Hirske Brewery, Mykulychyn

The Hirske brewery is a small artisan brewery in Mykulychyn, on the edge of the village towards Tatariv. Its building with a bright mural — Hutsuls with a barrel of beer against the mountains — is hard to miss from the N09 road. Here they brew Hirske (“Mountain”) live beer: unfiltered, unpasteurised and preservative-free, following classic European recipes and using water from Carpathian springs. The brewery has been working since the mid-2010s and has become one of the noticeable beer stops on the way to Bukovel.

Why stop here

The main reason is fresh beer straight from production. Freshly brewed beer goes directly to the counter of the brewery shop, where it is filled into bottles to take away. You can try several styles on the summer terrace next to the brewery, and inside the walls carry boards listing the beers and prices. Fish and Carpathian cheese to go with the beer are sold alongside, as well as Hutsul souvenirs, so it is a handy place to pick up a tasty gift from the mountains. The brewhouse can be seen from the shop; whether separate production tours are offered is best asked by phone.

What to try

The Hirske range is fairly wide, and each beer has its own character:

• Svitle (light) and Napivtemne (semi-dark) — classics for anyone new to craft beer;
• Pshenychne (wheat) with Tettnanger hops, with gentle spicy notes;
• Chervone (red) on caramel malt and Medove (honey);
• Chorna Skelia (“Black Rock”) and Shokoladne (chocolate) for dark-beer lovers;
• Smerekove, brewed with spruce shoots, and Chornychne, with wild bilberries — the most “mountain” beers of the brewery.

The brewers use German Weyermann malt, Magnum and Tettnanger hops and Fermentis yeast. The beer is boiled for about eight hours, then fermented and matured without filtration or pasteurisation. That makes it “live” and short-lived: the brewery advises keeping it at 4–8 °C and drinking it within five days of bottling. Adding spruce shoots and forest berries is a nod to the Hutsul habit of using the gifts of the forest in drinks, from teas to fruit liqueurs.

Practical information

Address: 134-d Hrushevskoho St, Mykulychyn (Ivano-Frankivsk region). According to Google Maps, the brewery is open daily from 9:00 to 22:00. Phones: +380 68 750 06 44 (listed on the website), +380 97 991 93 18. Beer can also be ordered through the brewery’s online shop. Check draught prices and opening times by phone — the beers on tap change.

Getting there: the brewery stands right by the N09 road in the southern part of Mykulychyn. It is about 10 km from Yaremche, a few kilometres from Tatariv and roughly 70 km from Ivano-Frankivsk. Buses and minibuses heading for Vorokhta, Tatariv and Bukovel pass the brewery; the nearest railway station is Mykulychyn. There is room to stop a car by the building.

Please confirm by phone before your trip.

At a glance

• Address: Mykulychyn
• Opening hours: Daily 9:00–22:00 (per Google Maps); please confirm by phone
• Season: All year round; the tasting terrace is open in the warm season
• Phone: +380687500644, +380979919318

Please confirm by phone before your trip.

Website and social media: hirskebrew.com · facebook.com

Photos: nadvirna.life; hirskebrew.com.