The Yuzberg beer brand had every chance of becoming one of the best in Russia. Fans appreciated the impeccable quality of beer, the magnificent design of the bottle and label. However, the owners of the Suzdal brewing company, where Yuzberg is produced, have problems of such magnitude that it is now difficult to judge whether the brand will be saved.
Historical reference. The plant, owned by Suzdal Brewing Company LLC, was built in 2010 in the village of Chirikovo, Suzdal District, Vladimir Region. It is only 14 km to the regional center from here, and 200 km to Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod.
The owner of the company, Russian businessman Alexander Yuzvik, decided to create a beer that could compete with famous foreign varieties. The equipment for the enterprise was purchased from the German company GEA Brewery SystemsGmbH, its specialists advised the technologists of the Suzdal brewery. Beer immediately began to brew exclusively from German yeast, malt and hops. Initially, the plant produced 65 hectoliters per year, but subsequently had to reach the design capacity of up to 000 million hectoliters.
The development of the new brand was taken up by the Wellhead studio. Its designers created the Yuzberg brand logo – a majestic golden griffin. An elegant bottle with a notch in the middle (so that fingers do not slip) was decorated with an embossed image of the same griffin. The labels are made in the classical style, with typical German landscapes placed on them.
The first two Uesberg beers, Weissbier and Münchener Helles, went on sale in the spring of 2013. In autumn, the company released two more varieties: Kellerbier and Schwarzbier. Especially hot discussion among connoisseurs caused the last variety. Connoisseurs have argued that the sweet notes of toffee and fruit on the palate of Juesberg Schwarzbier are much more appropriate for a Belgian ale than for a German dark lager.
The fans were already anticipating that the Bock and Marzen varieties would soon go on sale, completing the German collection, and then the company’s technologists would deal with traditional Belgian, Czech or English recipes. However, the euro exchange rate unexpectedly rose, and all raw materials were imported!
The company carried out several not very transparent financial transactions, was fined a large amount, and was unable to repay the loan to Sberbank. In the fall of 2017, Alexander Yuzvik was declared bankrupt, and in the spring of 2018, Sberbank put up a brewery in Chirikov for sale. The former owner is still challenging this decision in the courts.
All this time, the plant still produces beer. So far, it has been possible to maintain its quality at the proper level, but the future of the enterprise is vague, so there can be no talk of any new varieties.
Types of beer “Uzberg”
“Uzberg Weissbier” – unfiltered top-fermented wheat beer (light, cloudy, pasteurized), strength – 4,9%, density – 13,1%, head retention – 6 minutes. Banana-clove notes in the taste effectively emphasize the piquancy of hop bitterness.
Uzberg Münchener Helles is a pale filtered lager with a noticeable hop bitterness. Fortress – 4,8%, density – 11,9%.
Yuzberg Schwarzbier is a dark lager with caramel-fruity flavors. Fortress – 4,9%, density – 11,9%.
“Uzberg Kellerbier” is a light unfiltered lager with a velvety taste, in which bread and caramel shades are guessed, refreshing kvass sourness. Fortress – 4,4%, density – 11,1%.
