Zmajevo festival: Celebrating 10th anniversary of first Croatian craft brewery

by croatiaweek
June 22, 2023
in Food & Wine

(Photo: Zmajska Pivovara)

The Zagreb open-air festival “Zmajevo” will celebrate its sixth edition on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the location of Zmajska Pivovara.

This year is special because it marks the 10th anniversary of the first Croatian craft brewery. On tap, you can enjoy well-known beers such as Zmajski Pils, Pale Ale, Terapija, and Pozoje, along with craft specials from the Concoction series: the birthday IPA Double Digits, Cryobite, the newcomer Dust Devil and Zvir (a collaboration with the Hvar craft beer bar Vunetovo), Irish Dry Stout Nitro Noir, and Very Berry Bunny – a “rosé” sour beer with raspberry that has impressed even those who are not fans of the style and sold out in just a month, so all remaining barrels are being saved for the festival.

(Photo: Zmajska Pivovara)

Traditionally, a beer premiere will also be presented at Zmajevo. For those not in the mood for hoppy beverages, they suggest trying GRIN – the first Croatian craft hard seltzer, which has become a real summer hit this season.

(Photo: Zmajska Pivovara)

(Photo: Zmajska Pivovara)

Visitors will have the opportunity to take guided tours of the brewery and see firsthand where and how all the Zmaj beers are made. The team from BBQ Hot Yard and Apululu, an Indonesian street food brand, will take care of top-notch street food delicacies.

(Photo: Zmajska Pivovara)

(Photo: Zmajska Pivovara)

The festival will kick off at 6:00 PM with a DJ program, and all the taps will be in operation. The concert program will be opened by One Dread, a seven-member reggae/dancehall band. Over the past 10 years, the band has performed throughout Croatia and Europe, delivering the same energetic performance at club gigs and major festivals. They perform a wide range of reggae and related (sub)genre covers, and after releasing three of their own singles, they are soon preparing to release their first original album.

One Dread (Photo: Press)

Responsible for punk rock vibes is the Zagreb-based band Šank!? with their traditionally powerful performance. This year, the guys released their fifth studio album, “Zadnje ljubavno pismo” (Last Love Letter), which includes singles released from 2019 to 2022. The band celebrated 13 years of activity last month, so expect a fierce birthday gig that will also be their only concert of this summer season.

Šank!? (Photo: Press)

Edo Maajka, a rapper, producer, lyricist, and hip-hop star will perform accompanied by a DJ. The topics that Edo tackles and has addressed in his lyrics over the years remain relevant today, whether it’s social criticism or intimate thoughts, his own spiritual journey or a general human one. His live performances are a true tour de force, leaving his heart and the last ounce of energy on the stage.

Edo Maajka (Photo: Domagoj Kunic)

His debut album, “Slušaj mater” (Listen, Mother), celebrates its 21st anniversary this year, so Edo is completing the common denominator of this year’s Zmajevo. The festival’s merch corner will also feature “From Zagreb with Love” – a streetwear brand born out of love for the city streets and urban culture of Zagreb.