Although Latvia has a wide selection of beers and several small breweries, we still have something to strive for. At present, the products of small “craft” breweries mostly remain on the Latvian market. “Ziemeļu enkuram” even has to refuse orders in the summer, because the production capacity is barely able to meet the demand. There is not enough production yet to conquer foreign markets.
–
–
Content will continue after the ad
Advertising
–
There are many breweries in Latvia, but there is still room for development. Looking at the next five years, we can predict that competition will expand and new producers will come, but, of course, someone will not be able to withstand the competition and close down. It all depends on both production volumes and quality. We also have a place for growth in terms of product quality – at the same time there are both world-class “craft” beer and medium-level quality products on the market.
The biggest challenge is doing it
The competition “Mežpils prove” perfectly helps new breweries to take the first steps – this is where the story of the “Northern Anchor” began. I participated once and was in the final, participating next time, I already promised that in case of victory, a brewery will be opened. And so it happened. Beer production is not much different from other types of business – the beginning is not easy for anyone, but if there is enthusiasm, everything will work out. Brewing is not NASA’s science – of course, production has specific formulas and a bit of a creative aspect depending on the type of beer, but the biggest challenge is brewing. If you want to do it, everything else will come. The main thing is to enjoy the process when the smell of malt is felt in the air and the room becomes warm.
A higher price does not always mean excellent quality
Despite the wide range, consumers still want more choice. In addition, a Latvian beer connoisseur is also willing to pay more if he receives a high-quality product in return. I also buy more expensive beer from time to time to find new flavors and ideas. However, it should be remembered that when it comes to beer, as with many products, the quality may differ from the expectations. A higher price does not always mean excellent quality – labels can be many and varied, but when enjoying beer, a lot is decided by taste. Each beer has its own style, each brewery has its own brand. For example, the main feature of IPA is the bitterness caused by the large number of hops. When tasted for the first time, it may seem too bitter, but with each passing time new nuances of taste are revealed, the aroma of hops “pulls” and the beer no longer seems so bitter.
In summer – fruit beers, in winter – stronger
Beer is a drink that can have many different flavors, as well as flavor supplements. We have noticed that in summer people also like fruit beers with different flavors – mango, blueberry, raspberry, passion fruit, etc. tml. In winter, preference is given to stronger beers, IPA, etc. We have experimented with various additives, creating even pumpkin beer, which is very popular in the USA, but was not so in demand in Latvia. It should be noted that the beer produced by “Ziemeļu enkura” remains in Latvia. Although it is undeniable that I would also like to conquer export markets, there is still a lack of production capacity.
Small producers do not hide their recipes
To create new tastes, we often borrow ideas from other countries. I have been brewing beer myself for ten years. If you like a taste, I try to repeat it, at least create something similar. This is an interesting product, because you can’t make two identical beers, even though the small producers don’t hide their recipes and like to share them. Although, on the one hand, we are all competitors, at the same time we help and support each other. We also exchange information about the best raw materials – “Northern Anchor” uses English or German malt, yeast from France or Belgium, local berries, of course, we import the most exotic fruits. Hops come from all over the world – USA, Australia, etc
If we talk about the demand for “craft” beer, I predict that interest in it will not disappear in the future. This is not just a short-term fashion trend. To understand what is expected in the future in Latvia, it remains to look at the US trends – in the “craft” beer culture, they are about ten years ahead of us.
–
