In Russia, beer (Russian: пиво pivo) is the second most popular alcoholic drink after vodka, and is seen by many as a healthier alternative[1] (such that it is the number one alcoholic drink in the always more westward leaning St.Petersburg, consumption 95 l. per capita, 2005). According to Bloomberg News, an average Russian consumer drank about 12.5 liters of alcohol in 2010, with vodka accounting for more than five liters and beer about four liters.[1]
Unlike the Germanic language speaking peoples (i.e. English, Dutch and German Speakers), Russians (like Spanish speakers) categorize beer by color, and not by fermentation process: Light, Red or Semi-Dark, and Dark. Light is a more or less equivalent to Lager and the last two are close to Ales. There are also strong beers (6-10% of alcohol) which are very popular in Russia. There are a lot of brands of Russian beer. The most prominent are Baltika and Stary Melnik, however almost every region of Russia is proud to have its own brewery.
There are a few microbreweries and brewpubs to be found in major cities like St. Petersburg, Moscow and Kazan.
According to the results of 2010 beer production in Russia reduced by 5.1%, to 102.93 mln hl by the data of the Federal Service of State Statistics for the full range of enterprises. [2] But in money terms Russian beer market grew by 16% to 598 bln. roubles (or 22% to $19.9 bln). In 2010 five leading companies (companies with overseas capital) reduced beer sales volume by 5% to 83.6 mln hl. At that, the enterprises, which are not members of TOP-5 list, increased the sales by 14% in total, up to approximately 22 mln hl.[3] Total volume of import beer supply in 2010 comprised about 3.07 mln hl. [4]
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