Ukrainian Golden Ale is a style which was confined to the borders of the country, being a hidden treasure for 13 years. Its beginnings were humble, brewed on-site in a three-story restaurant in Donetsk until it was taken by Russians in 2014. The campaign to get the style officially recognised began in 2021, but got additional traction as the war broke out. Since then, Ukrainian Golden Ale has been brewed in 5 more countries, with more to come. It’s somewhere in between Belgian Golden Strong Ale and British Golden Ale, being lighter than the former, but boozier than the latter; devoid of typical Belgian phenolics, a bit hoppier, just a touch grainier, with a fuller body and a very recognizable sweet finish. It’s a pleasure and honour to be adding something to the global experience, heritage, and brewing tradition.
Lana is a writer, translator and educator from Kyiv, Ukraine. Lana is the first Certified Cicerone in Ukraine and a qualified Beer Judge Certification Program beer judge. Lana works to centralise women’s expertise and beer appreciation within Ukrainian beer culture.
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