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Stepan Razin is a St. Petersburg beer that has won many fans throughout Russia throughout its history. The drink is brewed according to classical technologies at the Heineken Brewery, where production was moved after the closure of one of the oldest enterprises in the industry. In 2016, the brand was rebranded – the symbols of FC Zenit appeared on the labels in connection with a partnership agreement between Heineken and the football club.
Historical information
The history of the plant Stepan Razin is closely associated with the name of Abraham Kron, the founder of Russian brewing. A native of a German family, he came to St. Petersburg at the age of 19 and got a job as an apprentice in a bakery that supplied bread to the royal court. Kron’s duties included the delivery of products to the palace, where the young man managed to attract the attention of Empress Catherine II. Using high connections, Kron received a piece of land next to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where he built a small brewery.
By 1848, the firm had expanded and Kron entered into a merger agreement with the industrialist Peter Cazalet. The Cazaleta brewery was located near the Staro-Kalinka bridge and amazed contemporaries with its scale. In the middle of the XNUMXth century, production volumes amounted to more than a million liters of beer per year, and the company itself brought considerable income to the treasury. Drinks brewed using German technology were loved by St. Petersburg residents also because they were sold at prices affordable for any segment of the population.
The plant managed to survive the difficult times of the revolution. By 1923, production was fully resumed, and the enterprise itself was named after the free Don Cossack Stenka Razin. During the years of the blockade, the plant supplied the city with food pulp, which served as a filler for bread. After the war, the workshops underwent reconstruction and modernization, in 1958 the first mechanized bottling line was put into operation.
In the early 90s, the company became a joint-stock company, and in 2005 it was bought out by the international concern Heineken. After that, the company did not last long – four years later, production was stopped, and a representative center of the company was opened on the premises. Then the building was sold for the organization of warehouses. The release of popular brands, including Stepan Razin beer, was transferred to the Heineken Brewery.
Interesting Facts
With the outbreak of World War I, the “Dry Law” was introduced in the Russian Empire. The plant at that time produced starch, yeast and roasted green coffee. Beer was not produced even after the revolution, the decision to restore production was made only in 1922.
In 2016, Heineken entered into a contract between the Stepan Razin brand and FC Zenit. In honor of this event, Zenitovskoye beer was released, decorated in the club’s traditional blue and white colors.
Types of beer “Stepan Razin”
Stepan Razin Petrovskoye, 4,7%
The most popular beer in the range is a light golden color with lush foam and aromas of hops and malt. The taste is refreshing with classic grain tones and pleasant bitterness. The variety has won 11 awards in tasting competitions.
Stepan Razin Special, 4,7%
The beer was developed by the company specifically for fans of the brand, as evidenced by the name. The aroma is clean and fresh, with a predominance of malt tones. The grainy sweetness offsets the hop bitterness. “Special” – the owner of 9 medals and honorary awards.
Stepan Razin Zenitovskoe, 4,1%
The official brand of beer of the St. Petersburg team “Zenit” is addressed to all fans of the club. The low-strength pale lager is positioned by the company as more premium than other varieties. Beer with a light malt aroma and dense foam. The taste is fresh and pleasant, without excessive bitterness.
Stepan Razin Donskoy character, 4,3%
The drink is designed for customers from the southern part of Russia. Due to the low alcohol content and low density, the beer is easy to drink and quenches thirst well. Herbal tones are felt in the aroma, the taste is slightly sweet with a moderate bitterness at the finish.
