Alter is a new light lager from Nikšić’s Trebjesa Pivara, unveiled on May 8, 2026, the year the company celebrates 130 years of brewing tradition. Nikšić’s Trebjesa Pivara is one of Montenegro’s most recognizable breweries. The new product was officially unveiled to journalists on the brewery’s premises, highlighting the symbolic connection between the 1896 legacy and modern consumer tastes.
From Onogošt to Trebjesa: How Nikšić’s Beer History Began
Onogošt is the historical name of the city of Nikšić in Montenegro.
The word has no modern translation in Montenegrin (Serbian), as it is an ancient toponym. Its origin and meaning:
- Historical name of the city: This was the name of a medieval Slavic settlement built on the site of the ancient Roman military camp of Anagastum.
- Version of origin: The name is often associated with the Gothic name Anagast (the 5th-century general Anagast).
- Meaning in folklore: In some local legends and regional texts, the name is poetically translated as “fortress walls,” as the ancient fortress of Bedem stands on this site today.
In the mid-15th century, the city was renamed Nikšić in honor of a Montenegrin tribe, but “Onogošt” still appears in the names of local companies, sports teams, and cultural sites.
The history of Nikšić beer begins in 1896, when Vuko Jankov Krivokapić, with the support of Prince Nikola, founded the first brewery called “Onogošt.” According to Trebjesa Brewery itself, Vuko’s father, Janko Krivokapić, provided the funds for this risky project, while Prince Nikola authorized the construction of Montenegro’s first “bira factory” and exempted the enterprise from duties on imported equipment, raw materials, and beer taxes.
These details already convey the brand’s local character: the brewery was born not as a faceless factory, but as a bold family and municipal initiative. According to Trebjesa’s official history, Krivokapić’s beer quickly supplanted mead, previously considered the favorite drink of Montenegrins, and in June 1900, Prince Nikola awarded Vuko a gold medal “for zeal.”
Then the story became more complicated. In 1902, due to business difficulties, Vuko and Janko Krivokapić sold three-quarters of their ownership to a group of prominent entrepreneurs for 76,000 crowns. In 1909, the company became the joint-stock company “Crnogorska pivara Onogošt.” Even earlier, in 1908, due to growing demand, a group of Nikšić merchants and artisans founded a new brewery called “Trebjesa”—a name that has remained to this day.
For Montenegro, Trebjesa became more than just a brewery. In 1932, the brewery received its first international awards in Paris—the Honorary Diploma of the City of Paris, the Golden Cross, and the Gold Medal. According to the company itself, dozens of other domestic and international recognitions followed. Today, Nikšićko and Trebjesa are affiliated with the Molson Coors group, bringing international standards, technology, and market share to the local tradition.
Assortment: from classic Nikšićko to new experiments
The Trebjesa family of beers has long been associated primarily with lagers. In 2019, the brewery itself, introducing Nikšićko IPA, wrote that in addition to IPA, its product line also included Nikšićko Pivo, Nikšićko Tamno, Nikšićko Gold, Nikšićko Nefiltrirano, and Nikšićko Cool. At the time, the IPA was described as the first ale beer in Nikšićko’s portfolio—an important step for a brewery known primarily for lagers.
Trebjesa also lists other brands in its portfolio on its official website: Apatinsko, Beck’s, Blue Moon, Carling Cider, Franciscan Well Rebel Red, Hoegaarden, Jelen, Leffe Blonde, Leffe Brune, Löwenbräu, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Staropramen, Stella Artois, and Worthington’s White Shield. This demonstrates that the company operates not only as a producer of local Nikšićko, but also as part of a broader regional and international beer ecosystem.
Against this backdrop, Alter seems a logical continuation: not a rejection of the classics, but an attempt to respond to a new demand – a lighter, refreshing, visually modern product, but with Nikšić origins and the Trebjesa brewing tradition.
How Alter Came to Be
According to marketing manager Gordane Spahić, the launch of Alter was symbolically tied to the anniversary: the first 130 years of Trebjesa, as they put it, were marked by tradition, quality, and consumer trust, and the new product is meant to demonstrate the brewery’s ambition to remain the first choice in the future. The company directly links Alter to its heritage, but presents it as a new brand with a “lighter character” created for modern consumers.
The key idea behind Alter is “a different choice.” RTNK notes that the brand has a modern, distinctive design that aims to distinguish it from other beers on the market. In this sense, the name Alter functions in two ways: as a hint at an alternative to the familiar taste and as a sign of change within the Trebjesa tradition itself.
Technically, Alter is described as a light lager with 4.2% ABV. Jovan Vukić, Trebjesa’s Quality and Product Safety Manager, explained that the beer is made with three types of hops and a light fermentation at lower temperatures. It should have a clear, light golden color, with a moderate and stable head. The flavor profile is described as drinkable, fresh, and smoothly balanced, with malty notes and delicate, refreshing hop nuances.
Alter is already available in several formats: 0.5L cans, 0.33L fixed glass bottles, and draft beer. This is important: Trebjesa is launching this new product not as a niche experiment for display, but as a product for everyday situations—stores, bars, summer terraces, and evening gatherings.
Legends and Urban Atmosphere Surrounding Nikšić Beer
Nikšićko has always had a strong urban context. Nikšić itself grew up at the foot of Trebjesa, and the name Onogošt alludes to the city’s ancient history: Britannica writes that the Roman camp of Anagastum had been transformed into the name Onogošt by the 12th century, while the name Nikšić came into use later.
There are also more “folk” stories that fit beautifully into the atmosphere of an article about beer. For example, a local legend about the Tsar’s Bridge says that Prince Nikola ordered the bridge “gilded” by inserting a gold coin into each of its pillars. This isn’t a verifiable fact, but rather an urban legend, but it captures the Nikšić style of memory well: history here often lives not only in documents but also in stories told around the table.
Trebjesa is also the city’s green space. Trebjesa Park and Forest is called the “lungs of Nikšić”; Situated near the city center, it covers approximately 156 hectares and has been protected as a special natural landscape since 2000. Therefore, the brewery’s name evokes not only industrial but also natural imagery: a hill, a forest, air, a city stroll—followed by a glass of cold Nikšićko or the new Alter.
Why Alter is important
Alter is interesting not because it “breaks” tradition, but because it keeps it alive. Trebjesa has already experienced ownership changes, wars, modernization, international awards, and portfolio expansion. In 2024, Nikšićko again received the Monde Selection gold medal, and the company highlighted Nikšić’s nearly 130-year brewing tradition and the work of its brewers.
Therefore, Alter can be seen as an anniversary gesture: a beer for consumers who want a lighter taste but don’t want to lose their connection to the place. This is a modern lager from an old beer town—with a smooth 4.2% ABV, a fresh profile, and a visual language designed for a new generation. Its history is just beginning, but it’s not a new creation: behind it stands Onogošt from 1896, Trebjesa from 1908, the Parisian medals of 1932, and an entire culture of Nikšić beer.
