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Nova Runda: Zagorje’s Pioneer Craft Brewery and Croatia’s Hop-Forward Heartland

Bok! Welcome to a closer look at Nova Runda — one of Croatia’s earliest and most respected craft breweries, hailing not from Zagreb or Dalmatia, but from the rolling hills of Zagorje. Founded in 2014 in the town of Zabok, Nova Runda helped prove that great Croatian craft beer didn’t have to come from the capital.

The name “Nova Runda” translates simply as “New Round” — an invitation to pour another, to discover something new, to gather around a great beer with good people. That philosophy is baked into everything the brewery does, from their boldly hopped IPAs to their community-first approach to brewing.

What makes Nova Runda stand out in a crowded Croatian craft scene is their unwavering commitment to hop character. Their flagship C4 IPA — named after the four C-hops at its core — became a benchmark for Croatian IPA quality. Let’s explore the brewery that helped put Zagorje on the craft beer map.

Round One: The History of Nova Runda

Nova Runda was founded in 2014 in Zabok, a small city in the Krapina-Zagorje County north of Zagreb. At the time, Croatia’s craft beer scene was just beginning to find its feet, and most of the action was concentrated in Zagreb. Nova Runda’s founders chose Zagorje deliberately — they wanted to build something rooted in their home region, bringing world-class craft beer to an area better known for its castles, vineyards, and thermal spas than its breweries.

From the outset, the brewery committed to American craft beer influences — bold hops, generous dry-hopping, and styles built for flavour rather than mass-market appeal. Their timing was excellent: Croatia’s growing middle class was becoming more adventurous in its drinking habits, and craft beer was beginning to replace wine and domestic lagers at the tables of younger, food-curious consumers.

The C4 IPA became Nova Runda’s calling card — a beer so confident in its hop identity that it named itself after the explosive hop combination inside it. Word spread quickly. Zagreb’s craft beer bars started stocking Nova Runda taps, and the brewery found itself supplying a national audience from its Zagorje base. Today Nova Runda stands as proof that great Croatian craft beer has no postcode.

The Taste: Nova Runda’s Hop-Forward Lineup

Nova Runda’s philosophy is simple: brew beers that lead with hop character, without sacrificing balance or drinkability. Their range stays tight and focused:

Core Range

• C4 IPA (6.1% ABV): The brewery’s flagship and most celebrated beer. Brewed with four iconic American hops — Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, and Citra — C4 delivers an explosion of citrus, pine, and tropical fruit. The bitterness is assertive but not aggressive, and the dry-hopped aroma is intoxicatingly fresh. This is the beer that put Nova Runda on the Croatian craft map.
• Nova Runda APA (American Pale Ale): A softer, more approachable entry point into the Nova Runda world. The APA showcases similar hop profiles to the C4 but at a lower ABV and bitterness level — making it the perfect gateway beer for drinkers crossing from lager territory into craft. Refreshing, aromatic, and extremely drinkable.

Seasonal & Special Releases

Nova Runda periodically releases limited beers tied to seasons and collaborations with other Croatian craft producers. These are typically available at craft beer festivals and select venues, giving enthusiasts reason to keep checking back.

Beyond the Beer: Nova Runda’s Place in Croatian Craft Culture

• Regional Pioneer: By establishing itself outside Zagreb, Nova Runda demonstrated that Croatian craft brewing could thrive in smaller cities and regional centres — a template other breweries have since followed.
• Hop Education: The C4 IPA’s naming convention turned a beer label into a hop education moment — introducing Croatian drinkers to the specific varieties that make American-style IPAs so distinctive.
• Festival Presence: Nova Runda has been a consistent presence at Zagreb Beer Fest and other Croatian craft beer events, helping to build community around the growing local brewing scene.
• Zagorje Identity: In a region famous for tourism and traditional culture, Nova Runda adds a modern, craft dimension — one that resonates with younger visitors and locals seeking contemporary Croatian experiences.

Perfect Pairings: Nova Runda Beers with Food

• C4 IPA + Spicy Grilled Meat: The assertive bitterness of C4 cuts through the fat and char of grilled sausages, lamb chops, or spiced burgers. A natural pairing for a Croatian BBQ (roštilj).
• C4 IPA + Strong Cheese: Aged sheep’s cheese (paški sir) or any pungent hard cheese is a classic match for a well-bittered IPA. The hop resins balance the richness beautifully.
• Nova Runda APA + Fried Calamari or Fish: The lighter, citrusy APA is ideal with fried seafood — refreshing between bites without overpowering delicate flavours.
• Nova Runda APA + Pizza or Flatbreads: A crowd-pleasing pairing — the pale ale’s hop brightness lifts the richness of tomato sauce and melted cheese effortlessly.

Finding Nova Runda Beers

• Craft Beer Bars in Zagreb: Nova Runda beers regularly appear on tap at Zagreb’s dedicated craft venues — look for them at specialist craft bars and taprooms across the capital.
• Croatian Craft Beer Festivals: Zagreb Beer Fest and other national events are the best places to encounter Nova Runda’s seasonal and limited releases alongside their core range.
• Zagorje Region: Local bars and restaurants in Zabok and the surrounding Krapina-Zagorje area are naturally well-stocked with Nova Runda — the home crowd drinks well.
• Bottle Shops & Specialty Retailers: A growing number of Croatian craft beer specialty stores stock Nova Runda cans and bottles — check dedicated beer shops in Zagreb and other major cities.

Na zdravlje uz Nova Runda! Here’s to the Zagorje brewery that proved you don’t need to be in the capital to make Croatia’s best craft beer.