A new tradition has started in Budapest, based on old traditions: beer brings people together. The inaugural BPBW Beer Week in Budapest took place last week and it was a resounding success. But how was this different from other beer festivals you ask? The simple answer is the beer and the people.
The Beer
This is the first time that this many big-name brewers from all over came and mixed in with the local brewers at a beer festival in Budapest.
Drawing inspirations from other popular craft beer festivals in Europe such as the Mikkeller Beer Celebration in Denmark, Beavertown Extravaganzza in UK, Borefts in Netherlands, and Brewskival in Sweden, BPBW Beer Week in Budapest showcased over 160 different beers from over 40 brewers at their tasting sessions alone.
Click here to book a Budapest Craft Beer Tour with a local homebrewer and other beer lovers.
And if that wasn’t enough for you, there was a full week of events leading up to the weekend packed with various tap takeovers from brewers arriving into town early, tasting dinners and other beer related events. Just to give you an idea of how much was happening, here’s a list of some of the BPBW happenings during the week:
Pyynikin (Finland) at Jónás Craft Beer House
Bakunin (Russia) at Monyo Tap House
Poppels (Sweden) at Hopaholic
Post Scriptum (Portugal) at Polyhistor Pub
Beerside featuring Omnipollo (Sweden) at Bölcső Bar & Food
Berlin Beer Week (Germany) at Kandalló Artisanal Pub
Parody Brewing featuring Signature Brew (UK) at Hopaholic
The Garden Brewery (Croatia) at Kuzin Bar
Lambic and Geuze tasting at Polyhistor Pub
Amager Bryghus (Denmark) at Neked Csak Dezső
Beerganika pop-up dinner
Sour tasting at Pagony
Wild Beer (UK) at Neked Csak Dezső
To Øl (Denmark) at First Craft Beer & BBQ
Browar Golem & Browar Stu Mostów (Polish) at Neked Csak Dezső
Mykonos Brewing Company & Drink Moor Beer (UK) at Krak’n Town
Brew Dog (UK) at Hopaholic
Cerveses La Pirata & Edge Brewing (Spain) at Monyo Tap House
Mad Scientist beer dinner at Krak’n Town
De Molen (Netherlands) at Jónás Craft Beer House
The Infamous Budapest Craft Beer Tour by Budapest Today
Beer related seminars at Ogre bácsi
Mikkeller Running Club Budapest run
As you can see, there definitely was no shortage of beer last week.
The People
The craft beer community has been growing rapidly in the past 5 years, evolving into a tight network of curious and open-minded individuals who are working together to help each other succeed. This was especially apparent from the official BPBW festival beer, collaborated by 14 Hungarian brewers in the process. And by welcoming in international brewers, BPBW has catapulted Budapest onto the craft beer map, if it wasn’t already on there.
With a mixture of people from various places with a common love for craft beer, BPBW had a very friendly vibe throughout the week set at alternative venues that only Budapest can provide. And the main tasting sessions could not have taken place at a better location.
Durer Kert was the perfect setting for this festival, combining its edgy but comfortable court yard with some top quality refreshments to provide the ultimate beer garden for everyone.
This will hopefully be the first of many regular BPBW and it will only get better from here. The Budapest craft beer scene is booming and it’s welcoming the world to check it out.
Related Experiences
Budapest Craft Beer Tour
3 hours 79 USD
Discover Budapest’s exciting Craft Beer scene with a local homebrewer and other beer
lovers.
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Budapest Craft Beer Tasting
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Ruin Pubs, Street Art & Cool Spots
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