Urpiner brewery in Banská Bystrica: tour and beer from the tank

Five centuries of beer below Urpín hill

Banská Bystrica is the centre of Central Slovakia and grew rich on copper mining in the 14th–16th centuries. Crafts flourished alongside mining, brewing among them: the first record of brewing in the town dates from 1501, when the council and the mayor asked King Vladislaus II for new town privileges. The right to brew beer in the houses on the square came with a privilege of 1524, and in 1636 the brewers’ guild issued its twenty “Articles of the Master Brewers”. In the 17th century there were more than 80 breweries here. In 1871 a new municipal brewery was built on today’s Moyzes Square, but part of it — cooling, fermentation and the lagering cellar — stood at the other end of town, so the brewed beer was carted there in wooden vats.

Today’s brewery in the Radvaň–Kráľová district opened on 13 August 1971 as the Urpín Brewery, named after the hill above the town. Since 2007 it has been completely renewed: the new owners have invested more than €15 million in technology and development. The brewery stresses that it is a Slovak company without foreign capital, brewing with classic methods from the mountain water of the surrounding hills, Slovak hops and Levice malt (Levický slad), which in 2016 became the first in its category to receive an EU protected geographical indication.

Why go

• Production tour. An hour behind the scenes of a traditional brewery: the brewhouse with its big kettles, the fermentation room and the lagering cellars with giant tanks where the beer matures.
• Beer from the tank. In the extended package the tour ends with a tasting of unpasteurised 12° beer straight from the lagering tank — beer only tastes like this at the brewery. The exclusive package adds a gift pack.
• Factory shop. The full range of bottled and canned beer and souvenirs, from early morning on weekdays.

What to taste and buy

The range is wide: pale Urpiner Classic 10°, Urpín 93 11° lager (gold at the Frankfurt International Trophy in the Bohemian-style Pilsener category), semi-dark Kaprál 11°, Dark 11°, Premium 12°, the cold-hopped IPL 13° (second at the Slovak Craft Beer Cup), Extra chmelený 14° and the strong Exclusive 16°. There are also alcohol-free options, including citrus and cherry.

Practical information

Address: Sládkovičova 37, 974 05 Banská Bystrica — in the southern part of town near the road to Zvolen. It is a few kilometres from the historic centre, easy to reach by city bus or car.

Tours (as of October 2026): Monday–Wednesday 8:00–12:00, for groups of 10 to 30; book at least 14 days ahead, and the brewery confirms in writing within five days. Adults pay €10, €14 or €17 depending on the package, students and seniors €7 or €10; groups of over 20 get 20% off. Pay in cash at the cash desk before the tour. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult, and only adults receive the tasting and gift. Guiding is in Slovak or English. A small party should join another group or gather friends.

Shop: Monday–Friday 6:00–15:30 (break 12:30–13:00). Brewery phone: +421 48 285 55 40.

Nearby

• The historic centre of Banská Bystrica with SNP Square and the town castle.
• Radvanský jarmok — a large autumn crafts fair in the town.
• The bryndza dairy in Zvolenská Slatina — the world’s oldest working bryndza dairy (about 30 km).

Official website: urpiner.eu

Photos: urpiner.eu.