In Cold War times the poster child of brewing in the Soviet bloc was Czechoslovakia, though East Germany, Poland and Ukraine were also acknowledged as having particularly skilled brewers.
Before its war with Russia, Ukraine had around 250 small independent breweries, some of which had started to export their beers to countries across Europe, and to North America.
With Ukrainian brewing disrupted by the current conflict, it can be argued that its fame has spread rather more rapidly than it might have done, as Ukrainian brewers in exile, and some who have remained in the country, are using collaboration brewing to build their reputation, ahead of more peaceful times.
While most Ukrainian craft brewing can be understood within regular style parameters, one style is distinctly of its homeland.
Ukrainian Golden
Ukraine joined the craft beer revolution in the early 2000s and by 2009 had developed a style of golden beer that has no real equivalent elsewhere. Stronger than a British Golden ale but lighter than a Belgian Strong golden, this semi-dry, full-bodied ale (6.0-7.5% ABV) is malt-driven and often has a lingering, sweetish aftertaste. Hopping can be classical or modern but tends to be restrained. A bit of coriander is often added.
