeans. How the Hungarian diaspora bond and come together means promising things ahead.

Conclusion

Hungary’s increasing number of craft breweries prove its creativity, strength of will and changing food habits. A small counterculture started, but it has since become a great passion in the United States loved by locals as well as global tourists. Regardless of your drink, Hungarian craft beer always reflects the country’s personality — bright, different and never bored.

If you’re in Hungary again, make sure to toast the brewers who are creating a new way of brewing and thinking.