Beer Festival in St. Petersburg

The beer festival is a very unusual event. His tradition came to us from Germany, where the famous "Oktoberfest" has been held for many years. Over time, these initiatives took root in Russia. Similar entertaining festivals are held in different cities. But one of the largest - in St. Petersburg. Thus, the line from the song of the popular group "Leningrad" - "drinking in St. Petersburg" is vividly illustrated. "And what else is there to do?" - Many organizers of these holidays are perplexed.

Festival of Kvass and Beer

The festival of beer is often combined with the holiday of another, friendly drink - kvass. A similar holiday is also held in St. Petersburg. And for several years now.

The place of its holding is the sports and concert complex "Petersburg". The beer festival is held in one day.

Thanks to the fact that, in addition to beer, kvass is also declared in the program, the festival is held in a family format. Drink to taste can find themselves and adults and young family members.

A mandatory attribute of such festivals is the performances of popular musicians. Usually concerts are given free of charge, and the collectives that go on stage easily gather thousands of crowds. For example, at the last beer festival in St. Petersburg, which took place in the summer of 2017, Vyacheslav Butusov performed with his group "U-Peter", the group "Sunday" and "Time Machine".

In order to be interesting for adults and children, organize interactive sites. They are equipped with separate zones for sports competitions, intellectual and creative competitions, fun for the whole family.

For eight years already at the festival of beer and kvass there is an alcohol-free playground. And this does not bother anyone. All minors, adults, who came to the holiday behind the wheel, and kvass lovers here with generosity will treat this bread drink.

Area for adults

There are enough places for adult visitors to the festival of beer in St. Petersburg. They are offered a wide assortment of intoxicating products from one of the largest Baltika beer companies in Russia.

Here, we are closely watching that beer is not sold to minors in any way. For this answer the public, who united in a joint organization "Beer Watch."

Hard times

The festival of beer and kvass did not always have a cloudless future. In 2012, the holiday was canceled on the basis of the ruling of the acting governor Georgy Poltavchenko.

The reason for this was a new federal law, according to which beer was equated to other alcoholic beverages. As a result, everyone started talking about the collapse of the idea to create in the city on the Neva an analogue of the famous "Oktoberfest".

At the same time, initially from the city budget it was planned to allocate about two million rubles for the celebration. They had to go, in particular, to compensate for the costs associated with providing fire and medical safety.

For brewing companies, participants of the festival, this decision became so unexpected that most of them simply refused any comments. After all, with his signature under the decree on the cancellation of the festival Poltavchenko inflicted not only financial, but also reputational damage to manufacturers of foam drinks.

Festival CRAFT WEEKEND

Another major festival of craft beer is held in St. Petersburg under the name CRAFT WEEKEND. It unites in one place up to 70 breweries, as well as the largest in the city site for streetfood. There is also an abundance of music, visual art and even beer yoga. About six thousand people take part in the festival.

Many musical groups come to the festival. Traditionally it is the "Dunaevsky Orchestra", "La Minor", "Shorts", "Gypsy Boutique", "Che Morale" and many others.

The uniqueness of the festival

The uniqueness of this festival is that besides the musical and entertainment part there is also cognitive. Masters in their branches read entertaining lectures for all comers. For example, at the last festival of craft beer in St. Petersburg CRAFT WEEKEND commercial director of a large company Roman Medvedev told about the organization of control of purchasing prices and work with the Unified State Automated Information System. The organizer of the Restaurant day in the city on the Neva, Olga Polyakova, gave a lecture on the differences and peculiarities of the markets and foodstuffs. The founder of the Belgian brewery Rudi di Svimer shared his experience in the production of craft beer. The beer sommelier, yes, there is one, from Lithuania Jonas Lingis told about the crafting peculiarities in his Baltic country.

There was even a speech by the author of the popular in certain circles book "The history of beer: from monasteries to sports bars". The lecture with the same name was made by Juha Tahvainainen.

The cost of visiting this festival is 400 rubles. For this money you get a pass to the territory of CRAFT WEEKEND, the official mug of the festival, the opportunity to visit the music program and lectures on craft brewing, to discuss your questions with experts in these areas. And also watch live how real festival craft is brewed at the festival.

Immersion in contemporary art

At the same festival of craft beer in St. Petersburg in 2017, visitors have a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of modern contemporary art. To do this, even arrange a separate section CRAFT ART.

Here their works are exhibited by contemporary painters. In the neighborhood there is a CRAFT MARKET, on which anyone can buy a work of art he likes. Immediately, the show-rooms from St. Petersburg masters of decorative and applied art. Author's interior items, fashionable in recent years, vinyl records, unique souvenirs.

Also at the festival, you can vote for the best beers every year. Brewery winners receive nice prizes and gifts.

Festival of home beer

Every year in St. Petersburg, organize a festival of home beers. It takes place in the event space "Nautilus" on the 16th line of the Vasilievsky Island, 83. About fifty Russian brewers traditionally come here, who present at least 200 kinds of author's beer to the audience. Its main goal is to prove that today anyone can cook delicious beer at home.

Each variety represented in the festival program participates in the competition. The winner is determined according to several nominations - "Best design of the table", "Best guest beer", "Best brewer of the festival" and, of course, "Best beer of the festival".

Winners receive prizes and valuable gifts. For example, the opportunity to cook a thousand liters of beer at the famous brewery Knightberg. The main feature of this festival is precisely that all participants are non-professionals. They do not have their own crafting business, they only brew beer for pleasure. His and all others.