Valmiermuižas alus – Valmiera (Latvia)

This is a brewery that shouldn’t be skipped, it’s definitely one of those places that you have to see when in Valmeria. It was built in 2005, but the first beers didn’t come out until 2008, because the boss and his staff weren’t satisfied with the first production. They lost a lot of money at first, because they wanted their product to meet their standards.

In 2014, they produced 0.8% of the national production, and they want to get to 1%, but no higher. They also have a very well known store and restaurant in Riga.

So, there’s the brewery, a restaurant, and a souvenir shop. You can make reservations for a guided tour of the brewery by phone or by email for 24 euros, when the number exceeds 6 people, it’s 6 euros a head. The beer tasting without the tour is only 4 euros.

It’s one of the best meals I had in Latvia. This is exactly what I think is missing in the country, a cuisine made with local ingredients, that is also fine, creative and light.

Chanterelle and beer soup, made with cheese, seasonal vegetables, and roots, with a side of homemade bread.

A white bean salad with goat cheese, tomato, and blueberry sauce.

Pike-perch filet,  barley beads steamed in beer, pea purée, squash fermented in birch sap

Homemade honey cake

Homemade ice cream, this one is too “étouffe-chrétien”

A must-see.