Alaus Biblioteka (Beer Library)

Alaus Biblioteka, meaning 'Beer Library', is a craft beer bar at Trakų gatvė 4 in the Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania. As the name suggests, the concept is a catalogue of beers to be browsed and sampled, with an emphasis on Lithuanian craft breweries represented across both draught taps and a long bottle list. The crowd is mostly beer enthusiasts, locals meeting friends and curious visitors, usually in their twenties to fifties, and the dress code is casual. The atmosphere is calm and conversational, closer to a pub or tasting room than a party venue, and music is kept in the background so that staff and fellow drinkers can discuss the beers. The drinks programme is the heart of the venue: Lithuanian craft ales, lagers, stouts and seasonal specials rotate through the taps, and the staff typically help newcomers choose by taste. Prices generally fall between €3.50 and €6 per glass, making it an affordable way to try a range of regional styles. Those unfamiliar with Lithuanian brewing traditions can use the visit to compare modern craft interpretations with the farmhouse-influenced styles for which the country is known. Opening hours run from 17:00 to midnight daily, so the bar is an evening venue rather than an afternoon stop, and there is little difference between weeknight and weekend closing times, although Friday and Saturday evenings are busier and seats near the bar fill first. There is no cover charge. Reservations are rarely necessary for small parties, though larger groups may wish to ask ahead, and bottle service is not part of the format; drinks are ordered and paid for in the usual pub manner. The Trakų street address sits among the lanes between the main Old Town thoroughfares, so the bar combines easily with a walk through the historic centre before or after dinner.