THE STORY OF BEER AT VALMIERMUIŽA
GENERAL INFORMATION
Package type: half day
Season: January–December
For whom: individuals / groups max. 20 pers.
Services included: tours to learn about the brewing of beer from ancient times to the present day, and a tasting of beer with snacks
Duration of the programme: ~ 2h
Type of transport: individual transport/tourist bus/public transportation
LOCATION
Address: Dzirnavu iela 2, Valmiermuiža, Valmieras nov., LV-4219
Distance from the capital: 111 km
Host: Aigars Ruņģis
Contact information:
T.: +371 20264269
E-mail: info@valmiermuiza.lv
Valmiermuiža is on the northern border of the city of Valmiera. Aristocratic estates were established there during the 15th and 16th centuries, and all of them had breweries and saloons. Valmiermuiža had a Castle Saloon where beer was brewed and sold. Latvians were allowed to brew beer for home consumption, and that kept traditional brewing techniques alive in Latvia.
Valmiermuiža continues to brew live and natural beer to continue the old traditions of the estate and to honour the ancient history of beer brewing in Latvia. Visitors can examine a series of brewery tools which illustrate the stories, allowing people to compare brewing techniques from the past and the present. The visit would be unimaginable without a fancy and informational tasting of beer.
Owner Aigars Ruņģis was born and raised in Valmiera, and he has deep roots in the region. That was one reason why he decided to open up a brewery at Valmiermuiža, which has a powerful and ancient history and a successful spirit of entrepreneurship. Since 2009, staff numbers at the brewery have grown substantially and while producing beer and other refreshments in their daily work, they also greet every guest who turns up at the Valmiermuiža beer kitchen or retail facility with true sincerity and hospitality. The staff are also happy to talk about beer and to offer tastings.
- Arrival to meet one of the hospitable story tellers at Valmiermuiža.
- A story of the history and rebirth of the estate.
- Information about the components of beer in an ancient granary, discovering similarities and differences in preparing and using them today and in the past.
- The first tastes of beer and information about how to enjoy it.
- An examination of ancient brewing tools and of their use so as to learn more about modern brewing processes; a chance to use a hand-operated mill to crumble malt grains.
- Further tastings with stories about the world of beer and the discovery of new flavours.