Slovenian town to build beer fountain

Visitors to a small town in Slovenia could soon have their pints poured from a fountain rather than a pub, if plans for a fountain that spouts beer instead of water go ahead.

Hops in Zalec, known as the Valley of Green Gold

The town of Zalec is pressing ahead with its plans for a beer fountain, despite opposition from local councillors, with its mayor describing it as the first of its kind in Europe. Located in central Slovenia Zalec is known as the “valley of green gold” due to the abundance of hop plantations that surround it.

Pitched as a tourist attraction, the fountain will spout a variety of Slovenian beers with visitors able to pay six euros for three 30cl (10.5 fl oz) servings, which comes with a commemorative mug.

The cost of the fountain has been estimated at about €350,000 (£266,000), and will be funded by the town council and donations from private individuals. 

Some councillors had opposed the beer fountain objecting to the amount of money it will cost, arguing the funds could be put to better use. They attempted to block the plans at a council meeting last week, but were outvoted by two-thirds of their colleagues.

“It’s true the fountain won’t be cheap”, said the town’s mayor, Janko Kos. “But it’s a development project, a tourism product,” he told Slovenia’s Dnevnik news website.