beer guide latvia - Labs alus

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“Latvian” beer style
With regards to Latvian beer, it is quite similar to average European lagers. There is no
distinct Latvian beer style, but usually plain and bittery pale lagers and overly sweet, possibly
diacetyl-laden dunkels are considered to carry Latvian characteristics. Dominant
sweetness in beer is not considered as a flaw by many of Latvian beer drinkers, even
opposite is often true - although the sweetness masks the flavour deficiencies, it helps
to hide the alcohol as well. This from the point of view of a beer drinker for whom the
overall aim of the evening is to get totally drunk, greatly increases drinkability.
If there was once a significant German influence to Latvian beers, especially during the
19th century, it disappeared almost completely already by the end of the 1920s. As the
G. Mīlbergs, Member of the Saeima (Latvian Parliament) mentions in the newspaper
in 1932 - “Czechoslovak beer is at least three times cheaper and better than Latvian beer”.
Sadly, there have not been as many changes as one could have expected since.
Currently the only clearly distinguishable German roots can be found in beers whose
recipes and equipment has been imported from Germany and Austria in the 1990s and
2000s, such as LIDO, Užavas, Brūvera, Valmiermuižas and partly Abula (Brenguļu).
There is one pleasant exception - Baltic Porter that is produced with lager yeast in this
region. Although the style did not originate in the Baltic States, Baltic Porter was highly
regarded in the Russian Empire (as the name of a similar style - Russian Imperial Stout
style suggests) to which Latvia belonged during these times. There are pitiable remnants
of this industry remaining in the region, but one or two occasional Baltic Porters are still
produced in Latvia.
There is no tradition of bottle-conditioning beers and 99% of Latvian beer (except for
one or two Hefeweizens) are lagers. Almost all bottled beer is filtered, only two or threee
unfiltered and bottled seasonals can be found. Of course, there are a couple more of unfiltered
beers available on-tap, but to much smaller extent than one would desire.
With regards to beer ingredients, although a significant portion of Latvian beer drinkers
assume otherwise, everything from yeast to grain (except, of course for water), is
imported as there is no commercial maltster in Latvia. With some exceptions during
the Soviet time, it has been mostly like this for the last century, but most of the breweries
do not want to admit this fact to the public as they often market their beer as a very
traditional drink.
Most highly regarded Latvian breweries
During April and May 2010 a survey was conducted by labsalus.lv asking 350 Latvian
beer drinkers to evaluate the Latvian breweries and beers they produce. Of course, it is
no easy and highly subjective task, as everyone has its favourites. Results obtained provide
some glimpses what beer savy locals consider to be as the best Latvian brews. I have
to add that I mostly do not share this view.
The score is plain and simple: 5 is maximum, 1 is minimum. As expected, the three
largest breweries have scored the worst, although there is no doubt that most of their
critics do not hesitate to consume this beer on a regular basis. But that is a part of human
nature.
1. Tērvetes 4.51
2. Užavas 4.39
3. Abula (Brenguļu) 4.21
Bauskas 4.07
Valmiermuižas 4.06
Piebalgas 3.90
LIDO 3.57
Brālis 3.16
Brūveris 3.09
Krāslavas 2.86
Madonas 2.83
Rēzeknes 2.80
Cēsu 2.55
Aldaris 2.50
Lāčplēsis/Līvu 2.36
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