Verkhovyna Brewery at the Pyvovar Motel, Verkhovyna

Verkhovyna Brewery operates at the Pyvovar motel on the approach to Verkhovyna, the Hutsul capital of the Carpathians. Live beer of its own make, sold under the name «Verkhovyna», is brewed on site and served in a 70-seat beer bar right next to the brewhouse. It is one of the few breweries in the Hutsul region where you can not only buy fresh beer but also stay the night in the mountains and, by arrangement, see how it is made.

The brewery stands 2 km before the centre of Verkhovyna when coming from Vorokhta, right by the main road, so it is an easy stop on the way from Bukovel or Yaremche. The three-storey motel has 15 rooms (36–44 beds), and the brewery and beer bar are part of the same complex.

Why go

The main reason is beer fresh from the tanks. Live beer does not travel well and tastes best where it was brewed. In the beer bar you can try several house beers, compare light and dark, and unwind with friends after a day in the hills.

• Beer tasting of the house brews in the bar next to the brewery;
• brewery tour — according to visitors it can be booked in advance (ask about terms and price by phone);
• fresh beer to take away in bottles labelled «Verkhovyna»;
• an overnight stay at the motel, so you can enjoy the beer without having to drive.

The motel also helps to arrange other activities: mountain hikes, trips to Bukovel, horse riding, visits to a trout farm and, in winter, skiing and sledging. A sauna is available for an extra fee.

What to try and buy

The brewery makes several sorts of live beer under the «Verkhovyna» label — a 2022 video review shows light and dark beer in mugs and branded bottles. The exact line-up changes, so check what is on tap when you arrive. Beer has a long history in the Hutsul region: mountain villages always brewed home-made beer and kvass, and today small breweries bring the tradition back as unfiltered live beer. Remember that such beer keeps only for a short time, so buy as much as you can drink fresh.

Practical information

• Address: 168-a Zhabievska St, Verkhovyna (Ivano-Frankivsk region), 2 km before the centre coming from Vorokhta; convenient parking.
• Brewery hours: daily 9:00–21:00 (according to Google Maps; best to double-check before you go).
• Phone: +380 98 982 90 70 (brewery), +380 97 777 02 99, +380 99 099 41 44 (motel).
• E-mail: [email protected].
• Prices for beer and tours are not published — ask in advance by phone.
• Alcohol tastings are for adults only; if you are driving, take the beer away with you.

How to get there

By car from Vorokhta, the road to Verkhovyna crosses the Kryvopillia Pass (970 m); the brewery is by the road before you reach the centre. From Kolomyia and Kosiv, use the Tatariv–Kamianets-Podilskyi highway, which runs past the motel. Regular buses from Ivano-Frankivsk reach Verkhovyna by two routes: via Kolomyia and Kosiv, or via Tatariv and Vorokhta. By train, go to Ivano-Frankivsk, Kolomyia or Vorokhta and continue by bus. The motel offers a paid transfer from Verkhovyna bus station.

At a glance

• Address: Verkhovyna
• Opening hours: Daily 9:00–21:00 (according to Google Maps)
• Season: All year round
• Prices: Ask about beer and tour prices by phone.
• Phone: +380989829070, +380977770299, +380990994144

Website and social media: verkhovyna.life

Photos: verkhovyna.life; i.ytimg.com.