Beer is considered the most popular low-alcohol drink. Every year, dozens of new varieties appear in the world, and only some of them manage to become a real discovery in the field of brewing. Which of them excite beer lovers from all over the world, we will definitely tell in this review.
Many do not think that there are hundreds or even thousands of types of draft beer, believing that there are only a few varieties of light and dark drinks. In fact, beer is classified according to several criteria at once:
- color;
- wort density;
- initial raw material;
- fermentation method.
By color, white, light and dark varieties known to everyone, as well as rarer red ones, are distinguished. The density of the wort, in turn, determines the strength of the drink. In non-alcoholic beer, this figure reaches 8% with 0.5-1.5% alcohol. Traditional beer has a density of 11-15% and a strength of 3-5%. The density of wort in strong beer exceeds 15%, and the alcohol content reaches 8-9%. Depending on the raw materials used, the drink can be barley (the most popular type of beer), with the addition of wheat malt, as well as hybrid (prepared from combined malt). Rarely, but still found in bars rice (sake), corn (haposu) and rye beer.
Classification by fermentation method
Lager is the most popular beer in the world. Such a drink is brewed quite simply: the boiled wort is cooled to room temperature and cultural yeast is added. Then the resulting mixture is stored in barrels at a certain temperature. After 7-8 days, the yeast is separated and re-fermented. The fermentation process lasts up to 120 days, after which the beer is filtered and bottled. The most common types of lager are:
- Light;
- dark;
- European amber;
Pilsner is the second most popular beer, named after the Czech city of Pilsen, where it was first brewed. Refers to bottom-fermented drinks, which traditionally have a mild taste. Some brewers consider pilsner to be a type of lager, while others distinguish it as a separate variety.
Ale - refers to varieties of top fermentation. This drink often has a fruity flavor and high, as for beer, alcohol content. Most ales are brewed within 3-4 weeks, but some varieties can take up to 4 months to produce. The following varieties are considered the most popular:
- Bitter (bitter ale);
- Porter (dark strong ale);
- Stout (very dark ale with a strong hop flavor)
- Barley Wine (one of the most unusual varieties, characterized by a dark red tint and wine taste).
Weissbier (wheat) - differs not only in the addition of wheat malt, but also in the bottle. It is drunk from elongated glasses that do not allow carbon dioxide bubbles to quickly escape from the drink. This type is also characterized by a strong development of foam, so the glasses are washed with cold water before filling. There are several dozen varieties of light and dark wheat beer. The most famous among them are Kristallweizen and Hefeweizen.
Lambic is a Belgian free-fermented beer. For its preparation, unsprouted wheat grains and barley malt are used. At the same time, hops that have aged for 3-4 years can be added to the beer mixture. But cultural yeast is not used in the preparation of the drink. Instead, the bacteria in the wort are responsible for the fermentation processes. There is also an opinion that in some of the periods lambic stands in open vessels, over which special spiders live. If any of the insects falls into the container, the drink acquires a unique taste. Perhaps it is because of this that real lambic is only made in Belgium.
Rating of the most delicious beers in the world
RateBeer experts have compiled the TOP of the best varieties of light and dark beer. Unfortunately, Russian brands are not included in this rating, apparently, domestic brewers have a lot to learn from their Western counterparts.
Topping the list of the best draft beer is 3 Fonteinen Hommage, a unique Lambic drink produced by the famous Belgian brewery 3 Fonteinen. Beer immediately surprises with a ruby hue and cherry-fruity aroma. The taste of the drink is slightly sour and filled with tart fruity notes that Belgian beer connoisseurs adore.
True connoisseurs will always find the answer to the question: "What is the best dark beer?". This is, of course, Speedway Stout - the original variety that brought the cult American brewery AleSmith worldwide fame. In some bars you can find a draft version of this drink, but most fans have tried only the bottled version. Beer has a rich coffee and chocolate flavor with the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. AleSmith Speedway Stout contains up to 12% alcohol and is sold in large 0.75L bottles starting at $30 each.
Black Eyed King Imp Vietnamese Coffee Edition is the best beer in the world from BrewDog experimenters. This 12.7% abv imperial stout conquered all European bars last year. The highlight of the beer is the addition of Vietnamese coffee and hot dark chocolate, due to which the drink turns out to be very viscous and has a rich taste. BrewDog Black Eyed King Imp Vietnamese Coffee Edition is available in 0.33L cans starting at $16.
Emelisse White Label Barley Wine was born in a country where expensive and good beer is valued above culinary delicacies. This Dutch barley beer takes its rightful place in the quality ranking due to its pleasant liqueur taste with woody undertones and amber-reddish tint. Emelisse White Label Barley Wine 12% ABV was released in a limited edition in 2014. Today you will not find a bottle of this barlywine in the afternoon with fire. 
The world rating from RateBeer contains many more interesting beers that have won the hearts of true gourmets. The TOP is compiled on the basis of consumer and professional tasters' ratings, so each of the presented species deserves attention, even if you are not a fan of the intoxicating drink.
Beer in Russia is loved and appreciated, despite the numerous statements by doctors about its dangers. An intoxicating drink, akin to kvass, has been brewed in some regions since ancient times, so it is almost impossible to drive the population away from this drink. Asking the question what is the best beer in Russia, it is difficult to answer unambiguously. There are many manufacturers, their products are supplied to various regions, and consumers are not always familiar with the entire assortment in the country. Therefore, starting a conversation about what is the best beer in Russia, let's remember the elementary indicators that appear on the label of each bottle of beer in accordance with the requirements of GOST.
Signs of quality
In our time in stores you can find all sorts of surrogate, called the "product". Beer is also no exception. It should contain 80% water and 20% natural raw materials; additives as substitutes are unacceptable. Pay attention to the shelf life, they should not be too long, this will be an indicator of the presence of chemistry in the composition. When choosing a bottle of a cold drink, do not get confused by the strength designations, because the percentage of alcohol content and degrees are completely different things. These are the basic parameters for delineating the circle of the "correct" beer. The volume of the container and its material - plastic, glass or tin - does not affect the taste, thanks to the use of special production technologies.
Assortment in stores
To decide what is the best beer in Russia, everyone is probably trying when standing at the rack in the supermarket. And here it is very difficult to find out the answer, because according to the indicators on the label, you can’t feel the aroma of the drink, you can’t follow the formation of foam, you can’t look at it into the light. Therefore, relying on economic considerations, we choose what is cheaper, or, on the contrary, we trust elite foreign bottles. To prove that the best is in Russia, you need to find out what the citizens of the country drink and what breweries supply to competitions.
Beer and society
According to statistics, the level of beer consumption in Russia is very high. Millions of turnovers make this area profitable and win-win for investors. But the share of consumption of domestic beer sounds like a mute reproach - only about 16%. Most likely, this is the result of globalization, because large European factories have expanded, opened representative offices and flooded the market. Competent advertising and completed the job, making imported beer the most in demand. However, there are many factories, albeit small ones, that produce a high-quality product that can compete on the world market, not to mention the local one. About many brands (and all of them on Russian market about 450) people have never heard. They simply do not know what is the best beer in Russia, since the process of supplying the product to the supermarket chain is not well-established.
Top Producers
We have something to answer a foreigner's question, what is the best beer in Russia, since there are many varieties of it, and they are all brewed and bottled in cities and towns
our homeland. Geographically, the production of the drink is concentrated in the Moscow region, the Volga region and Siberia. According to various ratings, the best of the best in this area stood out, and we'll talk about them.
Consumers unanimously speak about the quality of the product. Beer "Munich", "Vienna" and "Pilsen" took pride of place in the hearts of gourmets. These are brands of light of various strengths. The brewery of the city of Anapa is also famous; vacationers can try the drink here. The variability of choice - light, dark, semi-dark - allows you to discover new shades of taste. Among the most popular names are "Beach", "Rye", "Bath", "Camp". Quality beer is produced in Tomsk, these are Kruger Premium Pils and Kruger Dunkel. The percentage of alcohol reaches 5% here. In addition to these types, the "Barley Beer" of this company is known, which is praised for the lightness and aroma of fresh bread. It is available in containers of various sizes.
popular product
The Russians also fell in love with Ochakovo, a company that has been developing its production for about 30 years. The beer here is of high quality, according to classical technology.
In addition to the brand name, "Barley Ear" is known. The most advertised product of the company at the moment is "Capital Double Gold". Beer company "Baltika" is constantly improving and pleases its customers, which should be noted.
Oddly enough, the city of Karachaevsk also excelled in this area, producing live beer, experimenting with recipes and consistently delivering high quality goods to the buyer. The Tver factory is also not far behind, having made its beer "Afanasy" quite famous in the country. Sibirskaya Korona also deserves attention, which, while not becoming a leader, nevertheless actively increases the level of sales.
Where does the rating come from?
It is very difficult to determine the best beer in Russia. The rating of beer in Russia is made by both consumers and specialists at special competitions. Surveys are also conducted by journalists and manufacturers themselves. Gathering together all the opinions is very difficult, and not necessary, because beer is such a rich drink that it is difficult to choose one option for its ideal condition.
The question "what is the best beer in Russia" is answered annually by the competition "100 Best Goods of Russia". A specialized professional competition is also held annually. So, in 2013, the winners were light beer "Khamovniki Munich", "Assir Lager" pasteurized, beer drink "Triple Wheat Ale", light "German" from "BrauMaster", "Port-Petrovskoye 2" from Makhachkala, "Ipatovskoe" , "Yerevan", "Maikop". Many companies presented their products, about a hundred varieties that meet the highest requirements.
What is "live" beer?
The most valuable beer is "live", it does not undergo pasteurization. Thanks to this, in
it retains natural aromas and flavors, maybe even a slight sediment. It is this beer that requires compliance with storage conditions, because otherwise it will quickly deteriorate, the fermentation processes will get out of control and the properties of the product will deteriorate. It is from those who work with beer, supplying it to warehouses, shops, on the shelves, that a large percentage of the success of the product depends.
Wishes to the taster
When determining what is the best beer in Russia, the rating is powerless. Many brands have received "gold" at exhibitions more than once and have been highly appreciated by tasters. It is only possible to name the best of the best and entrust the final decision to the buyer.
Summing up, I would like to wish everyone to try the best beer in Russia. To do this, you can go to a specialized bar or on an excursion to - to the brewery. There, they will surely pour you the best sort of drink and tell you how it differs from others. The largest manufacturers adopted the best from European colleagues - high-quality equipment, precision technology. Our country has huge resources of raw materials - malt, barley, wheat, which make it possible to obtain a product with a rich taste and aroma. It is the tradition of drinking this drink - the distinction between shades, aftertaste, midtones, aromas - that should be cultivated in our society. Thinking about what is the best beer in Russia, go to a local brewery, try live beer. Only knowing and comparing, it is possible to choose the best of the best in this area.
Attempts to define the best beer in Russia, as, indeed, in other countries, are constantly being undertaken, however, true beer lovers are skeptical about such ratings. And there are several reasons for this:
- firstly, there is never a stagnation in the production of a foamy drink, and therefore strict judges will not have time to name the best beer (based on market research and a consumer survey ), how another leader comes to replace him in the new rating;
- secondly, any survey covers a relatively narrow circle of beer admirers, and therefore it simply cannot reflect all the tastes and preferences of a multimillion-strong army of consumers. That is why in the comments to any rating you can find angry statements like “Your best lager is just rubbish”;
- thirdly, in Russia, such ratings are completely empty, since it is simply impossible to objectively determine the best beer for such a huge country. Most often, beer ratings are guided by the main metropolitan areas of the European part of Russia, and sometimes they simply do not go further than Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Rating of the best Russian beer
Still, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the latest ratings of the best Russian beer. At least for the purpose of obtaining information that can be useful to many. So, according to them, several varieties of light lager from the Moscow Brewing Company are considered the best. These are "Khamovniki": "Munich", "Pilsen" and "Vienna". “Munich” is especially famous in bottling, which can be tasted in the best bars and restaurants of Moscow. It is worth paying attention to the brand of the same manufacturer "Cervena Selka".
The second place is confidently occupied by a number of varieties of the Anapa Bogerhof brewery, among which Rye semi-dark and Bannoe dark stand out (although many people prefer the light lager of this brand).
The third place was occupied by two varieties of "Tomsk beer" (light and dark) of the Siberian company of the same name. Although lovers of strong beer would certainly prefer to move from fifth to one of the leading positions the porter "Afanasy" of the Tver brewery of the same name, and lovers of light lager would prefer the varieties "Sibirskaya Korona" of OJSC "SUN Inbev". And it’s hard to say which beer is actually better, it’s not for nothing that they say: there are no comrades for the taste and color ...
For example, brewers from the Ulyanovsk region claim that best drink than is produced in the mini-brewery Zlata Podkova in Dimitrovgrad, is not found in all of Russia, and maybe even in Europe. It is no coincidence that even Muscovites and Petersburgers come here to try it, and rare foreign guests are surprised to find that you can drink simply amazing ale in the Russian outback!..
The best foreign beer in Russia
Many people remember that thirty years ago any foreign beer was the best of the best for the Russian consumer. Fortunately, this state of affairs is a thing of the past. Today, the domestic foamy drink is no worse, or even an order of magnitude better than the "foreign" one, and this is firstly. And secondly, an imported product is always more expensive than a similar domestic product. For this reason, by the way, foreign beers are considered in a separate rating category as the most expensive.
The first place among such drinks in many Russian ratings occupies the Bavarian beer Spaten (full name - Spaten Munchen Hell) of the German brewery Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau GmbH, which has been producing it in Munich since 1397. The Spaten logo has even become the symbol of Germany's main annual beer festival, the Oktoberfest.
In second place, most Russian brewers put the Belgian ale Blanche de Namur with its spicy fruity aroma (curacao and coriander). In 2009, at the international exhibition World Beer Awards, this drink was recognized as the best white blanche in the world.
Well, our consumer by a majority of votes awarded the third place to the German unfiltered wheat drink Franziskaner, which has been produced by the Munich brewery of the same name since 1363. Its undoubted advantages are a special culture of brewer's yeast, a unique wheat malt and strict use in the production of three main ingredients: water, hops and malt.
As you can see, it is quite difficult to unequivocally answer the question of which beer is better than all others in Russia. Probably, for this reason, the First Beer Club was created in due time, which helps its members to keep the right course in the modern "sea of beer". Although, to be honest, many who come to this wonderful association are no less interested in discounts, which bars and restaurants - partners of the club - provide to its members.
And since such cooperation is very mutually beneficial, there are more and more such benefits, as well as institutions that provide them, in Russia (and not only). Therefore, trying the best beer, including foreign production, is not a problem for club members. If you want to drink only the best beers at affordable prices, then we are waiting for you at the "First Beer Club"! To receive discounts at popular establishments, you need to get a special one.
Beer is considered one of the most ancient drinks. The recipe for its preparation has its roots in the distant past. Initially, it was made on the basis of barley. In the 8th century, its production recipe was improved by the monks in the monasteries by adding hops as a preservative. This technology has reached our time and is considered traditional. As before, today beer is in great demand during the hot season to quench your thirst, especially when the air temperature rises above +30 °C.
How to distinguish natural, quality beer
Today, breweries are moving away from traditional recipes by adding sugar and other ingredients to maximize profits and popularity of their products. In this way, they speed up and reduce the cost of its production, turning it into a beer drink. Natural and high-quality beer from a fake can be distinguished by several characteristics:
- foam;
- color;
- smell;
- taste.
First of all, the main criteria for determining the quality of beer are its foam and color.
Foam
Foam is the “face” of beer, and by its appearance and structure, you can immediately assess the naturalness of the drink. It should have a dense texture without interspersed with air bubbles. Its color should be exclusively white without any shades. The height should be 4 - 5 cm. After a few sips, when the beer in the glass becomes smaller, the foam should settle on its walls. All these signs speak of the high quality of a natural intoxicating drink. If the beer "foam" is liquid and reddish in color, then such beer is of very low quality and of dubious origin.
Advice. Professional tasters claim that a beer cap can hold a small coin for some time.
Color
Breweries produce two types of beer: dark and light, it all depends on the recipe. The standards for the production of light varieties have very high requirements regarding their color. It should not contain extraneous shades, be transparent to the light, besides, the drink should still shine. Under no circumstances should the color range of this variety contain shades of red, brown or green and most importantly, there should be no turbidity when viewed in the light. As for dark varieties, the color requirements for them are much lower. Allowed Brown color, its non-transparency and lack of gloss. And such a drink will also be natural.
Smell
The beer bouquet is an important criterion by which one can judge the quality of an intoxicating drink. The human receptors responsible for smell are more sensitive than taste receptors. Therefore, without tasting the contents of the glass, you can evaluate its quality. Natural beer, brewed according to a traditional recipe and fully adhering to the technology of preparation, must harmoniously combine all the components in its aroma. To fully perceive the aroma, you need to take a deep breath through the nasopharynx 3-4 times and exhale through the mouth. The beer bouquet should contain the following odor characteristics:
- hop aroma;
- low hop aroma;
- purity;
- freshness.
Attention! The presence of a sour or rotten smell in the bouquet indicates its depravity or not naturalness.
Taste
A person is able to distinguish four groups of taste: sweet, bitter, sour and salty. Modern recipes constantly changing to achieve new taste sensations. In the beer produced today, all four criteria of taste can be found. Therefore, during the tasting, you need not only to feel a smooth transition from one flavor group to another, but also the “texture” of the beer, which can be viscous, oily. All this a person can feel with his cheeks, sky and lips. Therefore, not only one tongue, but the entire oral cavity is involved in determining taste. And thanks to the work of all the receptors in the mouth, we can also evaluate the aftertaste of the contents of the glass.
Pale varieties tend to have the most pronounced hop bitterness compared to other ingredients in the recipe, which should dissipate quickly. In these varieties, there is practically no aftertaste. The aftertaste of high quality natural beer should have notes that can be described as:
Dark beer, on the contrary, should not contain hop bitterness in its bouquet, but leave a well-saturated sweetish aftertaste. And that is why it feels “dense” and viscous to the sensations. The taste of malt is a characteristic feature of the aftertaste of this beer. It can be described as:
- malt;
- empty;
- sweetish;
- mild.
Attention! The presence of a different flavor in the aftertaste also indicates the quality of the drink. The presence of bitterness for a long time indicates a very low quality of the drink. It is caused by a violation of technology and the addition of components of poor quality or chemical origin.
What is the best beer in Russia
Everyone likes one type of beer or another. Some people prefer light varieties, others dark ones, some people like exclusively “live” beer brewed in small private breweries, others like well-known bottled brands. Therefore, it is rather difficult to answer the question of which beer is the best in Russia, because each variety has both its fans and ardent opponents. But according to the results of the test purchase 2016 - 2017, according to the reviews of beer lovers and experts, you can make a top 10 beer rating:
- "Athanasius" Porter;
- "Furry bumblebee";
- "Russian Imperial Statute";
- "Baltika No. 3";
- "Yuzberg";
- "Special";
- "Ochakov";
- "Baltika No. 6";
- "Athanasius Domashnee";
- Kozel.
Advice. First of all, before buying an untested beer, you need to pay attention to its color and transparency, to study the composition. It should not contain malt substitutes, alcohol and other components not included in the recipe. Long shelf life indicates the addition of preservatives.
Having learned to determine the quality of beer according to the main criteria: color, smell, taste and beer foam, you can easily find and enjoy the taste of a truly natural and high-quality product. It is also worth paying attention to the reviews of beer lovers of different varieties. So you can discover a new variety of your favorite drink.
How to check the quality of beer - video
Residents of Russia annually consume millions of liters of various types of beer. Due to the huge variety of brands, it is simply impossible to choose the best in taste and quality. But knowing the criteria that determine the beer quality, you can rank the best beer in Russia. Undoubtedly the most best quality belongs to natural beer drink. The compiled rating is based on the effectiveness of control procurement activities and consumer preferences of the Russian population.
Natural, high-quality beer differs in a number of characteristics:
- foam consistency,
- color score,
- aroma,
- taste qualities.
The foam of natural beer should be dense white and remain on the sides of the glass. High-quality light varieties should not have extraneous suspension and must be characterized by a certain transparency and brilliance, in dark ones - dullness, lack of luster, brownish tint is possible. The aroma of real beer should have notes of hops and freshness. In terms of taste: in light beer, a bitter aftertaste of hops is displayed, in dark beer - sweetness.
10. "Goat"
An example of a classic light beer that is easy to drink and has a pleasant taste, gentle bitterness, combined with caramel notes of malt. has a delicate aroma and a golden hue.
9. "Athanasius Domashnee"
Real live, filtered, not pasteurized. It has a dark brown color with a ruby tint and a medium-grained, creamy foam, delicate aroma. Production - Russia.
8. Baltika No. 6
Russia, having a dark brown color with a reddish tint. The foam has a creamy brownish texture. It has a strong musty smell. On the palate there are notes of caramel, coffee, prunes, burnt sugar.
7. Ochakovo
Russian pale filtered, pasteurized, with a delicate hop aroma and yellow color.
6. "Special" Zhigulevskoe
Belarus, having a low density and pleasant bitterness of hops, light in color.
5. "Uzberg"
Russian pale, characterized by persistent head, low malt aroma and mild grain taste.
4. Baltika No. 3
Russia, transparent golden color with persistent foam, has a rich taste of malt with bitterness and aroma of hops.
3. "Russian Imperial Stout"
A special type of Russian dark beer with a rich taste of grain and roasted malt with hints of dried fruit. The color is close to coal, foam with a brown tint, very dense.
2. "Shaggy bumblebee"
1. "Athanasius" Porter
Dense saturated filtered, pasteurized dark color with hop bitterness and aftertaste of classic varieties, produced in Russia.
Summing up, we can say that only the ability to distinguish a high-quality beer drink from a fake by its main characteristics will help the consumer get real pleasure from drinking first-class real beer.
