Brewery Rinkuškiai is the only family held brewery in Biržai region, known as the beer capital of Lithuania. The history of the brewery began many generations ago.
Beer has been brewed in Biržai region since the end of XI th century. The secrets of beer making have been passed from generation to generation. Jonas Čygas, local brewer, was famous for his outstanding beer even outside Biržai region. He brewed his barley beer for family celebrations like weddings and anniversaries. His beer was even brought to Vilnius, the capital, as a gift to the government officers.
Rimantas Čygas, the son of Jonas Čygas, established brewery Rinkuškiai in at the end of 1990, together with his relatives Petras Kalkys and Sigitas Kalkys.
In 1991 the first beer was brewed following authentic receipt of Jonas Čygas, in old wooden beer vats that now are exhibited at Rinkuškiai beer museum.
Since 1991 the brewery has modernized the facilities, expanded the assortment and production. Rinkuškiai is the largest local capital brewery in Lithuania and one of the five largest breweries in Lithuania, the only one of five run by the local brewery family. Rinkuškiai beer has been exported to the USA for more than 10 years, also to Poland, Latvia and Estonia. In 2014 some sorts of beer have been exported to Ireland and China. On September 2015 Rinkuškiai started exporting to Canada.
The owners of the brewery reveal that brewery is not merely a business, but a mission to preserve beer brewing traditions of Biržai region, the beer capital of Lithuania.
Rinkuškiai beer. From generation to generation.
