FAMILY BUSINESS
Brewery
Rinkuškiai is the only family held brewery in Biržai region, known as the beer
capital of Lithuania. The history of the brewery began many generations ago.
Beer has
been brewed in Biržai region since the end of XI th century. The secrets of beer
making have been passed from generation to generation. Jonas Čygas, local
brewer, was famous for his outstanding beer even outside Biržai region. He
brewed his barley beer for family celebrations like weddings and anniversaries.
His beer was even brought to Vilnius, the capital, as a gift to the government
officers.
Rimantas
Čygas, the son of Jonas Čygas, established brewery Rinkuškiai in at the end of 1990,
together with his relatives Petras Kalkys and Sigitas Kalkys.
In 1991 the
first beer was brewed following authentic receipt of Jonas Čygas, in old wooden
beer vats that now are exhibited at Rinkuškiai beer museum.
Since 1991
the brewery has modernized the facilities, expanded the assortment and
production. Rinkuškiai is the largest
local capital brewery in Lithuania and one of the five largest breweries in Lithuania,
the only one of five run by the local brewery family. Rinkuškiai beer has been
exported to the USA for more than 10 years, also to Poland, Latvia and Estonia.
In 2014 some sorts of beer have been exported to Ireland and China. On September 2015 Rinkuškiai started exporting
to Canada.
The owners
of the brewery reveal that brewery is not merely a business, but a mission to
preserve beer brewing traditions of Biržai region, the beer capital of
Lithuania.
Rinkuškiai
beer. From generation to generation.