Hungary’s best beers on tap – a guide

As we reported, in recent years Hungarian breweries have been conjuring up award-winning craft beers. However, what do Hungarians drink on a day-to-day basis at the bar? We look at some of the most popular Hungarian beer brands in the country.

Arany Ászok

Created in 1924 by the Dreher Brewery, this light pilsner is one of the most iconic brands in the country. Its manufacture was stopped in 1948, but resumed in 1989 after the fall of the communist regime. Named after its golden colour, it has a bitter taste and a high carbon dioxide content. Due to its popularity, Arany Ászok is one of the few Hungarian beers that you may be able to find in a store abroad which sells Eastern European products.  

Arany Ászok. Source: Wiki Commons

Borsodi

The Borsodi brewery is one of the most popular breweries in Hungary. Founded in North-eastern Hungary near Miskolc and named after the county it is located in, the local population are very proud of their pilsner, which has a slightly grainy taste.  

Relative to other breweries, Borsodi was established very recently. The company began operations in the 1970s and since then it has become one of the most recognisable products in the country.

Borsodi. Source: Wiki Commons.

Similarly to Arany Ászok, Borsodi is big enough of a brand to be found outside of Hungary if potential customers are looking in the right place. The brewery also produces the best fruit-tasting beers, with lemon being the most popular one. Borsodi beers can be found on tap in every bar or pub in Hungary. If you are after a stronger lager, the Borsodi Bivaly (Borsodi Buffalo) is the beer for you.

Soproni

Another beer that can be found in all bars on tap is Soproni. The main product of the Sopron brewery, the company was bought by Heineken in 2003. Since its establishment in 1895, the company has become one of the most recognised beer brands in the country.

Soproni. Source: Wiki Commons.

The brewery’s brown beer product – called Soproni Fekete Démon (Soproni Black Demon) – has a really unique taste and a rich flavour. Similarly to Borsodi, the Soproni brewery also offers a range of fruit-flavoured options. They also have a Tankcsapda beer, named after one of the most successful Hungarian rock bands.

Pécsi Szalon

Pécsi Szalon. Source: Wiki Commons.

We saved the best till last. Made by the Pécsi brewery, Szalon beers are very difficult to find in areas far away from Pécs, including in Budapest.  However, it is worth the hunt as it has a very rich taste for a lager. The brewery itself was established in 1848 and has created a range of products. One of their best beers is the Szalon Barna (Szalon Brown), a dark German-style beer with an alcohol percentage just below 6%.

Budapest was listed among the best cities to drink craft beer.