Croatia’s oldest family-run brewery: 30 years of craft excellence

by croatiaweek
March 21, 2024
in Business

The Nauković brothers

Medvedgrad Brewery celebrated the 30th anniversary of its establishment in the Croatian capital Zagreb on Wednesday in the presence of numerous partners, collaborators, employees, and journalists.

After touring the brewery, Ivan Nauković unveiled the new visual identity of the oldest beer, Zlatni Medvjed (Golden Bear).

Zlatni medvjed

Alongside an excellent, unannounced performance by the Savršeni Marginalci band, a two-day festival called “Brundanje” was announced, and food blogger Marina Obradović prepared two desserts featuring Medvedgrad’s new specials, Gavran and Strossmayer.

Marina Obradović

Medvedgrad Brewery is a family-owned establishment, the oldest and largest family brewery in Croatia, celebrating three decades of uninterrupted success in the craft beer scene. This commendable milestone isn’t just a mark of time but also a celebration of tradition, innovation, and dedication.

Thirty years ago, on the corner of Savska and Vukovarska streets in Zagreb, an unusual place with tall copper tanks emerged – it was a microbrewery and a pub called Pivnica Medvedgrad, which revolutionized the way beer was perceived in these areas and laid the foundation for today’s craft brewing.

Four brothers at work

Indeed, it was quite a feat to establish a leading position in the beer scene and maintain it due to high beer quality and wise management. But there’s another celebrant – the brewery’s flagship beer, the Zlatni Medvjed (Golden Bear) pale lager, also celebrates its 30th birthday, hence its redesign was presented on this occasion.

The management of the brewery was taken over by four sons, Ivan, Nikola, Petar, and Luka Nauković, who continue the beer-making tradition after their parents and boast impressive figures. Specifically, they employ 96 staff members in their pubs and brewery, and until this year, they have brewed over 25 million liters of beer and around 90 different beer styles.

Brewery in Zagreb

They adhere to traditional brewing methods, such as decoction, to achieve the fullness of flavor that cannot be obtained with modern, more simple, and faster brewing methods.

Since then to the present day, Medvedgrad has become synonymous with quality, authenticity, and upholding old brewing laws that speak to the purity of beer. Apart from outstanding beers, Medvedgrad stands out for its social responsibility.

The Nauković brothers

Their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate) strategy will formalize years of responsible business efforts. Through their charitable initiatives “Zeko je reko” and “Sretno dijete”, they aim to make this world a slightly better place and help the most vulnerable groups in society – children and animals.

The uniqueness of Medvedgrad Brewery lies in reviving old Zagreb legends through beer names and illustrations on labels. Therefore, during this jubilee year, they will tell the story of Medvedgrad through five new beers.

If we look for a synonym for creativity in the domestic beer world, we can definitely find it in Medvedgrad Brewery, as it has been proclaimed the best brewery in Croatia for two consecutive years (2014 and 2015, as rated by Ratebeer), and it has also been awarded for the design of its labels (CROPACK 2017).

The 30th anniversary celebrated on Wednesday

“I am proud of my family and all the employees who have contributed to making Medvedgrad Brewery the most significant craft brewery in the Croatian market. We are now excited and motivated by everything that awaits us in the next thirty years. The path to success depends on adapting to the changes brought by time but also on the uncompromising application of established rules. Therefore, we will continue to produce fine and drinkable lagers in a traditional way but using modern technology,” added Ivan Nauković, a member of the Management Board and Director of Marketing and Sales.

Ribafish

For Medvedgrad, it’s not only important what’s in the glass but also beyond it. This year’s plans for celebrating the significant jubilee include numerous events, discounts, beer premieres, and a two-day Craft, Rock & Street Food Festival called “Brundanje”, which will gather the biggest names in the Croatian rock scene to celebrate thirty years of work and existence fittingly.

As Medvedgrad proudly reminisces about its past, it looks to the future with the same enthusiasm and dedication. Their supremacy in the craft scene not only confirms excellence but also promises a bright and flavorful future for all beer enthusiasts and culture lovers. They will continue to expand their influence and capture the hearts of beer connoisseurs across the region and beyond.