Zhigulevsky brewery in Samara

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 did not have to start from scratch. Already on the bank of the Volga there was a brewing factory owned by the city government. Earlier, he owned the merchant Bureev, who could not organize the work of the brewery in such a way that it would bring profit. So Zhigulevsky brewery was leased for 100 years.

Go for a deal

Mr. von Wakano started the production of new varieties of beer - "Vienna" and "Vienna canteen". During the year, he managed to produce 35,670 buckets of foam drink. Not only did Von Wakano deal with production. He demolished the old and rebuilt the new factory buildings, ennobled the embankment and the surrounding area. Thanks to his efforts in the production premises was very clean, which was an unusual phenomenon for the Russian reality of that time, as well as the electric lighting that was carried out on the territory everywhere. The owner constantly improved his offspring, expanded production, completed the building. Over time, a one-story stone barn for storing utensils and malt was built, a water pump, a filter station, apartment houses, carpentry and locksmith's workshops. A little later, a two-storey smithy, an elevator, a warehouse appeared.

Universal recognition

The owner of the factories established the Association in 1881, and in 1896 it already received the gold medal of the trade and industrial exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod. In 1900 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 over 14 years is 15, to this one should add other prestigious awards received during this time.

Versatile interests

In the possession of Alfred von Wakano was not only Zhigulevsky brewery. Seven years later he built a gas factory. City authorities in exchange for building permission required to supply gas to the local theater and Strukovsky garden. Von Wakano agreed with these conditions. The association owned several steamships and had its own wharf. In addition, the factory owner did a lot for the arrangement of the city itself. He laid tram lines, sewerage, and kept a hospital built at his expense and transferred to the city. They laid down Pushkin Square and refined the Theater Hill. Von Wakano collected a rich collection of works of art from Asia and Europe. Now she is in the Samara Art Museum.

What happened next

Despite all the good deeds, Alfred von Wakano and his son Vladimir were exiled to Buzuluk in 1915 on suspicion of espionage. Before that, the Zhigulevsky brewery itself was closed down. Samara never saw von Wakano as its owner. This happened also for the reason that in 1914 the dry law was adopted, the authorities zealously struggled with alcoholic beverages. From 1915 to 1920, production was suspended. The factory premises turned into warehouses, where grenades and ammunition were stored. The mill organized the production of canned food for the needs of the army. After 1920, Zhigulevsky brewery (Samara), a photo of which is presented in this article, began to belong to the council of the national economy. In 1923, the two sons of Alfred von Wakano, Erich and Leo, will take the plant for rent for 12 years and start to brew beer again. However, they will not stay on it for long, and it will again become the property of the state trust. Beer is cooked on it now. Since 1992 the factory is owned by Zhigulevskoe Pivo LLP. On the factory building is a memorial tablet named von Wakano.

Nowadays

Over the years, the plant was reconstructed and its territory expanded. The main thing is that the production has been preserved and even increased. Who in our day is not familiar with this sort of beer, like "Zhigulevskoe"? This drink is prepared from light malt, barley and hops. At the exhibitions this variety takes prizes. Few people know that this is the former "Vienna", which was renamed in 1934 with the light hand of the food addict Mikoyan.

Another popular name for the drink that is produced here is "Samarskoye". It was developed in 1959. The founder 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 Vienna. By kind tradition, all components of the drink are natural. In addition to alcoholic beverages, the Zhigulevsky plant produces familiar lemonades: "Buratino", "Sayany", "Grusha" and others - as well as pure soda water.

Zhigulevsky brewery (Samara), whose address: Volzhsky Avenue, house 4, is a landmark of this city. We can be proud of our country, where such high-quality beer is produced, using old recipes for this. However, the story of Alfred von Wakano makes one wonder whether he did the right thing with the man who did so much for Samara?