Rinkuškiai

Microbrewery in Biržai, Panevėžys County, Lithuania 🇱🇹

Established in 1991

Contact
Alyvų st. 8, Biržai, LT-41180, Lithuania
Description
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.

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5.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 5 Texture 4 Overall 6
Golden, sparkly. Rich saaz aroma. Palate, though, is lightish and slightly sweet. At least the pale malt flavour is very clean, but only a faint background of hops after that aroma?
Tried on 23 Jul 2004 at 05:16

6.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6.5
Copper colour. Aroma is toasty, caramelly. Sweet flavour is slightly syrupy with a hint of caramel. Sweet, lightly toasty finish.
Tried on 22 Jul 2004 at 10:25

3.1/10 Appearance 2 Aroma 3 Flavor 3 Texture 4 Overall 3.5
Golden colour, with low visible carbonation. Honeyish aroma, with a hint of hay-like hops. Slightly sticky, hint of biscuits, a little earthiness. Finish is slightly wet.
Tried on 22 Jul 2004 at 10:17

4.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 4 Flavor 4 Texture 4 Overall 3.5
Golden brown colour. Aroma is of alcohol, corn syrup, and toffee. Very sweet palate. Late alcohol and more corn syrup.
Tried on 22 Jul 2004 at 09:39

6.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Dark golden brown with no head. Quite sweet and caramelly. Smooth, lightly oily. Clean toffeeish malt notes. Semi-sweet finish with nutty and chocolatey notes.
Tried on 22 Jul 2004 at 09:34

4.6/10 Appearance 4 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 4 Overall 4.5
Bottled. Clear golden, near no head. Sweet with rounded mouthfeel. Lightly hoppy with some late bitterness. Ordinary.
Tried from Bottle on 21 Jul 2004 at 10:34

3.6/10 Appearance 4 Aroma 4 Flavor 3 Texture 4 Overall 3.5
Bottled. Clear golden colour. Sweet, soft and fruity. Not very flavourful. Not an attention grabber.
Tried from Bottle on 21 Jul 2004 at 10:00

5.9/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
Sampled draught in Biržai
Amber colour, brief lively head. Fruity with powerful flowery hops and solid maltiness. Honeyish finish.
Tried on 21 Jul 2004 at 09:58

4.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 4 Flavor 4 Texture 6 Overall 5
Sampled draught in Biržai
Clear reddish amber colour. Fruity, yet clean. Medium bodied with low-medium bitterness. Very drinkable considering it’s size, but I would have liked some more flavour.
Tried on 21 Jul 2004 at 09:13

4.1/10 Appearance 4 Aroma 4 Flavor 4 Texture 4 Overall 4.5
Sampled draught in Biržai
Golden colour. Fairly sweet and lightly fruity. Medium bodied, salty and fairly clean. Only some bitterness. Despite it’s name it lacks the traditional flavours of the region’s beers.
Tried on 21 Jul 2004 at 09:10