Czech Republic & Russia: Czech beer increases popularity among Russian beer drinkers

Czech brewers are raising mugs to the growing popularity of imported beer in Russia. Sales of Czech beer in Russia rose more than 30 percent last year to nearly 125,000 hectolitres, a trade group told the financial daily Hospodarske noviny June 19.

Russia is one of the world's fastest growing beer markets, attracting Czech brewers such as Krusovice and Budejovicky Budvar.

Budvar's sales chief Robert Chrt said Russia topped Austria last year to become the company's fourth-largest foreign market.

However, some Czech brewers are struggling to navigate a certification process that restricts entrance to the Russian market.

An official representing small Czech brewers criticized Moscow for "nonsensical trade barriers," but said the issue was the subject of ongoing talks between the Czech and Russian governments.

Czech beer built a good reputation among Russians during the Soviet era, when Prague and Moscow were Cold War allies.

"Many Russians still remember that it (Czech beer) was a premium brand in the time of the Soviet Union," said Jan Vesely of the Czech Beer and Malt Association.

20 June, 2006