Debrecen4U
August 19, 2025
Carnival week kicked off in the Great Forest
Beer by Lake: the frothy drink is usually sold out due to the heat on the shores of Lake Békás. This is just the beginning…
The “maiden name” of the great Debrecen parade of “liquid bread” was the Czech Beer Festival for a long time. Then, for the first time, small Hungarian breweries appeared, demanding an increasingly larger role for themselves.
Rightly so, because this “genre” had already outgrown its early childhood illnesses and had become competitive in quality with the big ones. And yet, we could call the beginning terrible for a reason. There was indeed a pub in Debrecen where the liquid they called beer was brewed on-site. But this was done in such a way that a person with good sense and a nose could not only not enter the pub but even run across the street to escape the smell.
But this is an episode from a far from glorious past; today, many domestic breweries of suitable quality are operating successfully. Thus, in the spirit of the new times, the gastro-cultural event, renamed Beer by Lake, also promotes Hungarian quality beer gastronomy in the Great Forest environment, allowing the surroundings of Lake Békás and the unique charm of Nagyerdei Park to once again encompass the event. The free, nationally significant beer gastronomy event will once again provide quality time and cloudless entertainment, the latter literally, according to the forecasts.
Guests can participate in thematic walks, where they can learn about the various beers, breweries, flavors, and exciting customs related to their preparation. Domestic craft breweries have traditionally joined Beer by Lake’s international malt selection, which is why, and due to the increase in visitor numbers, the venue has doubled in size in recent years. The beer garden is gaining popularity every year, attracting tourists from across the region and the country.
Once again, we discovered that Hajdú-Bihar and even Debrecen can offer their own beer. We won’t go hungry either, because there is also a quality street food offer available. Moreover, if you want, you can also drink pálinka, which can achieve very quick “results” in this temperature.
On the first day, the girls from the Diamond Fitness Sports Association and the Happy-Time Dance School ensured that both the smaller and larger parts of the audience had a good time and got them moving. Of course, Czech beers are still present on the shores of Lake Békás; one of the drink’s ancestral homelands cannot be missing here. Because what would this festive occasion be without them?
After all, the brave Czechs have even created a cult of their own out of taps; they know and use several methods. One of the four most famous is “hladinka,” where the foam is first created and then the beer is poured underneath, creating a silky drink under a three-finger layer of foam. With “na dvakrát,” everything happens the other way around; the result is more carbonated, and “Mlíko” is practically a mug of thick foam with some beer. Of course, there are those who say, “Who needs foam? Just fill it to the brim with beer”; this is called a “čochtan.”
As for prices, in the case of drinks from Czech masters, a glass of beer costs around HUF 1,000, and a mug costs around HUF 1,500 after investing in the recycled glass or mug. Craft beers can be found at a higher price range; for example, a small canned creation can cost up to HUF 2,500.
What remains striking and what makes the beer festival in the Great Forest a truly family-friendly event is its exemplary comfort. So, when the evening falls, everyone can indulge in the pleasures. Visitors can do enjoy the festival “Beer by Lake” until August 20.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
