Many prefer exclusively imported beers. But in vain. In Samara, the old Zhigulevsky brewery works, whose products are of excellent quality.
How it all began
It was founded in 1880 by Alfred von Wakano.He didn't have to start a business from scratch. On the banks of the Volga there was already a brewery owned by the city government. Previously, it was owned by the merchant Bureyev, who was unable to organize the work of the brewery in such a way that it would bring profit. So Zhigulevsky Brewery was rented for 100 years.
Immediately for the cause
Mr. Von Wakano started productionNew beers - "Vienna" and "Vienna Table". During the year he managed to work out 35,670 buckets of frothy drink. Not only the production involved von Wakano. He demolished the old and rebuilt the new buildings of the plant, ennobled the embankment and surroundings. Thanks to his efforts in the premises, it was very clean, which was unusual for the Russian reality of the time, as was the electric lighting that was carried out everywhere on the territory. The owner constantly improved his offspring, expanded production, completed the building. Over time, a single-storey stone barn was built for storing dishes and malt, a pump house, a filtering station, residential houses, carpentry and metalworking workshops. A little later, a two-story forge, an elevator, and a warehouse appeared.
Universal acceptance
The owner of the plants established the Partnership in 1881,and in 1896, it already received the gold medal at the trade and industrial exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod. In 1900, the Zhigulevsky Brewery received the highest award at the Paris Industrial Exhibition, in 1902 - in London, in 1903 - in Rome. The total number of gold medals received in 14 years - 15, to this must be added the other prestigious awards received during this time.
Diverse Interests
In the possession of Alfred von Wakano was notonly Zhiguli brewery. Seven years later he built a gas factory. In exchange for permitting the construction, the city authorities demanded to supply the local theater and the Strukovsky Garden with gas. Von Vacano agreed to these terms. The partnership owned several steamers and had its own pier. In addition, the factory owner did a lot for the arrangement of the city itself. He laid the tram lines, sewers, kept built at his expense and transferred to the city hospital. They laid down Pushkin Square and sanctified Theatrical Hill. Von Vacano has assembled a rich collection of Asian and European art. Now she is in the Samara Art Museum.
What happened next
Несмотря на все добрые дела, Альфреда фон Вакано and his son Vladimir in 1915 were exiled to Buzuluk on suspicion of espionage. Before that, the Zhiguli brewery itself was closed. Samara never saw von Wakano as its owner again. This happened also because the prohibition was passed in 1914, the authorities fought hard with alcoholic beverages. From 1915 to 1920, production was suspended. The factory premises became warehouses where grenades and ammunition were stored. The mill organized the production of canned food for the army. After 1920, the Zhiguli Brewery (Samara), the photos of which are presented in this article, became owned by the Council of the National Economy. In 1923, Alfred von Wakano’s two sons, Erich and Leo, would rent the factory for 12 years and start brewing beer again. However, for a long time they will not linger on it, and he will again become the property of the state trust. Beer is brewed on it now. Since 1992, the plant has been owned by Zhiguli Beer LLP. A memorial plate with the name of von Wakano is placed on the factory building.
Nowadays
Over the years, the plant was reconstructed,expanded its territory. The main thing is that production was saved and even increased. Who today is not familiar with this kind of beer, like "Zhigulevskoe"? This drink is made from light malt, barley and hops. At exhibitions, this variety takes prizes. Few people know that this is the former "Vienna", which was renamed in 1934 by the people's commissar of the food industry Mikoyan.
Another popular drink name thathere produce, - "Samara". It was developed in 1959. The creator was the chief brewer of the plant A. Kasyanov. Several other beers produced at the plant are named after its first owner: “Von Vakano”, “Von Vakano 1881”, “Von Vakano Elit”, “Von Vakano Venskoe”. By tradition, all components of the drink are natural. In addition to alcoholic beverages, at the Zhiguli plant they produce lemonade known to everyone: “Buratino”, “Sayany”, “Pear” and others - as well as pure sparkling water.
Zhigulevsky brewery (Samara), addresswhich: Volzhsky Avenue, Building 4, - is a landmark of this city. We can be proud of our country, where they produce such high-quality beer, using for this and ancient recipes. However, the story of Alfred von Wakano makes you wonder if you were fair to the person who did so much for Samara?
