Jūrmala is not only about sea and river waters, floodplain meadows, marshes, and some of the most fragrant forests in Latvia. It is also home to two independent craft breweries that add a distinctive flavour profile – and a hoppy twist – to the city.

Konkordija Brewery is a family-run business that brews sincere, naturally nuanced beers with the true spirit of Jūrmala in every sip.
Prusaks is a creative laboratory where classical brewing methods intertwine with bold experimentation and an artistic approach to each beer.

Here are five questions for Jūrmala’s brewers – a chance to glimpse not just through the bottle glass but into the soul of these breweries.

1. If your beer were a character – who would it be? A quiet thinker with a bitter aftertaste, a bohemian dreamer, or an old Jūrmala local with a mug in hand and a fisherman’s tale in every sip?
Konkordija: Our beer would be the old Jūrmala local. Not bitter and worried, but warm-hearted, full of stories and with a great sense of humour. That’s exactly what our beer is – natural and genuine.
Prusaks: We’re still not sure ourselves whether Prusaks beer would be more of a romantic cynic or a cynical romantic. Of the characters you mention, it probably comes closest to the bohemian dreamer – with a touch of anarchism. The old Jūrmala locals, on the other hand, bring to mind either a 100g of brandy at the “Astoņkājis” (Octopus) café on J. Pliekšāna Street or a “Vārpa” Senču beer at the kiosk on Turaidas Street.

2. Where does the name of your brewery come from – was it an accidental inside joke or a story with deeper roots?
Konkordija: “Konkordija” means harmony – between people, flavours, and the work we do together as a family. It’s no coincidence, but rather our philosophy on life and brewing. And the fact that our first batches of beer were brewed on Konkordijas Street makes it all the more special.
Prusaks: The name has deep roots – in the 1980s, one of our shareholder’s grandmothers worked in Jūrmala as a pest and insect control specialist, inspecting sanatoriums, hotels and rest houses of all-Union importance, fighting off rodents and insects, including cockroaches (prusaks in Latvian). The other part of the name harks back to the old Latvian saying, “Drunk as a cockroach” (“Nodzēries kā prusaks”).

3. What does a day in your brewery look like? If it were a playlist – what would be the first song to play when the beer starts bubbling?
Konkordija: When the first warm-up notes sound in the tanks, it would be Simon & Garfunkel’s The Sound of Silence – because it’s in that quiet where real magic happens.
Prusaks: Each day is different, depending on the tasks at hand. But the constant is the first step – heating water, whether for brewing, cleaning tanks or disinfecting equipment. This routine helps us get into rhythm and structure the day. On brewing days, the background track would be Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now – a slow build-up, then unstoppable motion and a relaxed finish, just in time to catch the last train to Riga. On bottling days – it’s all about that old-school hip-hop groove.

4. If your most popular beer were a journey – where would it take us, and what should one absolutely not miss?
Konkordija: It would lead to a peaceful evening on the Jūrmala beach – a picnic where the sand is still warm, the sea rustles, and the sunset paints your glass in amber hues. Don’t miss that first sip that reminds you how simple and beautiful life can be.
Prusaks: A trip to Tukums. There, the highlight is connecting with every personality you meet along the way – including yourself. Also, don’t miss the chance to speak some English.

5. In your view, is Jūrmala the best place in the world to brew beer? And if so – is it the sea air, the quiet of the dunes, or something more unexpected that makes it special?
Konkordija: Jūrmala is our secret ingredient. It’s not just the sea air or the stillness of the dunes – it’s the feeling we pour into every glass. And the most valuable ingredient? The people who come, taste, and say: “This is the real deal.”
Prusaks: There are probably better places in the world to brew beer – but we haven’t found them yet. In Jūrmala, the sun always shines at just the right angle – that doesn’t happen anywhere else. It sets the mood, without which it’s hard to brew a good beer.