Tikro alaus barai / Fine beer pub guide

Atnaujinta / last updated 20-10-2011. Naujausia informaciją – mūsų dažniau atnaujinamame Tikro Alaus žemėlapyje / The most up-to-date list can be found at Fine Beer Map Lithuania.

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Šiame puslapyje – mūsų patikrintos ir rekomenduojamos vietos Lietuvoje, kuriose galima rasti tikro alaus. Vien alaus nepakanka – aplinka, požiūris ir pastovi kokybė taip pat būtini. Būsime dėkingi, jei padėsite šį sąrašą papidyti – komentaruose arba el. paštu tikrasalus [at] gmail [dotcom]

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Our recommended pics in Lithuania serving fine beer.  If you have any tips or info to help us keeping this list up to date, comment this page or send us an email to tikrasalus [at] gmail [dotcom]

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Vilnius

• Alaus baras, Pilies 6, Vilnius
  Great Old town spot owned by Vilniaus alus brewery, serving the variety of their brews from tap. Beer takeway as well . It’s somewhat Czech-style, cosy pub, with a friendly staff. Decent fireplace warming on winter days, and some small space upstairs in the attic.
• Alaus namai, Goštauto 8, Vilnius
  The best new pub in town, serving the biggest amount of beers in the country – 12 taps of Lithuanian beers brewed by small breweries as well as almost 100 labels of both local and foreign bottled. The food is Lithuanian and quite OK, live music on weekends, beer very cheap. The ambience has downgraded lately, expect loud crappy music and drunk students.
  Our report on the opening.
• Alaus studija, Žukausko g. 20, Vilnius
  An interesting mix of locals congregate in this big pub which servers exclusively imported beers. If it’s imported draught, it should be here (except the bottled ones). Reports on service and food varies a lot, but we get a lot of it – it’s popular and it deserves to be.
  Our report (in Lithuanian only).
• Prie katedros, Gedimino pr.5, Vilnius
  Formerly known as Avilys, the beer brewery-restaurant now has new owners but they don’t put much effort. Prices high, offer scarce: only pale (4.5%), sometimes honey (4.7%) and dark (4.9%) beers.
• Bambalynė, Stiklių g. 7, Vilnius
  A fantastic beer-shop-come-degustation-place, sells over 60 sorts of Lithuanian farmhouse beers (a few decent lagers too) in bottles, plus great snacks and seats in the cellar. Highly recommended. Our report.
• Blusynė Lounge, Savičiaus 5
  Nice bar in the heart of old town. Czech beers and sometimes Fransciscaner Hefeweisen on tap. Has a tiny beergarden.
• Belmontas, Belmonto g.17
  Slightly off-center (take a taxi), but in a nice setting, this former mill-house-come-restaurant is well worth visiting. A recently opened in-house brewery produces what used to be best local beer around Vilnius. It’s two (pale and amber-brown), Vienna-style, malty, well crafted lagers. Some seatings outside. Recommended. 2009 update: head brewer has changed and the quality of beers as well, but still quite good.
• Bravarija brewpub, shopping mall “Akropolis”, Ozo g. 25
  Brews and serves 3 beers – pale, wheat and dark (“Ajero” – despite the name no calamus in it.) Drinkable, but as our friend says, “what’s the f&%#ng point of drinking beer in supermarket?”
• Bunte Gans, Aušros vartų g.11
  German food restaurant, serves Warsteiner, Tucher Helles Hefeweizen, Schöfferhofer Dunkles Hefeweizen from tap. Cheerful German cook prepares great food.
  TikrasAlus review.
• Būsi trečias, Totorių 18
  Brewpub serving it’s own affordable, Czech style beers of inconsistent quality (3 sorts, amber, black, and some new one we haven’t tried yet)  and hearty food.
• Domininkonų karčema, Dominikonų 6
  “Beer and wine restaurant”, managed by same owners as “Prie katedros” and serving the three same, own beers from tap. On tap as well: rare to find Kauno alaus “Sostinės” lager; Grimbergen Blond and Cuvee Ambree.
• Foosin club, Olimpiečių 3
  A table football club, not visited yet. But they serve three Primator beers on tap, so must be good!
• Gringo Pub, Vilniaus 31/1
  Watering hole on a busy street. Guinness, Tucher, Krušovice on tap, Leffe bottles.
• Marsas, Trakų 15
  Latest reincarnation of former Bobo, it has kept the dark wallpapers but changed the atmosphere. Run by famous local djs Metal on Metal it’s a new trendy hangout for affluent advertisement yuppies. Beer menu has a couple options above eurolagers, the pub food is outstanding! Recommended.
• Piano Man, Islandijos 1
  New kid on the block, good references, first visit revealed an eclectic mix of identity and crowd, in a good way. Friedly staff dispenses beers from tap: Guinness, Kilkenny, Leffe brune, Hoergaarden, Tucher.
• Šnekutis, two pubs – Šv. Stepono 8 (Old town) and Polocko 7 a (Užupis)
  A true legend, excentric from the countryside Valentas in his big moustache – he started the revival of farmhouse beers in the cities – with his two Šnekutis bars. This is drinking farmhouse beers Lithuanian country way. The best selection of farmhouse (“kaimiškas”) beers from tap and bottled. Lowest prices in town. The Polocko one has a beergarden. TikrasAlus reviews and highly recommends.
• Paradis Belge +32, Rūdninkų g. 15/Pylimo g. 46.
  Belgian beers (bottled), allegedly 30 sorts. In reality half that. Expensive.
• Plieno paukštis, Kalinausko g. 11b. Family-run bar with questionable quality of service. However Burvar, Erdinger and Samson on tap. Quite nice patio.
• Renė, Antokolskio g. 13
  Stylish bar-restaurant serving only three belgian beers in bottles (Kwak, Karmeliet, Deus) and tasty continental food. Has seatings outside.
• Transilvanija, Mėsinių 3
  Re-opened in this new location behind Contemporary Arts Center. On our first visit we were greeted by half naked drunkard walking on the bar. Seems to be gravitating towards a rock bar with loud music. Some good Lithuanian farmhouse beers on tap.

Places we’d like to mention if only because they serve at least one fine beer: Pilies menė (Pilies 8) – serves a rare “Kaunas alus” beer; Dolce Vita (Trakų 11/Pranciškonų 2) has Bernard Czerne on tap; Aurente (Raugyklos 15), Foosin (Olimpiečių 3) – table football club serves Pilsner lager and wheat.

Kaunas

• 11 savanorių, Savanorių 11
  This old timer is a local pub for local workers and jobless, as well as semi-official outlet of an excellent Kaunas Alus brewery. The interior and service below simple, and the crowd can be indifferent to rawdy, so this one is not for the faint hearted. We like it though.
• Abato menė, Vilniaus g. 7
  This restaurant-bar in the heart of Old Town serves probably the best selection of Belgian beers and allegedly “monasteric” fare. Here’s what we wrote about it.
• Antipops, Laisvės al. 51a
  New establishment atop former Rock Pub, serving several local beers, drawing metalhead and alike crowd. The staff has been reported as arrogant and unfriendly.
• Avilys, Vilniaus g. 34
  Brewpub-restaurant. Produces and sells tasty, consistent quality Vienna-style lagers (pale and “dark/honey”). Excellent if pricey food. Has seatings outside. Recommended.
• B.O. bar, Muitinės g. 9-1
  One of the oldest pubs in Kaunas. The sweet days of glory are past, but it’s still an average pub with good selection of beers served to a student crowd from tap: several Czech lagers (Krušovice, Samson, Zatec), Tucher, and some Lithuanian craft beers (notably A. Ūdrienės, as well Širvėnos/Dundulio, Vilniaus).
• Bravarija brewpub, shopping mall “Akropolis”, Karaliaus Mindaugo g. 47
  Brews and serves 3 different beers – pale, dark (“Ajero” – despite the name it doesn’t contains calamus) and wheat which resembling American Wheat. Yes brewpub in a shopping mall is weird idea.
• Skliautai, Rotušės a. 26
  An old bohemian caffe-bar serving Guinness and Grimbergen. Has a cosy beergarden.
• Suflerio būdelė, M. Daukšos g. 34
  Frendliest and best vibe place in town. Serves Czech beers from tap, plus Franciscanner Hefeweizen and Dunkelweizen from bottles. Highly recommended.
• Džem Pub, Laisvės al. 59 – another student bar, situated on the 5th floor of main pedestrian street Laisvės. The terrace gives good views while bar pours Aukštaitijos Bravorai Kanapinis, Krušovice, Budwar, occasionally Bernard and other beers from tap.
• Gyvas Pub’as – krautuvėlė, Muitinės g. 1/ Rotušės 6a
  A pub and take-away, this is belongs to the same group of breweries/shops (Gyvas alus/Aukštaitijos bravorai) that is brewing and selling strictly “live” (unpasteurised) farmhouse beers in Vilnius, Trakai, Kaunas, Panevėžys and Šiauliai. A nice place just off Rotušės aikštė (Rathaus square), friendly people, and claiming 44 sorts of beers! Homebrewers and chess players also like this place. Recommended.
• Kultūra, Donelaičio 16
  Located at Fine Arts Gallery this great cafe-bar has kept the cool interiors and sophisticated ambience of former gallery bar. It also serves some amazing home fare prepared by one of the owners, and several good beers on tap – including Kauno alus, Franciscaner etc. Great outside seatings too, cinema screenings,  discussions and other quality culture happenings. Highly recommended.
• W 1640, Kurpių 29
  This one is actually a whisky bar and the best one in Lithuania at that (some rarest whiskies sold only here), but it also sports several bottles of British ales – and some really good snacks, too. Try their salmon marinated in smoky whisky. Run by a famous local musical duo. Highly recommended.

Other places worth mentioning: Sadutė (Rotušės a. x Muitinės str.) – serves some ciders that are not cloyingly sweet and ‘live’ beer from Jovarai/Pasvalys brewer A. Grigonis; Punto Pica - live music and beer; Konrado užeiga (Laisvės al. 49a) – pours Vilkmergės dark; Baras 91 (Islandijos pl.  91) – a proper pub with no bullshit attitude, and Guinness on tap.

Klaipėda

• Hemingway’s Pub, Žvejų g. 21/Teatro a. 1, Klaipėda
  A long time favourite in Klaipėda (formerly known as Juodo Katino 2),  now under new management. Finally a place that actually looks and feels like a pub. Serves Guinness, and – gasp – Grimbergen brown and blond. The staff clueless and slightly stiff but hopefully this will change with time.
• Leika, Tomo g. 7
  A small, artists-run bar on the ground level of a photo gallery is a new kid in town and has already became the most popular place of artists and students alike.  It has also left everyone behind with its beer on offer – 35 sorts of beers, from british ales to Czech beers and Lithuanian craft beers both on tap and in bottles. Recommended.
• Mėmelis, Žvejų g. 4
  Brewpub-restaurant, serving 4 own-brewed beers – light, black. caramel lagers and wheat. An example of how a good idea and excellent location can become a failure by providing disappointing beers and bad atmosphere (well as of 2010 the brewing has improved and dark beer was very drinkable – but pale lager was still very dissappointing). Has seatings outside.
• Rio Pub, Kepėjų g. 17 / Kurpių g. 6
  A welcome contender in the fine beer  scene, this pub near the river with a great terrace also serves home-style food. Their generously sized soups and home made burger can be complimented with some of the best choice (several dozens)  of beers in the city – handful proper ones on tap (including Moreeke, Bernard, Budwar) and bottles (good selection of Belgian et al – including Chimay Bleu, La Trappe, and even Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier.) Recommended.
• Stora antis, Tiltų 6
  This russian-styled restaurant (name translates as “Fat Duck”) not only serves some of the best food in the city and ice-cold vodka, but also has Maredsous and Duvel in bottles.
• Žvejų baras, Kurpių 8
  This new bar sport biggest selection of Lithuanian beers (over 15 names, including some good farmhouse ales) on tap in Klaipėda – and some international ones. Lithuanian food.

Places we’d like to mention only because they serve something different: Livonia (Naujojo sodo g. 1) – brewpub serving good quality Butautų Dark and Pale (disguised as Livonijos’ own beers).

Palanga

• Alynas, Basanavičiaus str.
  A popular combination of take-away and pub, this one is located on the terrible pedestrian highway. Open only during season, staff is ignorant, but still this is the only place to look for Lithuanian farmhouse beers.
• Ramybė, Vytauto g. 54
  Works year round, mostly famous for it’s tongue-in-cheek barmen, special service, all-night debauchery and excentric bohemian clientele, it also serves Bernard Czerne on tap. It’s also a villa and has concert venue in a separate building, former Soviet cinema. Best kept (not so) secret, recommended.
  We posted about it.
• HBH Juozo alus, Žibininkai, Kretingos raj. (near Palanga)
  Huge, crowded entertainment complex. Serves two or three sorts of on-site brewed (HBH licence) beer – dark, light, filtered and unfiltered from tap. A lot of tables/seatings outside.
• 1925 bar (J. Basanavičiaus 4)
  serves Czech Kozel from tap, a nice bar in otherwise noisy and terribly europeanized pedestrian street.
• Ramus kaip belgas, S.Daukanto g. 11
  A welcome re-opening of Belgian beer and food place, yet the service has a lot to improve. Serves a selection of classic beers (such as Duvel, Maredsous etc.) plus lousy Grimbergen on tap. Bottled beers are often brought warm, so make sure to check before opening.
• Virkštininkų dvaro užeiga, Liepų g. 6, Vidmantai Brewery shut down

Places we’d like to mention only because they serve at least one drinkable beer: Pajūrio žibintas (Basanavičiaus st. 36) – has Czech Bernard dark beer from tap in bottles only, Palangos Vėtra(Daukanto g. 35 / S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno g. 17)pours Guinness.

Šiauliai

• Bravarija brewpub, shopping mall “Saulės miestas”, Tilžės g. 109, Karaliaus Mindaugo g. 47
  Brews and serves 3 different beers – pale, wheat and dark (“Ajero” – despite the name it doesn’t contains calamus.) Yes brewpub in a shopping mall is a weird idea.
• Gyvo alaus krautuvėlė bar-beer shop, Aušros alėja 41
  Draught Kanapinis, Šventinis, Salaus, Varniukų and Jovarų, plus bottled beers from “Aukštaitijos bravorai”.

Places we’d like to mention only because they serve at least one drinkable beer: Kapitonas Morganas (Vilniaus g. 183) serves Guiness from tap (it’s been reported the tap’s closed), bar “Putelė” and bar  “Karčiama” in “Lyros” shopping center’s yard; pool-bar “Slėptuvė” (Varpo 27a) has “Varniukų”;

Panevėžys

• Krantolis, Kranto g. 12, Panevėžys.
  Bar set in an old, authentic former canned food factory in the heart of Panevėžys is becoming the place of choice for cultural crowd. Serves “Kanapinis” pale ale.
• Berželis, close to Panevėžys-Riga highway.
  Guest house and bar-cafe next to Levuo river is an oldest bar in the town. “Berželis” serves Būtautų Dvaro and Kupiškio beers from tap and bottled.

Other places

Alytus – bar “3.5″ has Vilkmergės;

Google map of take-away draught beers: http://www.nulis.lt/pilstomas-alus-1.html