Haler Homestead

Haler Homestead is a farm-style guesthouse and craft brewery in the village of Olimje, in the municipality of Podčetrtek, in the Kozjansko hills of eastern Slovenia, close to the Croatian border. The area is best known for the Olimje Monastery and the Terme Olimia spa, and the homestead is one of several local places where visitors can eat, drink and learn about rural life. The setting is a landscape of soft hills, orchards and woods, with the Sotla river forming the border a short distance away, and the homestead has a view over the countryside.

The main attraction is the brewery. Slovenia has a surprisingly strong beer tradition for a country better known for wine: the Savinja valley around Žalec is one of the main hop-growing regions in Europe, and in recent years small craft breweries have opened across the country, producing beer in the traditional manner and experimenting with new styles. At Haler, beers are brewed on site, and the range includes a pale lager, a dark beer and other varieties, some of them with flavourings unusual for the region. Brewery tours, usually for groups and arranged in advance, show the stages of the process, from malt and hops to fermentation and bottling, and end with a tasting of the beers. Because tours are for booked groups, it is wise to contact the homestead ahead of time and to confirm days, times and cost.

The restaurant serves hearty food in the style of the region, with dishes such as roast meats, sausages, soups, dumplings and home-baked bread, made from local ingredients and often paired with the house beers. The guesthouse has a large dining room and an outdoor area with a beer garden, and it can accommodate big groups, which makes it popular for family gatherings, celebrations and organised trips. The relaxed rural setting encourages lingering over a meal, and in summer the terrace is a pleasant place to sit.

Haler fits naturally into a day around Olimje. Amon Homestead offers wine and organic food, Jelenov Greben has deer and a rustic restaurant, the Kozmus Beekeeping Farm sells honey, and the Museum of Farming Equipment shows old tools. The Olimje Chocolate Shop and The Witch's Hut appeal to families, and Terme Olimia Resort offers thermal pools. The best seasons are spring and summer, when the beer garden is open, and visitors who plan to drink should arrange a driver or a taxi, since the roads in the hills are winding and public transport is limited.