Beer in Armenia

Beer has a long and storied history in Armenia, dating back to ancient times. The renowned Greek historian Xenophon even referenced Armenian beer in the 5th century BCE! Fast forward to today, and the Yerevan Beer Fest, which has been held annually since 2014, celebrates this rich tradition by bringing together a variety of breweries and microbreweries from across the country. The festival is immensely popular, attracting thousands of beer enthusiasts.

The first modern brewery in Armenia, Zanga Brewery, was established in 1892. Although it closed in the 1920s, it laid the foundation for today's vibrant beer scene. Currently, Armenia is home to six major brewing companies: Beer of Yerevan Brewery, Gyumri Beer Brewery, Kotayk Brewery, Lihnitis Sevan Brewery, Hayasy Group, and Dilijan Brewery.

In addition, Armenia hosts a growing number of microbreweries and brewpubs that specialize in unfiltered beer. Some notable names include Alaverdi Draft Beer, AM Group, Art Beer 1680, Blonder Beer House and Brewery, Beer Academy Yerevan, Dargett Craft Beer, Tovmas Craft Beer, and Vladimir Hakobyan Microbrewery.

In the Republic of Artsakh, the beer scene is more modest but still noteworthy. The Central Brewpub in the capital city of Stepanakert is the region's sole brewery.