Beer in Syria

Bottle caps of Al-Shark (Al-Sharq) and Barada beer, manufactured in Shumen, Bulgaria in 1988

In Syria, the production and distribution of beer is controlled by the government, and most widely sold through the army's Military Social Establishment supermarket chain and through small shops in city centres and Christian and Muslim areas. Imported beers are not common, although brands like Almaza, Heineken and Amstel are popular and available in hotels or smuggled to some stores in the different parts of cities. Two local brands of beer are available in Syria: Al-Sharq (from Aleppo) and Barada (from Damascus, The Barada Beer Company).

Beers

Barada beer

Barada beer is more popular, yet only by the virtue of availability. The quality of bottling is highly variable and frequently poor. However, the taste compensates for the poor bottling. It is 3.4% alcohol and has yellowish hazy color, fruity aroma, mild, light and fresh body.

Al-Sharq is frequently rated superior. It is slightly higher in alcohol (3.7%) and more delightful than the former. It is complex beer with medium malt body, yet fresh and distinctive.

Interestingly, both beers come in a one liter bottle.

Ancient history

The Ebla tablets, discovered in 1974 in Ebla, Syria and date back to 2500 BC, reveal that the city produced a variety of beers, including one that appears to be named after the city "Ebla".^[1]

References

Notes

1. ^ Michael Dumper, Bruce E. Stanley (2006). Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 141. http://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&pg=PA141&dq=tablets+of+ebla&as_brr=3&ei=80irS-iACpGmkATMnJWcDQ&cd=10#v=onepage&q=tablets%20of%20ebla&f=false. 

External links

• Syrian breweries
• Baradabeer