Homebrewing in Riga

OloPL

Hello to everyone, I have couple of questions to all of You. I am homebrewer from Poland, Gdańsk and this summer I will be staying in Riga for 3 months. Obviously I hope to be in touch with homebrewing and craft beers. How is it looking in Riga? Are there some nice pubs with craft beers? Are there some meetings of homebrewers, when it is possible to share Your own beer, get some opinions and taste other beers?

Thanks in advance for all answers.

Olo

BOD

LABIETIS (brewpub) - http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/alus-darbn299ca-labietis/17684/ - https://www.facebook.com/AlusDarbnicaLabietis

TAKA (bar/kafe) - Malduguns, Eridan & Takas Kolupa Ols on tap - http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/malduguns/17903/ - https://www.facebook.com/pages/TAKA/116490961719443

ALUS CELLE - beershop / bar - they have some local craft (mostly Malduguns) including one of their own brews and a lot of imported stuff - https://www.facebook.com/aluscelle

During summer we have one or two open air meetings. One is usually in second part of august.

OloPL

Ok, meetings are nice, then I will definitely bring some of my beers to share and get some opinions. Also, maybe someone would like to try something from Polish craft, I don't know how it is in Latvia with its availability. I could buy something here in Poland and bring to Riga if someone would like something. Of course, at the end of June, but just writing that there is such possibility.

BOD

Zero availability :) Some sorts of Žywiec and Lomža are available at Spirits & Wine - http://www.spiritsandwine.lv/en/beer/?filter=1&country=440&type=0

It'll be great if you could bring some Polish craft.

Best beer from Poland that I have tried so far is: Žiewiec Porter, Amber Browar Kožlak - http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/amber-ko378lak/20567/ un some Ciechan stuff - http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/ciechan-porter-22/153707/

OloPL

Then You tried definitely not much, I feel that I would have to take a lot of beer with me. You can look for some Polish craft You would like to try, ask other brewers (I guess You have some discussion group) and let me know in month or two. I would come by car, so I have some space, but I have to take something except beer also

Here the breweries with the best availability in my part of Poland:

http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/alebrowar/14472/ http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/browar-birbant/18698/ http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/browar-kormoran/3893/ http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/browar-olimp/17375/ http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/browar-perun/19946/ http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/browar-pinta/12742/

But You can also look for other, they are also sometimes available. One more thing, most of the beers are not brewed regularly, more like 2-3 times a year, so I am not sure if everything will be in shop, but earlier You start chosing something I could collect it when found in store.

atis

Generally we have the most important annual meetings and monthly meetings between September and May. In summer it is vacation time. But then we have one or two outdoor meetings with overnight stay at one of the fellow homebrewers. (kids+wives are welcome too). These are a bit more relaxed, with less emphasis on tasting, but more emphasis on having a good time.

But we could organise a Polish craft beer evening in July/August. I think no one would mind to pay a couple of euros for beer and transport/shipping if required. You would have just to buy them in Poland. We will find a place, there are enough options.

OloPL

Generally I am coming by car, combi, so I have rather a lot of space. I could bring some Polish craft beer, some bottles of the best beers from different styles, just would need to know how much people will participate.

ugis_n

i'm in! :) but you can expect around 10-20 people for such an event, i guess...

STLV

certainly interesting!

BOD

I'm in !

Hard to choose some concrete beer, but I would definitely like to taste the best Baltic Porter - http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/pinta-imperator-ba322tycki/242567/ if it's possible or their IPA - http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/pinta-atak-chmielu/142432/

All AleBrowar stuff seems very high rated, like Crazy Mike - http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/alebrowar-crazy-mike/268632/

Hard to tell, not knowing availability and price/performance factor. You could simply take your own favorites and some best examples from different styles

atis

I am in. But let's see when it comes closer. Then in May we can set the date and ask how many would attend. But around 20 is a reasonable guess.

OloPL

With Imperator Bałtycki will be hard, it is only brewed like twice per year and generally disappear fast, but I can give it a try. Also I can take other Baltic Porters from other breweries.

Atak Chmielu is easy to but, Crazy Mike also.

I do not know if You know such beer style like Grodziskie? It is generally Polish light beer, 8 BLG, from oak smoked wheat malt, nice for summer.

About the price it is rather similar, 7-11 PLN, it is like 2-2.5 euro. Also I do not know the quantities You want, I guess that if it is for tasting 3 bottles per 15 people is ok, then when I will be going back in the meantime (I will be surely once in Poland during my stay in Riga) I could take other orders ;)

edgars

I would like to test some Polish craft as well

alusvedejs

i'm in too :)

Ugis said: i'm in! :) but you can expect around 10-20 people for such an event, i guess...

10-20 peaole that's on regular basis. i believe for such event there will be more than 20.

Juris

I liked everything I tried from Pinta so you can't go wrong with whatever you bring us. :)

Rowing Jack from AleBrowar was excellent as well.

Usually we go through 15-30 beers (each 1-2L) during homebrewer meetings so don't be afraid to bring too much different ones. :)

If no craft porters are available, you could grab some Żywiec Porter or Okocim Porter instead as they are really nice yet hard to get here.

I guess everyone will gladly chip in some euros to cover the cost of the beer.

I'd estimate the attendance around 20-30, but the best way is as Atis suggested to ask people to informally 'register' just before you are ready to go. In any case I'm already in (2x). :)

BOD

Amount of people will depend on date, we could arrange our thematic meeting.

End of June don't fit me, for example

OloPL

End of June does not fit me, lets start with this

I am coming 28 or 29th of June.

BOD

first week of July looks better - and its good idea, to have this meeting soon after your arrival - otherwise you'll drink the best stuff yourself

atis

No, end of July. End of June we still have leftovers from Jani. (or, to be honest, I arrive in LV only in mid July and I would hate to miss this event).

BOD

# OloPL, simply tell us when you want this meeting, otherwise it wont happen (end of July sucks)