One of the popular types of drinks that can be found on the shelves of domestic stores is Belarusian beer. The product of this country differs from analogues of Russian or Kazakhstan production. The fact is that at one time Belarus refused to sign a regulation on beer products operating in the territory of the Customs Union. Most of the products of this country are bottled in a special PET container, while the drink contains more natural ingredients and a minimum of malt extracts. Today, you can safely take any Belarusian beer on the shelves of stores, reviews of most brands characterize the products of the factories of this country from a positive point of view.
The history of brewing in Belarus
Brewing in Belarus has a rich tradition. Even in the old days, craftsmen produced magnificent foamy drinks on the so-called Brovary. Beer is a traditional alcohol for this country, along with honey. At the same time, it was considered a democratic drink, which was available to the widest sections of the population. Basically, the peasants themselves produced products in their courtyards. In the old days there was a saying "go from milestone to milestone", which meant traveling, backed by foam on the farms. The fact is that the peasants who produced beer kept in their yard a special pole, a milestone, on top of which a bundle of straw was placed. This was considered the mark of the master, by which the traveler could understand that here he can relax and have a good drink.
Chronicles of the XV-XVI centuries indicate that Belarusian soldiers, who were then part of the army of the Commonwealth, drank 2.5 liters of beer a day. By the 18th century, a tradition appeared to dispense a foamy drink into glass bottles, and its consumption became fashionable among the upper classes.
Today, the principle of the ancient Brovar’s action can be found in the Dudutki Museum-Reserve, which serves Belarusian beer according to authentic recipes.
Beer industry of Belarus
Today, the main export destination for Belarusian brewers is Russia. The standards of many European countries exclude the possibility of bottling products in PET containers, which are used at most plants in this country. In Russia recently, as a result of an active anti-alcohol campaign, plastic packaging is gradually disappearing from store shelves. However, this does not mean that Belarusian beer will soon be impossible to buy. The producers of this country are effective in solving problems and are changing the bottling technology.
Today in Belarus there is no single monopolist. The main production volume falls on 6 large plants, each of which occupies its own market segment.
About 40% of production falls on the state-owned company Krynica. In addition, a large volume is produced by the Minsk company Alivarya and the company Syabar, the majority of the shares of which were bought by the Heineken concern. Among the regional producers it is worth noting Lidskoye, Rechitsapivo and Brestskoye Pivo.
Products of the enterprise "Krynitsa"
"Krynitsa" was founded during the Soviet Union in 1975. Today the company produces more than 10 varieties of products, including Belarusian draft beer in kegs, products in PET containers and glass.
The most popular is the classic line "Krynitsa", consisting of three varieties. These light lagers are affordable and traditional in their recipe.
Of the varieties containing rye malt, it is worth noting the brands "Vyazinske" and "Burshtyn Belarus." The visiting card of the plant at many international competitions was “Starazhytnay”, cooked according to the original recipe with the addition of natural kvass. Despite the complexity of the idea, the technologists managed to establish mass bottling in glass bottles of such a non-standard grade.
Products "Alivarya"
The Minsk company Alivarya has the richest history in Belarus. The founder of this plant was the German count Karol Gutten-Chapsky, who launched production back in 1864. The company earned with renewed vigor in 1994 after the collapse of the USSR. Today, the products of this plant are most valued on the international market, and brands such as Extra and Porter have been recognized as major exhibitions in Belgium and Australia.
After the shares of the plant were acquired by the giant of the beer industry Carlsberg Group, Belarusian beer of this brand appeared in large numbers on the shelves of Russian stores. Varieties "White", "Dark" and "Classical" are presented in liter PET containers and differ from domestic counterparts using natural malt used in wort cooking.
Products of regional manufacturers
Among the regional companies, Lidskoye and Rechitsapivo are particularly different. These plants appeared during the Soviet Union. They produce a variety of beers: Belarusian "Zhigulevskoe", "Dark", "Velvet" and other varieties. Particularly noteworthy are porters from the Lidskoye company, which have been repeatedly marked at prestigious international exhibitions. The Rechinsky factory also specializes in the production of low-cost varieties bottled in 0.5-liter glass bottles.