Craft beer - what is it? Craft beer in Moscow

Recently, kraft beer has become very popular around the world. What is it and why is there a stir around it? This must be understood.

Terms of crafting

Many people think that beer with this name is a unique product. This statement is not entirely true. To make everything clear, we must learn to understand where the usual, and where craft beer, what it is and why it is called that way. There are three main reasons why a frothy drink can fall into this category:

1. Conditions and volumes of production. In translation from English, "craft" means "craft". Hence the requirement that the product must have been produced at a small enterprise (mini brewery).
2. Relative independence of the manufacturer. It is about the participation of third-party companies in financial activities. It is believed that the company itself must have at least 75 percent of the shares. This should serve as a guarantee of freedom of leadership in making certain decisions.
3. Products on such breweries should be produced according to traditional technology. Of course, the use of non-standard raw materials is allowed, but it should be used only to improve some stages of the process. It is forbidden to use various kinds of additives to reduce the total cost of the product.

Now it's clear when they say "craft beer" that this is a conditional name, and not some kind of new variety.

Kraft in American style

Americans are also deeply convinced, producing kraft beer, that this is not the name of the drink itself, but of the special conditions in which it is produced. They have their own ideas on this score. First, the Association of American Brewers has established a clear boundary of the output limit for such plants. According to their calculations, small breweries should produce no more than 703.8 million liters of foam product per year. This is about six million barrels. Number and so considerable. Secondly, special attention is paid to technology. It is not necessary to have ancient, well-known formulas at the basis of production. Old style with the help of modern technology can be changed in a new way and develop your own, previously unknown method. Such innovations are used quite often. Sometimes such methods are reduced simply to the addition of non-traditional types of raw materials to give the product a special highlight and attract attention to it from the buyers.

New trend in the capital

In Russia, there is a growing number of establishments where it is kraft beer that serves as a drink for meetings and friendly conversations. In Moscow today there are many such places. There, as a rule, they sell not the usual beer, which can be found in any store. The suppliers of such specialized bars and restaurants are people who do not just know what they are doing. They, in the full sense of the word, put their souls into their product. Well, who is interested in coming to the chic pub and drinking ordinary consumer goods? The production of craft breweries is quite another matter. Beer, which comes from these mini-plants, has a bright personality and has a special unique flavor. This is understandable, because the manufacturer prepares it, based on their own taste preferences. This can be beer, cooked in English, Czech or German traditions with a special note, not inherent in specific national standards. Here you can really find a drink for every taste.

Corners

Now almost in any Russian city you can find an institution where they serve kraft beer. In Moscow, there are many, but the most popular are:

1. "Birmarket". This store sells about 350 different types of beer. Hundreds of suppliers bring their products here. The sizes of batches are sometimes measured by several boxes. This store is also famous for the fact that only here you can buy the famous Danish beer, whose fortress makes 19,3 turns.

2. A small bar under the strange name "All your friends." Here the products of Russian producers are mainly represented, except for the unique Belgian "Rodenbach", in the composition of which wine is added in the process of cooking.

3. Bar "Haggis", where in addition to the 13 types of beer are unusual snacks in the British style.

4. Shop-bar "Glavpivmag", where you can not only buy beer, but also drink it without leaving the street.

5. A pub for athletes "Bobby Dazzler", which during football matches becomes a haven for numerous fans.

Newfangled traditions

New ideas are always interesting, especially at the first stage. Their creators try to show all their imagination in order to attract attention to themselves as much as possible. But some new items require a completely different filing. So it happened in the beer industry. Following the example of foreign countries in Russia as mushrooms after the rain began to appear retail outlets, where they sell kraft beer. The bar (or store) that sells such a drink has also changed. Began to appear institutions in the style of fashionable Irish, Scottish or English pubs. Outwardly it should be small rooms with muted light, soft leather furniture and necessarily wooden floors. So it is accepted in the West.

But Russian entrepreneurs are trying to go beyond the usual standards. For example, the owner of Kraft RepAblic decided to apply the Scandinavian style. He placed his institution in a conventional cellar and painted it from the inside in white. But the main thing, what famous new-fashioned pubs - is the range. Here you can try something that never falls on the shelves of large stores. After all, the craft products are unique and produced in such small quantities that it can not carry out regular supplies for large shopping centers.

Beer establishments of the second capital

The new current could not pass by St. Petersburg. Craft beer in the Northern capital was evaluated in its own way. If Muscovites come to the pub with a desire to drink and eat, then the main attention of St. Petersburg is paid to the drink. A prominent representative of such a revolutionary institution is the local bar CRAFT Bier Cafe. It does not shine with a steep design and varied cuisine. Yes it is not necessary. Here and so it is always full of people. People come to this place not for chic furnishings. Simply here there is everything that a true beer lover needs: a pleasant atmosphere and a rich map of drinks. Visitors are invited to try about 30 different types of bottling and more than 200 types of bottled beer from the representatives of craft brewers in Russia, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Holland and France. The rich choice and cozy atmosphere of the main pub of St. Petersburg enjoy a well-deserved popularity among the residents of the city. The institution operates from noon until late at night, and this is also in the interest of visitors.

Kraft in the Russian outback

The new trend with confident steps moves deeper into the country. Now, even in small provincial towns, you can find crafted beer. In Russia, too, there are real enthusiasts and connoisseurs of the ancient drink. In our country, everything starts as usual. Initiative people buy old businesses that have become unusable. Then there is a process of overhaul and re-equipment of the workshops, and after all the problems with the documents, the new enterprise begins to produce the long-awaited products. Almost all small businessmen go in this way. But as a result, the people get what they longed for. The newly-made producer tries to realize the most unusual ideas, and this is exactly what is necessary for the "craft". Of course, he is not able to satisfy his production to the full extent of the needs of a large supermarket. But it can in a small pub deliver beer, which, except it, nobody cooks. It is these manufacturers who need real crafts and restaurants.

Expected threat

Recently, the Government of Russia has suddenly raised the issue of the need to control the turnover of alcohol-containing products. For these purposes, a special system (EGAIS) was developed, which should keep records and monitor the movement of goods. To install such a system at an enterprise, you must have:

• A personal computer with certain system requirements;
• Access to the Internet with a certain connection speed;
• Software (software) of the system installed on this computer;
• Program for cash registers, compatible with installed software;
• A special scanner with a two-dimensional barcode;
• USB flash drive with electronic signature.

Such an event is not cheap and can fly into a small penny to small producers. This is only possible for large enterprises. In addition, output in small batches forces constantly to make changes to the program. All this creates additional problems. Suppliers of craft beer in confusion. Someone thinks that you can cope with any difficulties. But most argue that the new system will lead to the inevitable ruin of small companies, which, in fact, are associates of the new movement. As a result, the market of craft beer in Russia will simply collapse.

Beer in the restaurant

With the development of craft craft products of enterprising manufacturers began to order not only small bars, but also solid restaurants. Everything is done here to create the right atmosphere and coziness. Soft, comfortable furniture allows a long time to talk. A varied cuisine offers everything from simple snacks and salads to soups and hot dishes. Drinks in this institution has a special role. To please all visitors, the map of this product is maximally expanded. In the assortment, along with dozens of varieties of the famous beer, there are necessarily a few highlights that you can try only here. And this list is constantly being refreshed by interesting novelties. A flexible system of discounts is established for a number of services , which certainly arouses a keen interest of visitors. This restaurant of craft beer fully justifies its name. Here you can eat well, celebrate any significant event or just sit in a company of friends over a glass of your favorite handmade drink.

Thematic establishments

For fans of a foamy drink, the most common after all will be a bar of kraft beer. Moscow in this direction provides a fairly rich choice. Those who are interested in the drink itself, you can advise to visit the bar Craft RePUBlic. In the capital, he is well known. Here is a very simple situation, there are no waiters, there are practically no snacks (except cheese and chips), but the choice of beer is simply the richest. Real connoisseurs gather here to pamper themselves and have fun. Many similar establishments have recently opened in Moscow. For example, the bar "Varka". While he can not compete with such mastodons, as Craft RePUBlic. But the management plans in the near future to abandon the foreign products and go only to the Russian "kraft". The idea is interesting and very promising, but it is not necessary, probably, to categorically reject the good import. A person should always have the right to choose.

The price of pleasure

For real beer lovers there are no barriers. For a good drink they are sometimes ready to pay good money. But everything should be within reasonable limits. In recent years, more and more often in specialized bars you can find kraft beer. The price for it, as a rule, is quite high and ranged from 105 to 340 rubles per bottle with a capacity of 0.5 liters. One liter of such a drink can dispense from 108 to 155 rubles. Vendors on this account have a dual opinion. On the one hand, it is clear that the product, as they say, handwork always has an inflated price tag. Here, the effort expended and considerable expenses. On the other hand, the high price repels the ordinary potential buyer and forces him to turn his attention to cheaper goods. This situation negatively affects the volume of sales and, accordingly, on real incomes. Why do manufacturers of domestic "craft" continue to keep such high prices for their products? Perhaps this is a deliberate move to present your beer as an extra-class product or a piece of brewing art. And in either case, the consumer will tend to more affordable, but already well-known products. It's worth thinking about this for those who are just starting their brewing business.