Obolon beer: history, overview of types + interesting facts

The history of Obolon beer

Obolon - Ukrainian beer, which was born thanks to the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow. The government wanted to prove that the Soviet Union brewed the same beer as anywhere else in the world. The slogan of its advertising campaign: "Obolon is the beer of your homeland".

1980: Brewery No. 3, which meets European production standards, was opened in Kyiv on the occasion of the XXII Olympic Games.

The efforts of the Soviet leadership brought highly skilled brewers from the Czech Republic. The Obolon district of Kyiv was chosen for construction not by chance: it had an artesian spring with soft water with a low mineral content, devoid of any impurities, which undoubtedly affected the taste.

1986: A brewery in Fastiv and several Kyiv breweries were united under the common name Obolon.

1989: Alexander Slobodian became the CEO of the company. He manages the company to this day. The company started selling its products abroad, namely Zhiguli Beer to the UK market.

1990: Exports of Russkoye beer to the United States began.

1992: The brewery became the owner of privatization certificate No. 1 of the State Property Fund of Ukraine. The first Ukrainian beer brand Obolon appeared on store shelves, and the company became a precedent for independent production in the country.

1996: The company became a co-owner partner of the Bershad Brewery and the Sevastopol Brewery. Alcohol began to be bottled in tin cans and kegs, which had never been done in the country before.

1998: The company was the first in the industry to receive an international certificate for the ISO 9001 quality management system (1994 version). This meant that all production processes were at a high level, and the quality of the products was no worse than the world's.

In the same year, the company opened an agricultural business, namely, the creation of the Niva Obolon Research and Production Association. In order to supply quality materials, specialists were involved in the selection, research and industrial-scale reproduction of seeds of promising barley varieties.

2004: The company established a new brewing procedure, which was updated three years later, and also the largest beer bottling line in Europe. Its capacity is 110,000 bottles per hour. Production of the youth brand "hike premium" was launched in limited quantities.

2008: In April, Obolon Unfiltered was presented and updated. It can be found exclusively in the Kyiv branded store, where it is sold directly from cylindrical-conical tanks. The drink is of natural origin and contains a lot of yeast cells, a source of amino acids and vitamins.

The beer is unpasteurized and is not stored for long. A self-adhesive label appeared on its packaging with a shelf life of only three days. The label protects against unauthorized sales.

2011: The company started cooperating with the American Molson Coors Brewing Company, which owns many popular brands. The first deliveries of products to China took place.

2020: Obolon ranks first among Ukrainian beers on the world market. Obolon's beer is exported to many countries, such as neighboring Russia, Germany, Austria, South Korea, Canada, etc. д. In total, there are 19 breweries in different parts of Ukraine. It is also the only investor in the company.

Types of Obolon beer

1. Piwny kubek ("Beer Cup"), 4%. Light beer created according to a Czech recipe.

2. Native Shubin Light, 4%. Brewed according to an original recipe from carefully selected natural malt, hops, barley and water.

3. Yuzhanka, 4.1%. Regional. Pasteurized light beer. Created using classical technology.

4. Zibert Light, 4.4%. It contains water from an artesian well, high quality malt and aromatic hops from Germany.

5. Zibert Bavarian, 5%. Brewed according to a classic recipe on modernized German equipment. It has a luxurious amber color and a malt-hop character due to the selected hops and malt in the composition.

6. Carling, 4%. Premium British lager. Has a rich and yet unobtrusive taste. The aroma reveals hints of corn, and the faint bitterness does not linger for long. Appeared in Ukraine thanks to cooperation with Molson Coors.

7. Zlata Praha, 5%. Light with dominant malt in the taste, balanced by hop bitterness. Brewed according to a classic Czech recipe.

8. Zlata Praha Cerne, 4.3%. Dark bottom fermentation. The flavor is mainly influenced by barley malt, which is thoroughly roasted beforehand. Light and caramel are also used. As a result, the bouquet combines characteristic fruit notes with nuances of prunes. Although it is a porter, it is easy and pleasant to drink. Density and strength are low.

9. Hike Premium, 4.8%. It is a perfect balance of light varieties of malt, both wheat and barley. It is manifested in a delicate taste, and the original aroma demonstrates a subtle bitterness.

10. Hike Blanche, 4.8%. It has delicate citrus notes with a hint of bitter hops, subtle ginger, honey and spices.

11. Airborne, 8%. Extra-strong light beer with a malt and grain character.

12. Non-alcoholic, 0%. A premium drink made from selected ingredients. At the last stage of production, it is filtered by the membrane method, which removes the strength. Has a rich taste of standard beer.

13. Zhigulevske, 4.2%. Light unpasteurized. Thick and aromatic with a malt character and proper bitterness.

14. Obolon Light, 4.5%. Light with malt sweetness and hop bitterness.

15. Hardmix Citrus, 4%. Included in the category "hard drink". The bouquet reveals lemon, grapefruit and lime tones.

16. Hardmix Lemon+Ginger, 4.6%. Has an authentic taste of lemon and spicy ginger.

17. BeerMix Lemon, 2%. Fruit with lemon syrup. Juicy and sweet with bread-like flavors. It and the following three types belong to the same BeerMix line, which is aimed at young people.

18. Cherry, 2.5% alcohol content. It has a delicate aroma and authentic taste with a pleasant sourness.

19. Raspberries, 2%. Rich taste with a subtle hint of wine. Delicate raspberries are in perfect harmony with hop bitterness.

20. Pomegranate, 2% alcohol content. Sweet syrup in the composition creates a bright taste reminiscent of summer.

Awards for Obolon beer

1. In 2004, the brand was awarded the status of a "Gold Trade Mark".

2. "Zlata Praha" became the winner of the International Competition Asia Beer Awards 2013.

3. In 2016, the brand took home 6 Grand Prix and silver awards, as well as 13 gold awards at the XIX International Competition of Beer, Soft Drinks, Mineral and Drinking Waters.

Interesting facts about Obolon beer

1. "Bologna" or "bolon" in Kievan Rus was the name of a low river bank that was flooded with water.

2. In 2004, the brewery became one of the three largest on the continent.

3. In 2008, 111,100,000 decaliters of beer were produced, which was a record in Europe.

Update: 24.07.2020

Category: Beer, Cider, Ale