Zmajska Pivovara

What Zmajska Pivovara does

Zmajska Pivovara d.o.o. is a privately held Croatian craft brewery headquartered in Zagreb, founded in 2013 by Andrej Čapka as the country's first craft brewery. The company produces a portfolio of over 45 beers across three structured lines: a year-round core range (Stalna ponuda) including Pale Ale, Pils, Therapy Session IPA, Pozoj IPA, and Berry Sour; a Concoction limited series focused on experimental recipes such as barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stouts, Double IPAs, Session IPAs, and barrel-aged Flanders Red ales; and a Collab series of partnership brews with Croatian and European brewers. The technical foundation is traditional craft brewing with a specialization in barrel-aging, wild yeast fermentation (Brettanomyces), and oak barrel programs, supported by long-term raw material partnerships with Slavonian barley suppliers and Yakima Chief Hops.

Beyond beer, the company sells GRIN hard seltzer (4% ABV, allergen-free, natural fruit flavors), a limited-edition whisky line under the sub-brand Tale of the Dragon's Tail, and branded merchandise (apparel, glassware, accessories). Revenue is generated through unit-priced beverage and merchandise sales across four channels: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop (with EU-wide delivery and free shipping over €40), the on-site Jankomir taproom (8 taps, opened 2018), the SIP PUB craft beer pub in Zagreb's Trnje district (opened March 2026 with an American BBQ-inspired food menu), and wholesale distribution to Croatian retail and HoReCa. A small recurring revenue component comes from the GDS (Guild of Draught Servers) annual membership program at €90 per year. The company also invests in community engagement through the annual Zmajevo craft beer and music festival, the Homebrew Lab, a beer tasting school, and the "Zmajska posla" YouTube educational series, which together reinforce brand positioning around craft beer culture rather than volume-led lager competition.

Name

Zmajska Pivovara

Legal name

Zmajska pivovara d.o.o.

Website

https://zmajskapivovara.hr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zmajska Pivovara is Croatia's first craft brewery (founded 2013), producing a diverse portfolio of 45+ beers, GRIN hard seltzer, and limited-edition whisky, and selling to consumers through e-commerce, its taproom and SIP PUB in Zagreb, and wholesale distribution across Croatia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Craft beer production
• Craft brewery
• Barrel aged beer
• Hard seltzer
• Craft beverages

Headquarters

HQ city

Zagreb

HQ country

Croatia

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Beer Sales: Direct sales of craft beers through e-commerce shop, taproom, and SIP PUB. Products include core range beers, limited edition Concoction series, and collaboration beers.
2. Hard Seltzer (GRIN): Sales of GRIN hard seltzer in various flavors (guava, raspberry, lime) in cans and cartons.
3. Merchandise: Sales of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, caps, bags, glassware, and pet accessories.
4. GDS Membership: Annual membership program for the Guild of Draught Servers (GDS), offering benefits to beer enthusiasts and professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zmajska Pivovara produces craft beers across core range styles (Pale Ale, Pils, IPA, Sour), the experimental Concoction limited series, the COLLAB collaboration series, GRIN hard seltzer, and a limited-edition whisky. The brewery sells directly to consumers via its own taproom, SIP PUB, and e-commerce shop, and through wholesale to retail stores and bars across Croatia and the EU.

Product overview

Zmajska Pivovara is Croatia's first craft brewery offering a diverse portfolio of beer products and beverages. The core product lineup (Stalna ponuda) includes Pale Ale, Pils, Therapy Session IPA, Pozoj IPA, and Berry Sour - classic beer styles with the Zmajska twist. The Concoction limited series provides experimental beers including Session IPAs, Double IPAs, barrel-aged RIS, Russian Imperial Stouts, and sour beers. The COLLAB series features collaboration brews with partners from Croatia and Europe. GRIN Hard Seltzer offers low-alcohol sparkling beverages in fruit flavors. The company also produces whisky under the Tale of the Dragon's Tail label. Beyond beverages, Zmajska operates retail locations including SIP PUB and Taproom, hosts the annual Zmajevo craft beer festival, and sells branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GRIN: Hard seltzer brand with 4% ABV, natural fruit flavors (guava, raspberry, lime), allergen-free, low-calorie alcoholic beverage.
• Tale of the Dragon's Tail
• SIP
• Zmajevo
• Brewers Concoction

Products and services

• Pale Ale American Pale Ale with balanced malt and hop notes, pleasant bitterness, full body and exotic aromas of mango and grapefruit; available in 0.33l and 0.5l bottles and cans. Core range beer available year-round.
• Pils Craft pilsner — light lager beer aged 40 days with balance of freshness and bitterness, floral hop aromas and pronounced malt notes from Slavonian barley; available in 0.5l bottles and cans. Core range beer available year-round.
• Therapy Session IPA Session IPA with rich refreshing hop aromas of grapefruit, orange, pineapple and pine at low alcohol; designed to be enjoyed anytime. Core range beer available year-round.
• Pozoj IPA West Coast IPA style with medium body, high hoppiness, citrus and tropical notes, strong bitterness and refreshing grapefruit aroma with hints of pineapple and orange at 6.3% ABV. Core range beer available year-round.
• Berry Sour Sour ale with blueberry and raspberry; characteristic acidity from natural bacteria with sweetness from added fruit, medium body with dry finish at 4.8% ABV. Core range beer available year-round.
• Concoction Series Limited-edition experimental beer series serving as a playground for master brewers with complete brewing freedom and exciting recipes; includes Session IPAs, Double IPAs, barrel-aged RIS, Russian Imperial Stouts, and sour beers.
• COLLAB Series Collaboration beers brewed with friends from Croatia and across Europe, including special limited releases and aged products made in partnership with other breweries.
• GRIN Hard Seltzer Sparkling water with alcohol and natural fruit flavors; 4% ABV, allergen-free (no gluten, sulfites, hops), low-calorie, with only natural flavors. Available in guava, raspberry, and lime variants.
• Tale of the Dragon's Tail Whisky Limited-edition whisky produced by Zmajska Pivovara; 2025 vintage released alongside the SIP PUB opening.
• Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including T-shirts, hoodies, caps, canvas bags, cooling bags, glasses (0.3l and 0.5l sets), reusable cups, and buff neck gaiters.
• GDS (Guild of Draught Servers) Membership Annual membership program for the Guild of Draught Servers (GDS), offering benefits to beer enthusiasts and industry professionals at €90 per year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked among top 10 best new breweries globally by Ratebeer in 2014
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Yakima Chief Hops (YCH)coreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term partnership with one of the world's largest hop producers. Zmajska brewers traveled to the USA for hop selection, choosing specific farms for their hop supplies. YCH supports craft brewers with quality hop products and innovation.
• Slavonian Barley SupplierscoreOthersLocal sourcing of barley from Slavonia region, described as 'barley bathed in Slavonian sun' for their Pilsner and other beers.
• International Collaboration BrewerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration beer series (COLLAB) featuring beers brewed with friends from Croatia and across Europe, including barrel-aged collaborations and specialty products like beer vinegar.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• To Øl: Danish craft brewery with a broad experimental portfolio, frequent collaborations, and barrel-aged offerings. Closely mirrors Zmajska's Concoction-style innovation and limited-edition approach at slightly larger scale.
• Mikkeller: Danish craft beer brand recognized globally for innovative styles and brand-driven growth. Comparable in spirit (craft experimentation, strong brand identity) but operates at larger international scale.
• Pivovara Medvedgrad: Zagreb-based Croatian craft brewery producing a diverse portfolio of ales and lagers. Most direct geographic and category peer, competing head-to-head for Croatian craft beer share.
• The Garden Brewery: Zagreb-based craft brewery operating a brewery plus taproom/pub concept, similar on-site retail model. Closely comparable in product breadth and direct-to-consumer strategy.

Regional players

• Nova Runda: Slovenian craft brewery with diverse beer portfolio and similar experimental/concoction-style limited releases. Comparable in scale and craft positioning, serving the adjacent Slovenian and Adriatic markets.

Broad incumbents

• BrewDog: Scottish craft brewer with multi-revenue-stream model (beer, bars, hotels, merchandise) and aggressive international expansion. Useful comparable for Zmajska's DTC + on-site retail + merchandise ambitions at much larger scale.
• Zagrebačka pivovara: Croatia's largest industrial brewer (now under Heineken-owned group). Represents the dominant mainstream competition against which Zmajska's premium craft positioning must continue to differentiate.
• Stone Brewing: Established US craft brewery with West Coast IPA heritage and on-site taproom/brewpub operations. Comparable in IPAs-forward portfolio and taproom-as-experience strategy, but at substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClWj_pm3aHWWeo-RqlVVNxw
• Facebookfacebook.com/zmajskapivovara
• Instagraminstagram.com/zmajskapivovara
• Xx.com/zmajskapivovara
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zmajskapivovara

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zmajska Pivovara