iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Change of pace today with a drive out to the Gloucestershire / Oxfordshire border to see the Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) Very poor photo included!

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

The holiday, according to untappd.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Final bar of the trip is another close to the station, Pudel Baar. Around 15 on tap, but only a couple of Estonian. Worth taking a quick look, but there are much better bars in the vicinity.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Second stop is Uba Ja Humal. Great modern bar just outside the old town. Very international list of beers on the 20 taps. Only 4 Estonian beers, and I've had two of them, so some rule breaking on my flight. Sorry, not sorry.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Flying solo on one last push for my target bars. 15 minute walk from the hotel brings me to Pühaste Taproom. Bar in old, stone built, industrial unit. Grain hoppers loom overhead. 18 taps available in 0.2l pours.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

It's a minutes walk to my initial intended destination, Kleo. Cafe and beer bar with 8 taps plus packaged list. The toasties are really good!

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Wandering through the old town, heading to the next bar on my list, and saw a sign for Brew Beer Bar. Small bar down an alley and the first place I've seen beers from Tanker Brewery.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

It's a public holiday here today and I've just found out that the other brewpub that I'd hoped to visit is closed. Might not be the first casualty of the day.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Last full day of the trip and energy is at a premium. Having a slow wander around and have made our first bar stop at Hop&Hen, a beer stall in Viru Keskus shopping centre food hall. 12 taps of beer served in 0.4. Spotted too late that they do flights. 🤦

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

A minute from the hotel is The Dubliner. Normally a pub I'd avoid but the people I met assured us that it wasn't that bad, that the food was good, and that there were Estonian beers available. So here we are. Ticks are macro, but it's convenient after a long day.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Back in to town and met up again with Mrs MA at Koht. There's a bottle shop part on the street with the bar just down the alley. Currently 9 on tap, 4 Estonian. Flights of 5 x 0.1 available.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Walk and tram to the furthest point out of town, Tuletorn Taproom. There's a local party going on outside but it's quiet in the bar where they have 8 of their own tap with 4 x 0.1 flights available.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Headed back out of town to Vaat Taproom & Brewery. A local in the previous bar wasn't convinced that they actually brew here. On arrival was told that no tap beers are available. Gone with a can to tick the brewery and venue. Visit at your own risk...

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Stop 3 is Põhja Konn, bar near the station owned by Põhjala. 20 taps with half their own. I've got a flight of 5 x 0.1 which includes 4 new breweries and my first Sahti beer.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Flying solo for a few hours, starting at Humalakoda, a brewpub in the market opposite the station. 18 beers on tap of which 2/3 are theirs. Flights of 4 x 0.15 are available.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

An interesting morning around the Maritime Museum, including my first time inside a submarine. As it happens a 15 minute stroll from there brings us to Põhjala Brewery & Taproom. Amazing space offering 24 on tap. Thankfully they offer flights!

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Got Mrs MA back to the hotel and I continued down the road for a minute to check out Drink Bar & Grill. The tap list gave a couple of Estonian options, but the reality is that all bar about 4 draft beers are off. Luckily there is a decent packaged selection and I've picked up a new brewery in can.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

A couple of minutes back towards the hotel is Mikkeller Tallinn Old Town. Exactly what you would expect. 16 taps that does at least include some Estonian beers.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The hotel had a room for us, which, as we found in Vilnius, doesn't always prove to be the case! Now we've started exploring and, conveniently, there is a brewpub a few minutes from the hotel. Beer House is styled like a German beer hall and with 6 of their own beers, available as a 6 x 0.25 flight.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

And so we change on to our final train of the trip. Cross platform change at the border station of Valga on to the Tallinn train.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Our final day of rail travel. Departing Riga and I suspect most of you have worked out the final destination.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

The next street over brings us to our last Riga bar, Brooklyn Pub & Whiskey Room. Sports bar with around 25 taps, a lot not in use, and only a few Latvian beers. Ended up with two Latvian macro beers, but they're new and a tick is a tick.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Just along the street is Alus Muiža, small bar with 10 taps, all Latvian. 0.3 or 0.5 pours only. A fridge of packaged beers also available.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

A couple of streets away is BEERA Bar Riga, bottle shop and bar with 12 taps although only 4 are Latvian. All beers have a price for 100ml allowing you to have a flight of as many as you would like.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Another short taxi ride to stop 3, Gauja, a locals bar with only 4 beers on the list, but there is food, which there doesn't seem to be at the next three bars... The house lager is brewed by Viedi.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

It's raining! I repeat. It's raining! Around the corner is Labietis, brewery and tap room. 16 of their own tap plus packaged. No flights unfortunately.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

After a morning of sightseeing we have now decided it's time for beer. A taxi ride about a mile out of town where stop one is Valmiermuižas alus Tirgotava, a bottle shop and bar that is a tap for Valmiermuižas brewery. 24 taps with a third for their beers and the rest guests.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Final bar tonight is Ms&Mr Beer. A bar with 8 taps. Drinking with a Czech and two kiwis...

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Mrs MA is safe in the hotel and I'm doing the other two bars close to the hotel. First up is KAĶIS MAISĀ, a basement bar with 15 taps. 5 x 0.1 flights available.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Ten minutes to get to the final stop in this part of town, Nurme Brewery and Taproom. Huge brick building in an industrial area with the brewery adjacent. 12 taps and the offer of either 4 x 0.1 or 6 x 0.1 flights.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Another 4 minute walk up the same street brings us to Alus Rūme Trofeja, the taproom of Trofeja brewery. 10 taps, mostly their own plus a guest. Small indoor space and very pleasant beer garden.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Less than 5 minutes up the road is Nurme Bar, run by the brewery, with 7 of their beers on tap. Cosy, chilled space.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

We've taken a taxi a bit of town where there a few bars to try. First up is Trīs vīri laivā which translates as Three Men in A Boat. Very much a locals bar with a couple of interesting beers available. 0.5l only.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Pretty much opposite is Labientis. Stall with their own seating, at a premium in the hall. Seven of their beers on tap and around 50 packaged beers in the fridge.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

First port of call today is the very impressive Central Market, a series of hangar like buildings filled with all manner of food stalls. Two breweries have stalls here, the first one is Iļģuciema. A vast array of taps all set up to fill plastic bottles but it is possible to buy beer by the 0.5l.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

It's very busy here! We managed to make our way along the packed river to Stargorod brewpub. It's chaos! But we've managed to get a table and order the tasting set off their 5 beers.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Another short stagger to Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs, a cavernous cellar bar that goes on and on plus music venue. Around 25 beers on tap with 5 x 0.15 flights available.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Riga is very busy today as it is the city's birthday celebrations but a 5 minute walk in to some back streets escapes the crowds. Next stop is MyBeer / Mans Alus a bar in an old stone building. Lots of taps, but difficult to gauge how many beers are on as a lot seem out of action. Only 0.5l pours.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

We've taken a 2 minute stroll then the road, skipping KwakInn as it is a Belgian bar and come instead to Two More Beers. Bar run by the brewery of the same name, and the same as the one in Islington. 27 taps around half of which are Latvian. Flights of 3 or 5 x 0.1 are available.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

The architectural and beer exploring of Riga has commenced. First stop is Colonel Brewpub & Kitchen. They only do two beers, light and dark.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Our room has a kitchen, a living room and an office...

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

New country number two. Hello Riga!

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Back on the rails again today. Early departure from Vilnius. Onwards, ever onwards.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

15 minute walk to my final Vilnius bar, 3 Staliukai ir telikas. Expected more. 5 on tap, 2 Lithuanian that I've already had. Gone with the new, to me, German brewery.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Another 10 minute walk back towards the centre and I'm at Šnekutis. Around 30 taps of Lithuanian beers, difficult to tell exactly. No flights unfortunately. Very, very busy and clearly popular with a queue at the bar.

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Stephen Jackson @musinganorak.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Next up is Dėvėti. This is an Untappd verified venue that has around 20 taps but which are mostly macro. Three beers listed as their own, clearly brewed under contract elsewhere. Worst bar I've visited in the city so far.

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