BEER IS OUR PASSION!

Beer is the most ancient and frequently used of all alcoholic beverages in the world, as to its popularity – it ranks third after water and tea. Beer is brewed from malted barley or wheat. Malt can be also made from maize and rice. Beer wort is gained from boiling malt, to which hops are added later. It is hops that give beer its characteristic fragrance and bitterness. Beer wort is placed in special vessels and chilled; then yeast is added to let the fermentation start. This process is held secret by each brewery because exactly at the last stage of beer fermentation the beverage gains its special taste nuances.

Already at times of the Kingdom of Babylon the Hammurabi’s Code of Laws said that those who broke the rules of beer brewery and trade as well as those who failed to behave in a proper manner while drinking beer would be put to death. Beer should be treated with respect; beer was first brewed 8000 B.C. in Palestine. In Egypt, during the rule of pharaoh Ramses beer was even offered to gods as a sacrifice. Around 5000 B.C. beer found its way to Europe through the river Danube and the Mediterranean Sea. Although ancient Romans rather preferred wine, beer was still quite popular in the Northern provinces and in Greece.

After the fall of the Roman Empire the abbeys, which had beer breweries fell under the rule of the Church. In the XIV and XV centuries beer became a popular folk beverage; it was recommended to drink beer rather than water to keep off breakouts of plague and cholera. In the XVII century brewers started mixing various additives into beer which lead to creation of many new beer varieties.

In Cesis beer has been brewed since 1590. Beer brewery was first mentioned in the Cesis Castle revision report, which contained records referring to malt kiln and hops garden. It is in Cesis Castle where the first beer brewery in Latvia was located. At those times the brewery contained a cauldron with three barrels’ capacity, besides there were three beer tubs. Next to the brewery there was a small room used for kneading; behind the brewery stood a small chapel. Today Cesis is the place where a most advanced and modern beer and non-alcoholic beverages producing unit in Latvia is located and where beer-making process is treated with special thoughtfulness and care.

We love our beer, beer is our real passion. Enjoy your great meal, follow it with beer and share it all with your friends – that will bring joy and peace to your heart!

Your restaurant «Merlin» and «Cēsu Alus»