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LAB Split Brewery (Barba): Dalmatia’s Award-Winning Craft Beer Pioneer

Bok! Split — Croatia’s second city and the sun-drenched jewel of Dalmatia — is a city defined by its ancient Roman palace, its glittering Adriatic coastline, and its fierce local pride. Since 2016, it has also been home to one of Croatia’s most acclaimed craft breweries: LAB Split, the producer of the legendary Barba beer range.

“Barba” is the Dalmatian word for uncle — the wise, weathered, experienced figure in every coastal Croatian family who knows where to find the best food, the best wine, and (now) the best beer. It’s a fitting name for a brewery that has rapidly become a trusted authority on quality in Dalmatia’s rapidly evolving craft beer scene.

In just a few years of operation, LAB Split’s Barba Imperial IPA claimed the title of Best Croatian Beer on RateBeer in both 2018 and 2019 — an extraordinary achievement for a young Dalmatian brewery. This is the story of Split’s finest craft brewery and the bold, uncompromising beers it produces.

From the Lab to the Glass: The History of LAB Split

LAB Split was founded in 2016 in Croatia’s sun-drenched second city, bringing serious craft brewing ambitions to a Dalmatian market that had been dominated by larger Croatian lager brands. The founders — passionate homebrewers with a vision for world-class beer — named their experimental approach “LAB” (short for laboratory) and their beer range “Barba” after the beloved Dalmatian word for uncle.

The choice of Split as a base was both strategic and heartfelt. As one of Croatia’s most visited cities and a gateway to the Dalmatian coast, Split attracts millions of tourists each year alongside its resident population of proud, beer-drinking locals. LAB’s founders saw an opportunity to create a beer that Split could call its own — something to stand alongside the city’s world-famous seafood, its ancient architecture, and its fierce coastal identity.

The validation came quickly and convincingly. Within just two years of founding, the Barba Imperial IPA was voted Best Croatian Beer on RateBeer in 2018 — and repeated the achievement in 2019. These back-to-back recognitions weren’t just marketing milestones; they represented a fundamental shift in how Croatia’s craft beer landscape was perceived, with Dalmatia proving it could produce world-class beers to rival anything coming out of Zagreb.

The Taste: LAB Split’s Award-Winning Barba Range

LAB Split’s Barba range is built around hop-forward American styles, each showcasing different facets of what hops can contribute to a beer:

Core Range

• Barba Imperial IPA (RateBeer Best Croatian Beer 2018 & 2019): The brewery’s crown jewel and the beer that put LAB Split on the national — and international — map. This Imperial IPA is a big, bold statement beer: intensely hopped with citrus, tropical fruit, and resinous pine, underpinned by a substantial malt base that keeps it balanced despite the considerable alcohol. Rich, complex, and endlessly rewarding, it’s the kind of beer that changes how you think about what Croatian brewing can achieve.
• Barba Pale Ale: The more accessible sibling of the Imperial IPA — a well-crafted pale ale that delivers hoppy aroma and moderate bitterness in a lighter, more sessionable format. Perfect for Dalmatia’s long, warm evenings when you want flavour without the weight of a bigger beer. Clean, refreshing, and beautifully balanced.
• Chinook APA (American Pale Ale): A single-hop showcase built around the Chinook variety — one of American brewing’s most characterful hops. Chinook contributes pronounced grapefruit and pine notes with a spicy, resinous edge that makes this APA particularly distinctive. It’s a beer that wears its hop inspiration proudly and delivers on its promise in every sip.

Seasonal & Special Releases

LAB Split periodically releases experimental and seasonal beers that explore new styles and ingredients. Given their track record with the Imperial IPA, any special release from this brewery is worth seeking out — they bring the same focus and ambition to everything they brew.

Dalmatia’s Craft Beer Flag Bearer

• National Award Recognition: Back-to-back RateBeer Best Croatian Beer wins in 2018 and 2019 gave LAB Split credibility that transcends regional boundaries — their beer is objectively excellent by any measure.
• Tourist-Facing Craft Beer: Located in one of Europe’s most-visited cities, LAB Split introduces millions of international tourists to Croatian craft beer — acting as an ambassador for the entire sector to a global audience.
• Dalmatian Pride: Split locals have embraced Barba beer as their own — a craft product that represents their city’s character: bold, sun-soaked, and uncompromising in quality.
• Proving Dalmatia Can Compete: Before LAB Split, Croatia’s craft beer reputation was almost entirely centred on Zagreb. Their RateBeer awards demonstrated that great craft beer can emerge from anywhere in Croatia — inspiring a new generation of coastal brewers.

Perfect Pairings: Barba Beers with Dalmatian Food

• Barba Imperial IPA + Peka (Dalmatian Lamb or Veal): The intensity of this big IPA demands a dish of equal substance. Peka — meat slow-cooked under a traditional clay bell with vegetables — is rich, smoky, and deeply savoury, providing a magnificent canvas for the Imperial IPA’s complex hop character.
• Barba Pale Ale + Grilled Fish (Brancin or Orada): The moderate bitterness and refreshing character of the Pale Ale make it an ideal partner for Dalmatia’s prized grilled sea bass (brancin) or sea bream (orada) with olive oil and herbs.
• Chinook APA + Octopus Salad or Black Risotto: The grapefruit and pine notes of this single-hop APA cut through the richness of black risotto (made with squid ink) or complement the briny flavours of an Adriatic octopus salad.
• Barba Imperial IPA + Aged Paški Sir (Sheep’s Cheese): Strong cheese deserves strong beer. The bitterness and complexity of the Imperial IPA hold their own beautifully against the salty intensity of aged Pag island sheep’s cheese.

Finding LAB Split Barba Beers

The best place to experience the full Barba range is at LAB Split’s own taproom and bar in Split — fresh pours in the city where these beers were born. Visit lab-split.com for location and opening hours.

Beyond the taproom, Barba beers are widely available across Split’s growing craft beer bar scene, and any self-respecting craft venue in the city should carry at least one. Their reach extends well beyond Dalmatia too — LAB Split beers appear in specialist bottle shops and craft beer retailers across Croatia, including Zagreb.

For a more festive setting, Zagreb Beer Fest and similar national craft beer festivals regularly feature LAB Split, making them a great opportunity to try their range alongside other Croatian producers and catch any limited releases.

Na zdravlje uz LAB Split Barba! Here’s to Dalmatia’s finest craft brewery — and to the uncle who always knows where to find the best beer in town.