Posted on 03/11/2005 5:39:43 AM PST by franksolich
ST. PETERSBURG, March 11 (Itar-Tass) -- The famous Russian St. Petersburg-based Baltika brewery is beginning beer shipments to Norway on Friday, its Director for exports Dmitry Kistev told Tass.
He said exports to Norway will begin with a batch of 10,000 liters.
Kistev said it was difficult to access the Norwegian market because of tough registration requirements and high taxes.
Baltika beer will be sold only through the state-run Vinmonopolet retail network.
The state monopoly conditioned the sale of Russian beer will begin in May.
The Baltika beer will be cheaper than other imported beer.
In 2004 the Baltika brewery sold a record of some two billion liters of beer in Russia. The company exports its products to 36 countries.
According to preliminary results, export sales in 2004 grew 14 percent and totaled 11.3 million dollars. In 2005 Baltika plans to increase exports by 20 percent.
To be bluntly honest, while I've watched beer markets for a long time, and even was manager of a liquor store once, I never heard of this "famous" "Baltika" beer--but my intimate familiarity with other Russian products leads me to suggest that Norwegians stick with their own beers, which are first-rate, top-notch beers anyway.
I had a Norwegian beer once about 12-13 years ago named "Rignes" (maybe incorrect spelling). I thought it was decent enough, never saw it again though.
I knew the taxes were high, but I didn't figure they were that high.
Teens cash in on old beer at Norway grocery
Sept 14, 2004 - An Oslo, Norway, grocery store paid two enterprising teens 7,000 kroner ($1,030) not to buy beer they couldn't have anyway. The Verdens Gang newspaper reported the two boys, ages 14 and 15, took advantage of the store's promise to pay shoppers a bonus if they found any products with expired freshness dates.
The Norwegian grocery store chain Kiwi offers to pay customers the retail price of any product they find that is past its "best by" date. So the teens started checking at a store on the outskirts of Oslo and found 280 cans of Carlsberg beer that were out of date.
They promptly loaded the 0.5-liter cans into shopping carts, and took them to the cashier. Clerks at the store weren't sure what to do since the boys were under 18, the minimum age for buying beer in Norway. They called their parents, and the police.
After it was determined that the boys had not tried to buy the beer, it was decided they were entitled to the reward. Because alcohol is heavily taxed in Norway, the retail price for each can they was 25 kroner ($3.67).
Where in Nebraska could one find Norwegian or Russian beer?
The hole-in-the-wall liquor stores, madam; the big places such as the "discount" grocery warehouses don't stock it.
The little tiny neighborhood stores.
Thanks, my husband appreciates good beer and I'm always on the look out for something different.
As odd as it might seem, at least in Nebraska (which has a different way of selling alcohol than most other states), the big grocery stores like Hy-Vee and Baker's and Bag'n Save handle only the most popular brands.
But most of the mom-and-pop operations--in Omaha, east of 72nd Street--in ethnic neighborhoods tend to carry the lesser-known brands.
I never paid much attention to liquor stores in Omaha, but I lived in Lincoln a long time, and there were always plenty of places to get imported beer, both for the American "palate" (such as watered-down Guiness Stout) and the real deal (such as Guiness Stout)--again, usually in the small stores, never the large ones.
Thanks again for the info. My husband traveled in Europe alot and detests most American beer, unless he brews it himself. The house we live in currently makes the home brew process a challenge, so it's easier to buy something. If one can find it. The Hy-vee by our house (West O) has some interesting Scotch beer and several English, Irish types but nothing really different. I'll try to find some of the mom and pop places next time I'm downtown.
An Australian Freeper had suggested some Aussie wine (not Yellow Tail, etc) and no one in this state carries it. I have called around to the local wine shops and they tell me getting something unique in Nebraska is a challenge. I wonder how Mr. Buffett gets good wine here. Maybe he flys it in himself. I like treasure hunts, so this gives me excuses to look in little shops I might usually avoid.
Strength 8.0%
But hey, that the wonders of "central planning". I'm sure the dems would want no less if they could pull the strings.
Leinenkugels'
Baltika is very good beer. I can get it around here for about $2.50 a bottle. Expensive, but good.
I can't quite read all of the label; even with my glasses on. Was this a lager type? A pilsner? What kind of beer do they make? Was the dark a stout?
Yes, I realize it's in Russian.
Thanks for the suggestions!
They have Baltika in Georgia? Wow!
They sell it for ~$1.50 here in Brooklyn, NY, by the way.
Horosho! Spaceeba! Good! Thanks!
$26.00 a case here in Western PA. The stuff in the blue label is OK...the stuff in the red label I don't care much for....
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