Chernihivske beer is the most famous and recognizable of Ukrainian lagers. For more than 20 years, this brand has been leading the sales ratings of the Ukrainian beer market.
Historical reference. In 1988, the inhabitants of Chernihiv were preparing to celebrate a round date – 1300 years since the founding of the city. On this occasion, a completely new beer was brewed at the local Desna brewery. The enterprise was relatively young: it was built in 1976 and fully equipped with Czechoslovak equipment. On the territory of the brewery, very soft water was extracted, which could well compete with water from the Pilsen springs. Czech brewers advised Chernihiv colleagues and helped them create a new lager – Chernigovskoye.
The taste of beer turned out to be so good that it instantly became popular in Chernihiv, Kiev, Bryansk and neighboring regions. In those days, the plant’s capacity was only 7,2 million decaliters per year, and this was clearly not enough to satisfy the growing demand for Chernigovskoye. In the 90s, the labor collective privatized the enterprise, but there were no funds for development, and the Belgian brewing corporation Interbrew acquired part of the shares.
The Belgians, who gradually bought up shares from the plant workers, by 1996 turned out to be the owners of a controlling stake in Desna. Subsequently, the Kharkov “Rogan” and the Nikolaev “Yantar” passed into their ownership.
A few years later, Interbrew merged into Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewing corporation, and in 2006, Ukrainian enterprises merged into its subsidiary, SUN InBev Ukraine. From 2000 to 2005, the new owners invested 215 million euros in Ukrainian enterprises.
The plant in Chernigov was completely rebuilt. Now it is a modern enterprise that meets the highest environmental standards. The water used at the enterprise is purified to the degree of tap water. If in the 80s of the last century, 1 liters of water were required to produce 7 liter of beer, in our time this figure has been reduced to 3,5 liters. About 35% of the gas used at the plant is the result of the processing of fermented wort waste by beneficial bacteria.
At the enterprise, all beer is brewed from natural raw materials using natural fermentation technology. Maltose syrup is not added to the must. The ingredients of “Chernigovsky” were subjected to 32 tests for the content of pesticides, heavy metals and other harmful substances. Only after that, the manufacturing company received a European-style environmental certificate. There is no other brand of beer in Ukraine that meets the requirements of European environmental certification.
The advertising motto of “Chernihiv” is “I believe – it means I can.” SUN InBev Ukraine invests heavily in advertising the drink. Videos are shot by the best directors, stuntmen are invited to shoot extreme scenes, the Klitschko brothers even starred in one of the videos.
Types of beer “Chernihiv”
“Chernigivske Light” (“Chernigivske Svіtle”) is a beer of golden-straw color, with a strength of 4,6% and a density of 11%. The drink has a pure malt taste with hop bitterness.
“Chernigivske 0,0” (“Chernigivske 0,0”) is a light non-alcoholic beer with a strength of 0,05% and a density of 5,4%.
“Chernigivske Maximum” (“Chernigivske Maximum”) is a copper-colored beer with a strength of 8% and a density of 15,6%. The lager is fragrant with malt and hops, the taste is rich, spicy.
“Chernihiv Strong” (“Chernigivske Mitsne”) is a beer of rich golden color, with a strength of 7,3% and a density of 17%. Wine and malt aroma gradually reveals hints of sweet pastries and hops. The taste effectively combines hop bitterness and fruity-candy sweetness, the aftertaste is warm.
“Chernigovskoe Lager” (“Chernigivske Lager”) – light beer with a strength of 5,4%.
“Chernihivske White” (“Chernigivske Bile”) – unfiltered French ale (Witbier) of golden color, cloudy, with lush dense foam, strength – 4,8%, density – 12%. Beer exudes the aroma of wheat malt with citrus and coriander tones. Fruity and spicy notes, balanced by the bitterness of hops, are mixed with a rich malt flavor.
“Chernihiv White Radler Grapefruit-Orange” – unfiltered fruit beer based on wheat ale, strength – 2,5%, density – 9,3%. The drink contains natural juices.
“Chernigov White Night” (“Chernigivske Bila Nich”) is a dark beer with a strength of 4,8% and a density of 12,5%. The taste of the drink is soft, with an unobtrusive caramel tint.
