Which beer is better: draft or bottled? How to determine which type of beer sold in Russia is better. Quality criteria, what to pay attention to Which beer sells the most

In our country, people have been drinking beer, they are drinking it, and they probably will continue to drink it. Russians love him very much. This foamy drink was first brewed five thousand years ago. Since then, the technology for preparing liquid bread has changed dramatically, thanks to which beer today has a whole arsenal of piquant shades of taste and aroma. Everyone knows that Czech, German, and English brewers produce quality beer. They make it in Russia too. Today, the widest range of barley drinks is presented on the shelves of domestic supermarkets, and the consumer has a completely logical question: “How not to make a mistake and buy really good beer?” Before answering it, it would be useful to mention the benefits of liquid bread.

Useful properties

It would seem, what benefit can beer, which belongs to the category of alcoholic beverages, have? Actually it can.

The fact is that beer contains a lot of vitamins and antioxidants, which minimize the risk of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, hops contain polyphenolic substances that help lower blood cholesterol levels, prevent the development of cancer and destroy viruses.

Dark or light beer

However, it should be noted that dark varieties of barley drink have the above effects to a greater extent, and when consuming them one should not lose a sense of proportion. Thus, good beer is dark beer. But despite this, many Russian consumers prefer varieties of the “lager” category. For them, this is a good beer primarily because it tastes good.

But as for the usefulness, here it is reduced to a minimum, since lager at the stage of production, filtration and bottling loses its entire range of organic substances. According to experts, good beer is made from millet in Germany, since it is famous for its beneficial properties. The strongest ale is considered to be a symbiosis of the pleasant aroma of fruit and high concentration alcohol.

Surely few people do not know that good beer is produced in the Czech Republic and Germany. These countries are the trendsetters in the art of brewing.

Czech

The first foamy drink was produced in the Czech Republic back in 1088. At that time, beer was brewed exclusively at home. Later, small factories began to be built, and their owners united into workshops and established wholesale supplies of liquid bread. Then the Czech ruler, King Wenceslas, became convinced that this business was bringing good profits. And in 1118 he ordered the construction of the first large

Today, the best beer can be tasted in the Czech Republic, and all because the technology for preparing the foamy drink involves the use of only high-quality hops. Even German brewers come for it. Why is even better beer produced in the Czech Republic? The fact is that one of the main ingredients in production is environmentally friendly water, which is extracted from it. It is clean and soft.

It should be noted that Czech beer is divided into certain categories. In particular, there is a “ten” (wort content - 10%) and “twelve” (wort content - 12%). There are dark varieties of barley drink (brewed from dark malt), light (brewed from light malt), semi-dark (brewed from a mixture of light and dark malt), and the řezane variety (a combination of light and dark beer).

Today the best beer in the Czech Republic is Velkopopovicky Kozel, ("Velkopopovicky goat"), Staropramen ("Staropramen").

German

In Germany, the foamy drink began to be brewed in 1156.

There were no breweries then, and liquid bread was prepared in monasteries. Naturally, such production promised considerable profits. It is noteworthy that in medieval Germany beer was not considered an alcoholic drink: it was an alternative to plain water.

Ancient German brewing recipes involved the use of herbs and cereals. Of course, the taste of such a drink left much to be desired. Only in 1516 was the issue of beer purity resolved at the legislative level. In other words, any ingredients were prohibited in the preparation of beer - with the exception of malt, water and hops. And today you can see on the shelves of some stores a bottle of foamy drink with the inscription “1516”, and many modern gourmets believe that this is the best beer they have ever tried. When preparing liquid bread in Germany, the quality of the yeast is carefully monitored. There are two types of fermentation: bottom and top - in the first case, the drink is stored longer.

Of course, the range of German beer today is unusually huge. Which beer is the best - everyone decides individually, based on their preferences and preferences. Today consumers choose: Roggenbier (rye beer with an alcohol content of 5.5%), Schwarzbier (bottom-fermented product, very dark), Pilsner and Altbier (top- and bottom-fermented products with an alcohol content of 4-4.8%).

In Germany, light beer varieties are especially valued, and the top seller is the Krombacher brand.

Russian

The domestic brewing market is also striking in its scale. Statistics show that in 2012 alone, Russia produced about 10 million liters of foamy drink.

It should be noted that participants in the Russian beer market are mainly foreign companies. The lion's share of liquid bread is produced by the Baltika company (share - 37.4%). The second position in the market is occupied by the commercial structure Inbev (16.4%), the third - Heineken (11.7%). Also on the list of leaders in the field of domestic brewing are the companies Efes (share - 10.9%) and SABMiller (7.2%). The remaining part of the market is being taken over by lesser-known brands: their products, produced at regional mini-factories, are in high demand among Russian consumers.

Import of foreign beer is limited

Of course, there are also foreign companies on the Russian market that import foamy drinks from Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and other countries. However, given the tense political situation, the share of foreign beer is declining. Russian consumers have begun to purchase less beer from foreign brands, primarily because prices for foreign drinks have jumped at least once.

In our country, consumers prefer beer of the Zolotaya Bochka, Stary Melnik, Sibirskaya Korona, and Nevskoe brands.

Which beer is in high demand in Russia?

As statistics show, for most buyers the best beer in Russia is a light, low-strength drink packed in a glass bottle. About 83% of respondents prefer a light filtered drink, 7% prefer a light unfiltered drink. Only 10% of respondents said they liked dark beer. As already noted, most gourmets of the foamy drink prefer beer of medium strength (4.5-5%). About 10% of Russians choose strong beer, and only 3% of consumers buy exclusively soft drinks.

What is it like, fresh beer?

And of course, in our country they like to buy beer on tap. This drink is always fresh, which in itself is captivating. The best draft beer should be found in retail outlets located in close proximity to the factories that produce the foamy drink. Draft beer “Zhigulevskoe”, “Klinskoe”, “Admiralteyskoe” is in high demand.

Every year in the UK a competition is held among brewed beers from around the world. Experts evaluate the drink based on such basic qualities as the amount and time of foam settling, density, hop bitterness, malt aroma, etc. The 2013 competition was special as there were many Japanese beers among the winners.

Speaking of nominations, the best dark beer was recognized as the Belgian one under the Malheur 12 brand. The number indicates the strength of the beer. According to the producers themselves, the beer is brewed according to an ancient recipe from one of the European monastic orders. The title of best (or light beer) was awarded to a native of Foggy Albion called Sharp's Cornish Pilsner. To the great surprise of the audience, the best smoked beer was not recognized as varieties from Germany, France or Belgium. In 2013, the Japanese brand Tazawako Beer earned a similar title Rauch.

There were many more winners in more than 10 categories, but in terms of the jury's assessments, the most intoxicating drinks were produced in the UK, Japan, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Austria.

Quality available to Russian consumers

In Russia, beer is a very popular alcoholic drink. With a colossal assortment of Russian brands, there are also many foreign beers on the market, which are standard in the countries where they were brewed. First of all, we should note such a Czech manufacturer as Krusovice. This brand produces both classic light beer and a dark variety. Dark beer has a rich taste with a smoky aroma, which indicates high-quality roasting of malt, which is an integral part of the technological process when brewing dark varieties. The cost of one 0.5 liter bottle/can will cost the buyer around 150 rubles.

Great Britain is home to many types of beer, such as Guiness, Murphy's, Harp, St. Peters, etc. All these varieties can be bought in Russia, their price tag starts around 180 rubles. The latter brand is especially distinguished by its rich, centuries-old history. Beer under the St "Peters brand is produced in an ancient castle of the same name in Suffolk. Its basement is fully equipped for brewing. Hops and malt are grown by the same enterprise. Dark beer from this manufacturer (Cream Stout) has a rich dark color and a bright, unique taste and density. But in Russia, one of the most popular foreign varieties is Guiness beer, since it penetrated the country’s market first after the collapse of the USSR.

It is also worth noting that many Belgian, German, French, American and even Japanese types of beer are sold in Russia, which are simply impossible to list. A Russian connoisseur of intoxicating drinks will be able to find all these varieties on the shelves of large supermarkets in the country.

Today, the choice of beer on store shelves is so large that the inexperienced buyer is faced with the difficult question of what kind of beer in Russia is real, natural, and of high quality? It is easy to get confused in the variety of varieties, brands and brands offered. Moreover, manufacturers indicate standard information on the labels, from which it is quite difficult to glean anything useful.

Priority – natural beer

What should the buyer focus on? How to choose products that will please you with taste, will not disappoint in terms of quality, and will not harm your health? First of all, you should make sure that the beer does not contain any additional artificial ingredients. However, unfortunately, the situation is such that manufacturers are not always honest in this matter and information about any additives is not always present on the label. Therefore, the end consumer can be easily misled about the naturalness of the drink.

In addition, even when using exclusively natural ingredients, many other factors influence the final result and quality of the finished beer. The taste of the drink, in addition to the quality of water and the type of yeast, depends, among other things, on the proportions in which they are used, adherence to brewing technology, the skill of the brewers and much more. It is very important to comply with the preparation conditions according to brewing technology, when the slightest deviation can provoke undesirable consequences, which will result in a poor-quality drink.

Signs of beer quality

Considering the above, the best solution would be not to trust too much information on labels and official websites of manufacturers. The right decision is to focus on your own feelings. You can determine which beer in Russia is real, natural and of high quality, based on some signs, for example:

• High-quality beer should not seem watery, even light varieties should have a pronounced body;
• Alcohol should not stick out in the taste the way it is realized, for example, in “Baltika No. 9” or in “Strong Hunting”. The brewer's skill in this case lies in skillfully masking the repulsive alcohol taste;

Also You can conduct the following experiments in order to identify substitutes in beer:

You need to add some amount of acetic acid to the beer. The vinegar will instantly react with, which will fall to the bottom of the container in the form of sediment. Vinegar should be added until the reaction stops. After this, you will have to taste the liquid and if there is bitterness in it, it means the composition of the beer has been enriched with some kind of natural substitute.

The second method allows you to detect trinitrophenol or picric acid in beer, which can also be added there instead by an unscrupulous manufacturer. Picric acid, even in small quantities, can cause kidney damage and also provoke skin diseases. To determine it in the composition of the drink, you need to place a piece of white cloth in a pan and boil it in the selected beer for 10 minutes. After boiling, the fabric should be rinsed under cold water, and then pay attention to its color. If the color has changed and turned yellow, the specified chemical is present in the beer, and the brighter the color, the higher the concentration of picric acid in the beer. However, it should be noted that such a reaction today is difficult to observe even in the case of fairly inexpensive drinks.

There is a widespread belief among beer lovers that you can choose real, natural and high-quality beer in Russia based on price. The logic in this case is this: good things cannot be cheap. But the problem is that the opposite statement is also false and expensive beer does not necessarily meet quality standards. Today, in the cost of the final product, manufacturers can include items that have nothing to do with quality: advertising campaign, external packaging design, branding, and so on.

Beer market experts point to another sign by which the quality of beer is determined. This is the scale of its production. Lately, attention has been focused on, which, as a rule, is produced by small breweries. Such beer is in many cases considered an example of a truly natural, high-quality drink. It is no coincidence that in 2015 in the rating of the very competent beer portal Ratebeer, it was the varieties that won and craft breweries among all representatives of the domestic brewing industry.

The literal translation of the phrase “Craft Beer” means “craft beer.” From this we can conclude that this is a product of small breweries with not a very large volume of output. In Europe and the USA, the development and entry of craft breweries into the market has almost reached its apogee, but in Russia this trend is only gaining strength. Although in Russia there are already dozens of production facilities that specialize in craft brewing.

Thus, in 2015, the Russian version of Ratebeer took the lead with the bright name “ Ivan Kozhedub"presented by the Moscow brewery Victory Art Brew, which had previously won several victories in other significant competitions. According to the results of the past year, the craft brewery Zagovor Brewery was also recognized as the best production.

The top ten leaders in this area today are as follows:

1. AF Brew– stands among the pioneers in the Russian craft brewing market;
2. Bakunin– the brewery, located in St. Petersburg, became famous for its “Laughing Sam” ale;
3. Brickstone– specializes in lagers, located in Moscow;
4. Drakkar– located in St. Petersburg;
5. Jaws- the progenitor of the new beer movement in the Urals. Located in the Sverdlovsk region;
6. La Beerint- a contract brewery from Obninsk specializes in original recipes. How much does “Champagne beer Berezka” cost?
7. Victory Art Brew– the manufacturer already mentioned above from the Moscow region;
8. “One Ton” from the town of Zhukovsky near Moscow presents a wide range of products, which include lagers and ales;
9. Vasileostrovskaya Brewery– specializes in beer, original recipes. We have already brewed in an article about dubbel “,” brewed by this brewery;
10. Salden's– Tula private brewery – the best new brewery according to Ratebeer;

These brands are worth paying attention to for those who are looking for an answer to the question of what kind of beer in Russia is real, natural, and of high quality. And be sure to write about your thoughts and preferences on this topic.

Russians drink up to a million liters of different types of beer every year. Due to the availability of a large number of brands, it is difficult to choose the best beer in terms of quality and taste. But based on the criteria that determine quality, it is possible to make a rating of the best beer drink in Russia.

Natural beer is considered the best. You can make a rating based on the results of test purchases and the purchasing preferences of Russians.
Natural beer has the following characteristics:
foam;
color index;
aroma;
taste quality.

The foam of natural beer should be white and remain on the sides of the glass. High-quality light beer should not have any foreign matter. It is characterized by a certain transparency and shine. In dark beers there is a dullness and no shine. This beer has a brownish tint.

The aroma of real beer should contain hops and freshness. Taking into account the taste qualities, light beer has a bitter aftertaste of hops, and dark beer has a sweet aftertaste. But each buyer has his own requirements for beer.

The TOP 10 most delicious beer drinks in Russia include:

10. "Goat"

This classic beer is easy to drink and has a pleasant taste with a gentle bitterness that blends easily with the caramel notes of the malt. The beer has a delicate aroma and a golden hue.

This bottom-fermented beer has been produced in the Czech Republic since 1874. Currently it is produced under license in Russia and other European countries. The product is available in glass bottles of 0.5 and 0.7 l, as well as in aluminum cans of 0.5 l.

Types of beer:
Svetly;
Medium;
Premium;
Cerny.

9. “Afanasy Homemade”

This is a filtered and live beer that is not pasteurized. It has a dark brown color with a creamy foam and a subtle aroma. “Afanasy Homemade” is sold on tap or in bottles.

This is a variation of "Live Beer". Filtered beer can be stored for up to 17 days. Ricey aroma, white foam, light taste, slightly dry sourness - a plus of Afanasy Domashny.

8. “Baltika No. 6”

This Russian beer is dark brown in color with a red tint. The foam has a creamy, brownish color with a strong damp smell. In the taste you can feel notes of coffee, caramel, prunes, burnt sugar.

Since 2008, “Baltika No. 6 Porter” and “Baltika No. 8 Wheat” have been combined into one series – “Baltika Favorites”. This new look beer has an original combination. It is brewed with high quality ingredients. Due to its good taste, you can drink it in large quantities without rushing.

Dark beer is brewed according to old English recipes from respectable varieties of hops and according to a special recipe. Unlike Baltika 6, Baltika 8 has thick dense foam, a soft fruity aroma and a slight sweetness. Since March 2009, the “Baltika Favorites” series has also included “Baltika No. 4 Original”.

7. "Ochakovo"

This is a light filtered beer that goes through a pasteurization process. A subtle hop aroma and pleasant yellow color are the main characteristics of the drink. Beer "Ochakovo" is considered a well-known brand that has been produced for more than 20 years. The drink is produced using classical technology using natural raw materials.

The Ochakovo brand appeared back in 1993. It was bottled in 0.5 liter and 0.33 liter glass bottles. This beer was available to many residents of the Russian Federation, and it was of high quality.

Since 1994, the manufacturer began bottling beer in plastic packaging that is convenient for use. The brand is considered one of the most popular drinks in Moscow.
Beer is often purchased before football matches.

A long shelf life is ensured by compliance with technological production conditions, long exposure, and sterile and multi-stage filtration technology. Each type of beer is brewed separately using specific recipes.

6. “Special” Zhigulevskoe

This is a Belarusian beer that has low density and unpleasant hop bitterness with a light color. This is a popular beer brand that is in great demand among the Soviet era.

Low density and pleasant hop bitterness appeal to many beer lovers. Compound:
water;
brewing light barley malt;
malting barley;
sugar;
granulated hops;
hop products.

The volume fraction of alcohol is 4.0% of the turnover. Density is 11%. The energy value of the product is 42 kcal. Beer is produced in the following containers:
in 0.5 liter glass bottles with a shelf life of 120 days;
in PET – 1.5 liter bottles with a shelf life of up to 90 days.

5. "Yuzberg"

On the 5th position of the rating is Yuzberg beer - this is a light drink with persistent foam, a weak malt aroma and a mild grain taste. Beer of this brand is characterized by a powerful banana aroma and bready taste with yeasty sourness and thick, persistent foam.

The fermentation process is carried out due to a mixed culture of top yeast and lactic acid bacteria living in symbiosis. The resulting thick taste is in great demand among beer lovers.

The aftertaste shows some hops, cloves and banana. Wheat riding beer contains natural yeast sediments. A cloudy and viscous alcoholic drink with an amber tint contains up to 2 million/ml of yeast and 4.9% alcohol.

During the brewing process, 3 types of malt and 2 types of hops are used:
Weizenmalz brewing wheat malt;
Pilsner Malz brewing barley malt;
Karamel Malz brewing barley malt.
Perle and Traditional hops are also used.

4. Baltika No. 3

Baltika No. 3 beer is in 4th position. This beer has a clear golden hue with persistent foam and a rich malt flavor, with a bitterness and hop aroma.

3. “Russian Imperial Stout”

This is a specific type of dark beer that has a rich grain and roasted malt flavor with a hint of dried fruit. The color of the drink is similar to coal, and the foam has a brown tint. It's dense.

2. “Shaggy Bumblebee”

The author's beer “Shaggy Bumblebee” is in 2nd position in the rating. This brand is characterized by a sweetish floral aroma, with notes of caramel and herbs. The taste is soft and pleasant, which allows you to drink it in large quantities. The aftertaste reveals fruit and toffee. The color is brown with a reddish tint.

1. “Athanasius” Porter

The first position is occupied by the manufacturer “Afanasy” Porter. Pasteurized, densely flavored and filtered beer has a dark hue and a flammable hop aroma. The aftertaste is classic.