First festival of Ossetian national beer launched on August 2nd continues to September 25th
Ossetian beer is one of the national symbols, and the tradition of brewing is as ancient as that of making Osseti cheese or the “three pie” ceremony. Caucasian epic poems, Nart sagas, attribute the invention of brewing to Satanaya, the mother of the Narts, herself. The art of brewing beer is passed down from generation to generation in every Ossetian family.
Following the successful principle of the Munich Oktoberfest, Ossetian brewers and public activists decided to organize their own beer festival, which would not only benefit the Republic’s economy, but would also demonstrate this rich and ancient home-brewing tradition to people all over the Russian Federation. The ‘Eeron baegaeny – 2010’ festival was launched on August 2nd and is due to come finish on September 2nd – the day of the city holiday in Vladikavkaz.
The official host of the festival is the North Ossetian Culture and Communications Ministry, while ‘Bavaria Brewery’, a North Ossetian Company, is its official sponsor. ‘Bavaria’ provides participants with all necessary materials and organizes tastings and in return hopes to obtain the unique recipes of the Ossetian brewers.
In Ossetia, beer is not a mere merchandize, it’s a part of the traditional culture. Even the North Ossetian University has its own brewing department and its students are taking part in the brewing competition. The ‘Bavaria’ company plans to put the winning recipe on the market soon after the end of the festival.
Tamara Bunturi, Vladikavkaz, exclusively to VK
