Vilnius – Alaus Biblioteka
After a few days in Dortmund, which isn’t known for its craft beer (but is known for its fine arrangement of Pilsners) it was a delight to get to Alaus Biblioteka (the Beer Library). This is a highly reviewed craft beer bar and my first impressions were positive as it looked impressive on climbing the steps to the main bar, it wasn’t too hot and there looked like a wide selection of beers were available.
The set-up, a mixture of traditional bookshelves and the shiny new Untappd screen. It’s a fine combination. The draft beer style is well curated with a range of beer types, but there’s also an equally thought through selection of bottles and cans. The team member was engaging and knowledgeable about beer, she thought I’d like the chilli beer I was looking at and she was entirely correct. The prices here are for the higher end for Vilnius, but on an international standard for an on-trend and decadent craft beer bar, I thought they were reasonable.
There are other rooms and also an external area, so it feels like there’s plenty of space. They do some meat and cheese platters for those wanting food, along with some smaller bar snacks. But, it was the beer that I was here for.
They had Lithuanian and international beers, but I tried to stick primarily to the former. I thought I deserved a flight of five beers, which came in at around £12 for the lot, and they were from left to right:
(i) Senoliu Senovinis from Su Puta brewery. A farmhouse ale which I thought was rustic, sweet and had some tastes of honey, decent.
(ii) Keptinis from Sakiskes Brewery. This had an interesting flavour, slightly herbal, a bit of shed (this is probably not an official beer term) and quite robust.
(iii) Pomegranate Lime Gose from Bear & Boar Brewery. This was tart, but balanced, there was a depth of pomegranate and the lime punched through. Very agreeable, rounded and clever.
(iv) Catch Up! Chili from Anderson’s Brewery. This was exceptional and quirky, like a Bloody Mary and something rather different. It’s a sour with a depth of flavour and lots of heat. Slightly salty and I note that the brewery approved of my Untappd check-in.
(v) The Alaus Biblioteka Bourbon Aged from the pub itself. The first couple of sips tasted of the previous chilli beer, but this was a punchy number on its own being a tough bourbon stout that acted as a palate cleanser. Chocolate flavours, slightly boozy, rather nice.
This was a delightful visit and I was pleased I headed out of my way to get here. Informal, laid-back, clean, stylish, traditional and the purveyor of fine craft beers. I’ll very likely pop in again the next time I’m in Vilnius.
