My favorite beer in Croatia comes from a brewery run by stubborn women
With the arrival of warmer days last month, beer returns as my favorite drink. So I had to stop by Brlog to get a new stash. My wife never liked beer until she tried Neposlušna from this local craft brewery — now she’s converted. Halleluyah! My favorite beer in Croatia comes from two women who started brewing on an apartment balcony in Zadar.
Triple impossible conditions that created my favorite Croatian beer
Brlog was founded by Ana Teskera and Maja Šepetavec, who quit their jobs, left their hometowns, and moved to Zadar to start a craft brewery from scratch. In what they call “triple impossible conditions,” they brewed their first beers on the balcony of a rented apartment.
Their motto was always “Crafted by Stubbornness” — which pretty much says it all.
The name Brlog means “den” or “lair” in Croatian. After ten years, they’ve built something special in the Voštarnica neighborhood, just a 10-minute walk from Zadar’s old town.
Croatia’s only cooperative brewery
Brlog operates as a cooperative — the only one of its kind in Croatia. It’s built on the principle of community before individual, bringing together craft beer lovers and like-minded people who share values of trust, social justice, and sustainability.
Given that it was founded and run by women, all core beers carry female names and rebel-women-inspired labels: Plavuša, Disobedient (Neposlušna), Špurija, and Zadranka.
The head brewer is an American named Zach, who relocated to Croatia to fulfill a longtime dream.
Neposlušna converted my wife
All Brlog beers are completely natural — unfiltered, unpasteurized, and preservative-free. Alongside the core range, they brew seasonal specials. The summer fennel sour is described as a must-try, though I haven’t caught it yet.
Neposlušna translates to “disobedient” — fitting for a beer that changed my wife’s mind about the entire category. It’s hoppy but balanced, with enough character to stand out without overwhelming newcomers. Perfectly balanced in my book.
Their new release, Divljakuša India Pale Ale at 6.2%, was prominently displayed during our last visit. At 4.50 euros for 0.5L, the pricing is quite reasonable for the quality.
The taproom that TripAdvisor calls Europe’s best
The taproom and terrace at Andrije Hebranga 6 is open seasonally from mid-March to November, Monday through Sunday, 16:30 to midnight. TripAdvisor reviewers have called it “one of the best craft beer bars in Europe.”
It’s a genuinely local spot far from the tourist crowds. The atmosphere feels more like hanging out in someone’s back yard than a commercial bar — which makes sense given their cooperative model.
For anyone interested in Croatian craft beer culture, you can contact Culinary Croatia for food and wine experiences that include local breweries.
Good to know
- Brlog taproom is at Andrije Hebranga 6, Zadar, 15-20 minutes walk from old town
- Open mid-March to November, Monday-Sunday 16:30-midnight
- Plavuša, Disobedient (Neposlušna), Špurija, and Zadranka.
- Selection of beer cocktails
- All beers are unfiltered, unpasteurized, and preservative-free
- Available throughout Croatia via distributors and in bigger supermarkets like Spar
- Check their official website for current seasonal specials
- They sell merchandise including beer t-shirts.