Ukrainian golden ale

Lore & Background

Ukrainian golden ale was first brewed at John Huges Brewery in Donets'k by Dmytro Nekrasov in 2009. The recipe was inspired by German Reinheitsgebot (no sugar additions) and Belgian brewing traditions, the latter discovered during Nekrasov's trip to Belgium urged by brewery owner Vasyl Mykulin. Being 100% malt based, the beer differed from Belgian counterparts by being hazy, fuller in body, and sweeter, though initially sold as Belgian Ale. Ingredient availability influenced the recipe: initially dry S-33 yeast was used, with subsequent use of the same strain, US 05, or a mix of both.

After the occupation of Donets'k, both Nekrasov and Mykulin fled the city and began brewing at different breweries, taking the Golden Ale with them. The style gained a following as a stepping stone for beer lovers, a middle ground between mass-market beer and new-wave beer, being quite approachable. For a time, the beers were labeled as generic 'Golden Ale' or 'Belgian Ale' due to the lack of uninterrupted brewing tradition in Ukraine and the persistent perception of foreign beers as superior.

Reader's Guide

The campaign for recognition of Ukrainian golden ale as a local style began in 2021, with final tastings and compiling of a proper description in January 2022. A group of enthusiasts, Independent Brewers of Ukraine, breweries, and independent members of the beer community promoted the style actively around the world by pouring the beer at festivals, collaborating with international breweries, and spreading the word. By that time, the style was brewed in the US, England, Scotland, Denmark, Poland, Ireland, Canada, and Ecuador, with some beers becoming core-range fixtures instead of one-offs. Ukrainian golden ale was a special category at the U.S. Open Beer Competition in 2022, and the same year it got its own category on Untappd. In July 2023, the style became part of the Beer Style Guidelines of EBCU. The style's significance lies in its role as an approachable bridge for drinkers and its successful international recognition despite the disruption of its original brewing region.

Did You Know?

• Ukrainian golden ale was first brewed in 2009 at John Huges Brewery in Donets'k by Dmytro Nekrasov.
• The style is 100% malt based with no sugar additions, following the German Reinheitsgebot.
• Coriander seeds are often used, and the beer can be lightly dry-hopped with aroma hops.
• In 2021, Ukrainians consumed an estimated 1.25 million liters of golden ale.