Beer "Riga": description, composition, types, producer and reviews

Beer is a unique intoxicating drink that quenches thirst, improves mood and improves appetite. Who would have thought that his origins go back centuries? As it turned out, they knew about him in Russia. For a long time, the formula and composition of this drink have changed. That's only the names by virtue of tradition have not changed. One of these immortal species is the beer "Rizhskoe". What kind of drink is this? What does he look like? What kinds of things happen? And what is its composition?

Short excursion in the times of the USSR

Many people associate memories of the well-known unification of the USSR for some reason solely with beer Zhigulevsky. But only in those days there were other kinds of this intoxicating drink, which some Soviet era admirers forget for some reason.

So, after the war in the Union, a number of production changes occurred, including the impact on the brewing industry. At that time, "Russian beer" was distributed, which after the introduction of the all-union state standard (GOST 3473-46) was given a new name. From this day on the labels began to write - "Riga Beer". The USSR, to the surprise of many, supported the change of names. It's time for change. And in the Union it was understood, although shortly before that, quite a long time, everything foreign was considered "bourgeois."

What was the "Riga" in the USSR?

According to historians, the composition of beer, the amount of sugar, yeast and other ingredients changed not only over time, but also depending on the implemented quality standards. For example, after the introduction of a new GOST 3473-53, special yeast was added to the Riga Beer, which did not lead to fermentation of sucrose. As a result, the drink acquired a pronounced intoxicating taste.

In the late 60's, the beer "Rizhskoe" (according to GOST it met the standards of 53 years) received an additional prefix "Original". As a result, in the assortment line of alcoholic beverage from light varieties one more species was added, possessing a characteristic hop flavor, a specific aroma and pleasant bitterness.

A short extract from the Soviet directory

If you believe the old Soviet directories, the editions of which date back to 1974, then the "Riga" at that time was characterized as a bitter beer. Here that about it write: "Riga" represents a light beer made from one malt. In its taste, there is a special hop bitterness, comparable to the wonderful aroma of hops. For its preparation, 3.2% alcohol, 30 grams of hops, and the fermentation process lasted 7-8 days.

Also in the reference books mentioned beer "Riga Original". It is described as a drink with a more pronounced hop flavor and a rich aroma. Based on the data, the highest grade of malt was used to produce this beer, 35 g of hops were used, and the fermentation process lasted 8-9 days.

General information about the modern "Riga"

Years later, on the shelves of our stores, there are still names from the bygone era of the Soviet era. Including almost in every supermarket and a store you can meet already beloved by many bright "Riga". According to the producers, it includes the following ingredients:

• water;
• Malt of light type;
• hop.

Beer "Rizhskoe" light is most often brewed according to the current GOST R51174-98. This means that the percentage of alcohol in it is no more than 4.5%, and its density is 12%. You can buy a similar drink in a 0.5 liter glass bottle and in plastic containers of 1.5 and 3.0 liters.

What kinds of "Riga beer" can be found today?

If before the production of "Riga" was limited to one or two species, then at the moment there is a huge amount of beer in the menu of the beer lover. For example, it is not only light, but also filtered, unfiltered, bottle, bottled, live, pasteurized. His choice depends on the taste preferences of the connoisseurs of the foamy drink.

Manufacturers of "Riga beer": Kirov and Tomsk factories

The number of producers who can offer several variants of the Riga beer is enormous. For example, the Kirov factory "Vyatich" offers "Rizhskoye" beer of light varieties with a sweetish malt aroma and soft, clean taste. According to many users, this drink contains a bit of bitterness. However, all of it remains on the larynx, where it lasts for a long time.

Its "Riga" is and "Tomsk beer" - a light foamy pasteurized beverage from barley, which does not contain preservatives. According to the manufacturer's idea, it is produced in glass containers of 0.5 liters and is manufactured in accordance with GOST R51174-98.

Manufacturing companies: Lyskovsky, Krasnodar and Tricosensky plants

Beer "Riga Bar" is at the Lyskovsky brewery, located in the Nizhny Novgorod region. According to the manufacturer, this brand of beverage is produced in 2012. In its composition, in addition to the ingredients already known to us, includes corn groats and barley light malt.

This drink is a filtered pasteurized and lager beer, which due to corn cereal does not contain the usual bitterness. There is "Riga Original" in the Krasnodar brewery, where it is produced since 1957. This beer is light and slightly bitter. The Tricosensky plant also has a "Riga beer". Tricosenskoe, according to many users, has a sweetish, sugar, if not lemonade taste. And some peepman indicate a fruit-berry aftertaste. According to their stories, they managed to catch the delicate taste of gooseberries, apples and even plums, but not rye bread and hops.

Bottling or bottle: what is better?

As we said earlier, "Riga" is bottled and bottled. Which beer is better? The question is controversial. Here, as they say, it's a matter of taste and habit. For example, some users believe that there is nothing better than a real "live" drink, which is recommended to use in ready-made form (and the earlier, the better).

According to them, canned or bottled beer has passed a number of treatments. So, if you are holding a bottle of foam drink, be sure that the beer in it is either filtered or pasteurized. Consequently, it contains preservatives that extend the shelf life. Beer "Riga" spillage, on the contrary, is stored for a short time and does not contain harmful impurities and substances.

As a rule, such a drink is bottled 1-2 days before its implementation and brewed according to a special technology that allows to maximally reveal and preserve all the taste qualities of beer.

How much "live" beer is better than unfiltered?

In addition, the beer "Riga" is filtered and unfiltered. Undoubtedly, a drink that has undergone less processing is more useful and safer for health. In addition, it is rich in taste and a special flavor. In this case, the most lucrative is "live" beer. However, recently it even began to take positions in front of the unfiltered drink.

By the way, some peepman are still convinced that these concepts are identical. Only unfiltered beer passed pasteurization, therefore, it is not always "alive". In addition, many manufacturers in it add preservatives, in order to extend the period of sale of products. As a result, useful and tasty yeast bacteria perish.

What is the pasteurization of beer?

According to the staff of one of the breweries where "Rizhskoye" beer is produced (reviews and opinions about it can be heard both from consumers with experience and from beginning admirers of this drink), pasteurization is necessary to artificially increase the terms of product realization.

It is performed according to the following scheme: first the beer undergoes rapid heating, and then cooling. After that, the drink is bottled and tightly closed with a lid. As a result, the fermentation process seems to be frozen, and the beer partially loses its original taste.

Reviews and opinions: what do they say about the "Riga beer"?

Like any other liquor, "Riga" has its dedicated fans and people who for some reason did not like the beer. For example, one user liked the products of the Velikoustyug brewery "Bavaria". According to them, impressed by the pleasant taste, the absence of bitterness and the presence in the composition of natural products (without any additives).

Others liked the light "Riga" filtered and unpasteurized from the Kirov "Vyatich". In their opinion, it smells nice, "like freshly mown grass on mowing." Others noticed a bit of bitterness in the same beer and were disappointed. Still others, on the contrary, spoke of a pleasant aftertaste and weak bitterness.

Some liked the bar beer of the Laskovsky Brewery. In their opinion, I liked the amber color, transparency, pleasant taste and lush foam. Another "Riga" from the line of this plant did not like. To a greater extent, they were not satisfied with "sugary malt-caramel, too sweet taste."

There were also users who appreciated the Tomsk "Riga". According to their story, it reminded the taste of the painfully familiar beer of the times of the USSR. Others complained about a large amount of foam. From their words it became clear that it was she who occupied 2/5 of the whole glass.

In a word, "Riga" is a tribute to the past Soviet era, which for a long time will be spoken with nostalgia. That's just it, like any other product, has both its supporters and ardent opponents. Fortunately, the choice of beer production is huge, therefore, everyone can find his "Riga" in it and evaluate its quality.