Beer in Armenia

Beer is produced in Armenia since ancient times. In the 5th century BC, after arriving in a village in Ancient Armenia (possibly in the territory of Artsakh), Xenophon wrote in the Anabasis that "There were stored wheat, barley, vegetables, and barley wine in the craters (clay pots). In upper level of vessels with the edges in the wine floated barley, and there was stuck a reed, large and small sizes and who wanted to drink, had to taken a reed in his mouth and pull it through the wine. Not mixed with water, the wine was very strong, but for local people it was a very pleasant drink".

Brewing Companies

As of 2016, the following brewing companies are operating in Armenia:

Beer of Yerevan

Kilikia Beer from the Beer of Yerevan

• Kilikia Beer, Yerevan Beer, Hayer Beer and Městské Pivo from the Beer of Yerevan brewery, located in Yerevan. Opened in 1952, it is the largest brewery in Armenia. Currently, several types of beer are produced and bottled by the brewery:
  • Kilikia, pale lager, alcohol at least 4.8%.
  • Kilikia 1952, pale lager, alcohol at least 4.8%.
  • Kilikia 11, pale lager, alcohol at least 4.6%.
  • Kilikia Celebratory, pale lager, alcohol at least 5.3%.
  • Kilikia Elitar, pale lager, alcohol at least 5.6%.
  • Kilikia Jubilee, pale lager, alcohol at least 5.1%.
  • Kilikia Light ,pale lager, alcohol at least 4.5%.
  • Kilikia Youth, pale lager, alcohol at least 4.8%.
  • Kilikia Dark, Oktoberfestbier / Märzen, alcohol at least 4.4%.
  • Kilikia 0, low alcohol, alcohol at maximum 0.5%.
  • Kilikia Tonakan, premium lager, alcohol at least 5.3%.
  • Kilikia Dymchatoe Svetloe, smoked beer, alcohol at least 4.8%.
  • Kilikia Dymchatoe Temnoe, smoked beer, alcohol at least 4.4%.
  • Yerevan Premium, pale lager, at least 4.8%.
  • Yerevan Zhigulyovskoe, pale lager, alcohol at least 5%.
  • Hayer, pilsner, alcohol at least 4.9%.
  • Městské Pivo, pilsner, alcohol at least 4.8%.

Gyumri-Beer

Ararat Premium Beer from the Gyumri Brewery

• Gyumri Beer, Ararat Beer and Aleksandrapol Beer from the Gyumri-Beer brewery, located in Gyumri. Opened in 1970, it is the 2nd-largest brewery in Armenia. Currently, 6 types of pale lager beer are produced and bottled by the brewery under the Gyumri, Ararat and Aleksandrapol:
  • Gyumri, pale lager, alcohol at least 4.5%.
  • Gyumri Gold, pale lager, wort extract is 13%, alcohol at least 4.7%.
  • Gyumri 11, pale lager, wort extract is 11%, alcohol at least 4%.
  • Gyumri Classic, pale lager, wort extract is 11%, alcohol at least 4%.
  • Ararat Premium, pale lager, alcohol at least 4.5%.
  • Aleksandrapol Premium, pale lager, alcohol at least 4.5%.

Kotayk Brewery

• Kotayk Beer and Erebuni Beer from the Kotayk Brewery, located in Abovyan. Opened in 1974, it is the 3rd-largest brewery in Armenia. Currently, 5 types of lager beer are produced and bottled by the brewery:
  • Kotayk, pale lager, alcohol at least 5.2%.
  • Kotayk Gold, pale lager, alcohol at least 5.6%.
  • Kotayk Tshani, pale lager, alcohol at least 5.2%.
  • Erebuni, strong lager, alcohol at least 6.4%.
  • Erebuni 14, pale lager, alcohol at least 4.8%.

Lihnitis Sevan Brewery

• Kellers Beer from the Lihnitis Sevan Brewery, located in Sevan. Opened in 2007, currently 1 type of lager beer is produced and bottled by the brewery:
  • Kellers, pale lager, bottled and pasteurized, wort extract is 11.5%, alcohol at least 4.4%.
• The brewery also produces 3 types of lager, that are only available in the brewery's pub (draught beer):
  • Kellers Gold Draught, pale lager, unfiltered, wort extract is 11.5%, alcohol at least 4.4%.
  • Kellers Gold Filtered, pale lager, unpasteurized, wort extract is 11.5%, alcohol at least 4.4%.
  • Kellers Dark Draught, dunkel, unfiltered, wort extract is 13%, alcohol at least 4.8%.

Hayasy Group

• Hayasy Beer from the Hayasy Group, located in Voskevaz. Opened in 2011, currently 3 types of lager beer are produced and bottled by the brewery:
  • Hayasy Classic, premium lager, alcohol at least 4.5%.
  • Hayasy Black, black beer.
  • Hayasy Exclusive, pale lager, alcohol at least 4.4%.

Ginevan Factory

• Ginevan Beer from the Ginevan Factory, located in Abovyan. Opened in 2011, currently 4 types of lager beer are produced and bottled by the brewery:
  • Ginevan Classic, pale lager, alcohol at least 4.8%.
  • Ginevan Elitar, premium lager, alcohol at least 5.6%.
  • Ginevan Dark, dark lager, alcohol at least 4.4%.
  • Ginevan Platinum, pilsner, alcohol at least 5.1%.

Draught beer brewery-restaurants

As of 2016, the Armenian capital Yerevan is home to 3 brewery-restaurants that produce and serve draught beer:

AM Group

• Jäger Beer Armenia and Roskvas from the AM Group beer producers in Tairov, Armavir Province. Opened in 1998, it currently serves the Jäger Armenia unfiltered beer and Roskvas kvass (Slavic and Baltic fermented beverage) in several beer-houses throughout Yerevan.

10 Out of 10 Entertainment Complex

• Blonder Beer from the 10 Out of Ten Entertainment Complex in Yerevan. Opened in 2000, it currently serves the Slovak pilsner beer Blonder produced and served in the complex.

Karloff Czech Brewery-Restaurant

• Karloff Beer from the Karloff Czech Brewery-Restaurant in Yerevan. Opened in 2012, it currently serves many types of beer:
  • Karloff Classic, pilsner.
  • Karloff Dark, dunkel.
  • Karloff Gold, Dortmunder / Helles.

Beer Academy Yerevan

• Academia Beer from the Beer Academy Yerevan in the capital of Armenia. Opened in 2012, it currently serves many types of beer:
  • Academia Bitter, bitter beer, alcohol at least 4.8%.
  • Academia Dunkel, dunkel, alcohol at least 4.8%.
  • Academia Pils, pilsner,alcohol at least 4.6%.
  • Academia Weizen, weizenbier, alcohol at least 4.8%.

Academia Weizen Bock alcohol at least 7% Academia Ginger alcohol at least 4.6%

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has a single beer producer, the Varaga Brewery operating since 2003 in the town of Askeran, and producing the Varaga pale lager beer.