Galgenberg brewery in Nitrianske Pravno: tour and beer from the tank

Beer from the former “German Pravno”

Nitrianske Pravno is a large village at the northern end of the Upper Nitra basin, 12 km from Prievidza, where the river Nitra leaves the Malá Magura and Žiar hills. An old road from the Nitra valley to Turiec and Žilina has always run through it. Until 1946 the village was called Nemecké Pravno (Deutschproben), because German-speaking settlers lived here for centuries. That history echoes in the name of the local brewery — Galgenberg (literally “Gallows Hill”).

The brewery grew out of the owner’s long experience in gastronomy and home brewing. The small craft brewery was built with support from the European Regional Development Fund, and ever since it has brewed only unfiltered, unpasteurised beer — live beer with its yeast, the way it is drunk at the brewery itself. The brewery regularly adds new beers and writes about beer history on its blog.

Why go

• Brewery tour. About 50 minutes on the history of brewing and the brewing process, with a tasting of different malts and of beer straight from the tank (0.2 l samples, depending on what is maturing).
• Taproom. Next to the brewery is a taproom with a long row of taps pouring fresh Galgenberg beers every day.
• Beer to take home. Bottles are sold on site, and a gift voucher for the tour makes a good present for beer lovers.

What “live” beer means

The tour shows the whole journey of the beer. Crushed malt is steeped in hot water so that the starch turns into sugar, then the wort is drained off, boiled with hops, cooled and yeast is added. After the main fermentation the young beer matures for several weeks in cold tanks. A large brewery would then filter and pasteurise it to extend its shelf life. Galgenberg does not: the glass holds live yeast, vitamins and the full flavour, but such beer must be drunk fresh and kept cold.

What to taste

The regular range includes a 10° draught pale, a 12° lager, a 12° Vienna lager, a 12° Weizenbier and a 15° American IPA. Seasonal beers include a Pumpkin Ale 15° and a smoked Baltic porter 17°. At the end of 2025 a Black Porter 17° was added, and in 2025 new American IPAs — Lemonade Hazy IPA 13° and Mi Querido 13.5° — plus a light Summer fresh IPA 12°. Drivers should take beer home: Slovakia does not allow drivers to drink any alcohol.

Practical information

Address: Námestie SNP 9/21, 972 13 Nitrianske Pravno — on the village’s main square. It is about 12 km north of Prievidza on the road to Žilina and Turiec; there are no regular passenger trains (the branch line from Prievidza has had no regular service since 2012), but buses run. The brewery is on flat ground and suits everyone.

Hours and prices (as of October 2026): the taproom is open daily 13:00–22:00. The tour with tasting costs €10 per person with a minimum group of five; book on +421 907 137 425 or at [email protected].

Nearby

• The Fačkov saddle and the Lúčanská part of the Malá Fatra — on the road to the Rajec valley.
• The Bôrik reservoir by Nitrianske Pravno — a place for a walk.
• Salaš Pružina in the Strážov Hills — sheep’s bryndza and žinčica.

Official website: galgenberg.sk

Photos: galgenberg.sk.