Golan Brewery

Archeological evidence has indicated that beer was produced in the Golan Heights in ancient times. The Golan Brewery, founded in late 2006 by Naftali Pinchevsky and Haim Ohayon, was established with a mind to reviving the region's ancient tradition. Years earlier Pinchevsky was importing homebrewing kits to Israel, but he was ahead of his time and the idea did not catch on. He later established Murphy's bars in Herzliya and Modi'in.{{cite news|last=Ashkenazi|first=Eli|title=New Katzrin brewery considers headlines as just more foam|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/new-katzrin-brewery-considers-headlines-as-just-more-foam-1.210283|accessdate=18 September 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=17 January 2007}}{{cite news|last=Arfa|first=Orit|title=The Beer Pioneers|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-133598562.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125075319/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-133598562.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2013|accessdate=18 September 2012|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=11 January 2007}}{{cite news|last=Cooper|first=Sagi|script-title=he:מבירה מקומית חדשה ועד היין שהרג את בטהובן|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3355851,00.html|accessdate=19 September 2012|newspaper=Ynet|date=24 January 2007|language=Hebrew}} Ohayon, a land developer who co-founded nearby Kanaf and who has also invested in the Hapoel Gilboa Galil basketball club and in a local genetics startup, says he is driven by a determination to demonstrate that "even though we are far from the center of the country, we will do it best."{{cite web|last=Levin|first=Itamar|script-title=he:רווח נקי|url=http://www.icpas.org.il/upload/articles/File/-852.pdf|publisher=Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Israel|accessdate=18 September 2012|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Net Profit|date=August 2008}}{{cite news|last=Shedmi |first=Haim |script-title=he:בירה, כדורסל, ושבבים גנטיים |url=http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000541523 |accessdate=18 September 2012 |newspaper=Globes |date=23 February 2010 |language=Hebrew |trans-title=Beer, basketball, and genetic microchips |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013913/http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000541523 |archivedate=5 March 2016 }}

In 2009 the Golan Brewery entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with the Golan Heights Winery, the latter investing {{Nowrap|₪3 million}} ({{Nowrap|$750,000}}) in the venture. Ohayon envisioned the joining of forces between the two entities as a vehicle for growing his brewery into the third largest in Israel.{{cite news|last=Yefet|first=Orna|title=Golan Heights Winery branches into beer|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3737471,00.html|accessdate=18 September 2012|newspaper=Ynetnews|date=27 June 2009|agency=Calcalist}} In 2012 the Golan Brewery was ranked seventh on a list of Israel's top ten microbreweries.{{cite web|last=Ben Tal|first=Daniel|title=Israel's top 10 microbreweries|url=http://israel21c.org/culture/israels-top-10-microbreweries/|publisher=Israel21c|accessdate=18 September 2012|date=19 April 2012}}

The premises of the Golan Brewery include the brewery itself, a brewpub and a visitor center. The brewpub is frequented by United Nations forces. Visitors can tour the brewery and view the brewing vats, cooling chambers and bottling area.{{cite news|last=Gilboa|first=Ram|script-title=he:בירה ציונית: חלק א'|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3965844,00.html|accessdate=18 September 2012|newspaper=Ynet|date=8 October 2010|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Zionist Beer: Part I}} German freelance brewmaster Nikolaus Starkmeth, a former cinematographer, was with the Golan Brewery since its establishment. He was replaced by Omri Zilberman in 2011. The brewery shuts down for the Passover holiday.{{cite news|last=Geller|first=Oren|title=Doppelbock und koschere Würste|url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/archiv/auf-den-besetzten-golanhoehen-braut-ein-deutscher-deutsches-bier-fuer-israelische-gaeste-doppelbock-und-koschere-wuerste,10810590,10506278.html|accessdate=18 September 2012|newspaper=Berliner Zeitung|date=21 September 2007|language=German}}{{cite news|last=Brandes|first=Sabine|title=Pils von Nikolaus|url=http://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/article/view/id/3555|accessdate=18 September 2012|newspaper=Jüdische Allgemeine|date=15 February 2007|language=German}}{{cite web|script-title=he:עמרי זילברמן - הרכש החדש של מבשלת הגולן|url=http://www.beers.co.il/beer_news.asp?news=1&id=191|publisher=Beers.co.il|accessdate=19 September 2012|language=Hebrew|date=September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235046/http://www.beers.co.il/beer_news.asp?news=1&id=191|archive-date=4 October 2013|url-status=dead}} Its vats are made of copper.{{cite news|last=Ofer|first=Yael|script-title=he:צ'ירס, מייט: 10 מבשלות בירה ישראליות|url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/55/ART1/915/998.html|accessdate=18 September 2012|newspaper=Nrg Maariv|date=13 July 2009|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Cheers, mate: 10 Israeli breweries}}

Prior to the Golan Brewery's collaboration agreement with the Golan Heights Winery in 2009, its yearly output was 150,000 bottles per year and the beer had a shelf life of only a few days. As of 2012, the brewery produces 130,000 liters per year.{{cite web|script-title=he:מבשלות: מבשלת הגולן|url=http://www.beers.co.il/brewery.asp?id=30|publisher=Beers.co.il|accessdate=18 September 2012|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Breweries: Golan Brewery|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007045646/http://www.beers.co.il/brewery.asp?id=30|archive-date=7 October 2012|url-status=dead}} The Golan Brewery's beers were featured at the third {{Nowrap|Beer & Beyond}} beer festival in Haifa in 2010.{{cite web|script-title=he:פסטיבל הבירה ה-3 ב'אייריש האוס'|url=http://www.beers.co.il/beer_news.asp?news=1&id=100|publisher=Beers.co.il|accessdate=19 September 2012|language=Hebrew|year=2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185902/http://www.beers.co.il/beer_news.asp?news=1&id=100|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} In 2010 the Golan Brewery opened the Golan Brewery Express in downtown Jerusalem for local distribution of its beers on tap.{{cite news|title=מבשלת הגולן אקספרס: בירה אורגנית שעולה מהר לראש|url=http://www.mouse.co.il/CM.articles_item,762,209,55287,.aspx|accessdate=19 September 2012|newspaper=Akhbar Ha'ir|date=11 October 2010|language=Hebrew}} At the {{Nowrap|BIRA 2011}} competition in Ramat Gan, the Golan Brewery won the award for Best Israeli Brewery.{{cite web|script-title=he:והרי הזוכות|url=http://www.rest.co.il/article.aspx?articleid=5879|publisher=Rest.co.il|accessdate=19 September 2012|language=Hebrew|date=3 November 2011}}{{cite web|title=BIRA Been International Recognition Awards|url=http://www.grape-man.com/files/downloads/grapeman/projects/bira/bira-2011-finalresults.pdf|publisher=Grape-Man|accessdate=19 September 2012|year=2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191828/http://www.grape-man.com/files/downloads/grapeman/projects/bira/bira-2011-finalresults.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}} National supermarket chain Tiv Ta'am is among the distributors of the Golan Brewery's beers as of 2012.{{cite news|last=Golstein|first=Rita|script-title=he:אוכלים שותים: חדשות קולינריות לסוף השבוע|url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/55/ART2/401/268.html|accessdate=19 September 2012|newspaper=Nrg Maariv|date=6 September 2012|language=Hebrew}}

In 2007 the Golan Brewery produced four varieties of non-pasteurized German purity law-compliant beer using water from local springs: a German-style wheat beer, a barley lager, a red lager, and a dark lager.{{cite news|last=Vered|first=Ronit|title=48 hours in the Golan Heights, Part II|url=http://www.haaretz.com/travel-in-israel/48-hours-in-the-golan-heights-part-ii-1.225826|accessdate=18 September 2012|newspaper=Haaretz|date=19 July 2007}} The brewery imported its raw hops and malt from Germany and the yeast from Belgium. According to Starkmeth, the water used in the brewing process originates in the Golan's basalt stratum and undergoes a natural process of filtration as it travels through the basalt rocks.{{cite news|last=Lotan|first=Avner|script-title=he:כי מהגולן תצא בירה|url=http://www.mynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3942430,00.html|accessdate=18 September 2012|newspaper=Ynet|date=24 August 2010|language=Hebrew}}

In 2010 the Golan Brewery rolled out the Bazelet series, consisting of four hand-crafted brews packaged in retro-themed bottles:{{cite news|last=Lapin|first=Avigail|script-title=he:הצרכנייה: בירה|url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/16/ART2/146/635.html|accessdate=18 September 2012|newspaper=Nrg Maariv|date=18 August 2010|language=Hebrew}}

• Bazelet Pilsner – classic pilsner consisting of 3 varieties of malt roasted in Germany, perle hops, and lager yeast; 4.9% ABV, 27 EBUs.{{cite web|script-title=he:בזלת פילזנר: בירת לאגר בהירה טרייה |url=http://golanbrewery.co.il/pdf/1.pdf |publisher=Golan Brewery |accessdate=18 September 2012 |language=Hebrew }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• Bazelet Wheat – Bavarian-style wheat beer consisting of four varieties of malt (70% wheat, rest Bavarian barley) roasted in Germany, select hops, and ale yeast imported from Ingolstadt; 5.1% ABV, 17 EBUs.{{cite web|script-title=he:בזלת חיטה: בירת חיטה טרייה |url=http://golanbrewery.co.il/pdf/2.pdf |publisher=Golan Brewery |accessdate=18 September 2012 |language=Hebrew }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the category of best wheat beer, Bazelet Wheat won a gold medal at the BIRA 2011 competition.
• Bazelet Amber Ale – amber ale inspired by German, Belgian and Irish traditions consisting of four varieties of barley malt and one wheat malt all of Bamberg provenance and roasted in Germany, Tettnang hops, and ale yeast imported from Ingolstadt; 6.4% ABV, 22 EBUs.{{cite web|script-title=he:בזלת אייל ענברי: בירת עייל ענברי טרייה |url=http://golanbrewery.co.il/pdf/3.pdf |publisher=Golan Brewery |accessdate=18 September 2012 |language=Hebrew }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the category of best ale, Bazelet Amber Ale won a silver medal at the BIRA 2011 competition.
• Bazelet Double Bock – strong dark lager in the doppelbock tradition consisting of five varieties of barley malt of Bamberg provenance, Hersbrucker hops, and lager yeast; 8% ABV, 20 EBUs.{{cite web|script-title=he:בזלת דאבל בוק: בירת לאגר כהה חזקה טרייה |url=http://golanbrewery.co.il/pdf/4.pdf |publisher=Golan Brewery |accessdate=18 September 2012 |language=Hebrew }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the category of best lager, Bazelet Double Bock won a silver medal at the BIRA 2011 competition. In 2012 it won a silver medal in the category of German-style Doppelbock at the European Beer Star competition in Nuremberg, Germany.{{cite web |title=European Beer Star 2012 |url=http://www.european-beer-star.com/ebs12_en/downloads/presse/winners2012.pdf |publisher=Private Brauereien Bayern e.V. |accessdate=12 January 2013 |location=Munich, Germany |date=November 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202221938/http://european-beer-star.com/ebs12_en/downloads/presse/winners2012.pdf |archivedate=2 December 2012 }}{{cite news|last=Segev|first=Shai|title=בירה של מבשלת הגולן זוכה בפרס הכסף באירופה|url=http://megafon-news.co.il/asys/archives/102226|accessdate=12 January 2013|newspaper=Megaphone|date=27 November 2012|language=Hebrew|trans-title=Golan Brewery beer wins silver medal in Europe}}

• Og Jinji – red lager consisting of barley malt, Tettnang and Hallertau hops, and traditional lager yeast; 4.1% ABV, 33 EBUs. Season: late summer, early fall.{{cite web|script-title=he:עוג ג'ינג'י: בירה לאגר ג'ינג'ית טרייה |url=http://www.golanbrewery.co.il/pdf/7.pdf |publisher=Golan Brewery |accessdate=19 September 2012 |language=Hebrew }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the category of best lager, Og Jinji won a gold medal at the BIRA 2011 competition, as well as the award for Best of Pale Lagers.
• Og Summer Ale – IPA consisting of various malts, Hallertau and Citra hops, and ale yeast; 4.5% ABV, 28 EBUs. Season: summer.{{cite web|script-title=he:עוג קייצי: בירה אייל קייצית טרייה |url=http://www.golanbrewery.co.il/pdf/5.pdf |publisher=Golan Brewery |accessdate=19 September 2012 |language=Hebrew }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• Og Wheat Double Bock – wheat doppelbock consisting of wheat (70%) and barley (30%) malts, Spalt Select hops, and Bavarian wheat yeast; 7.5% ABV, 12 EBUs. Season: winter.{{cite web|script-title=he:עוג חיטה דאבל בוק: בירת חיטה דאבל בוק חזקה טרייה |url=http://www.golanbrewery.co.il/pdf/6.pdf |publisher=Golan Brewery |accessdate=19 September 2012 |language=Hebrew }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Og Wheat Double Bock was featured at the {{Nowrap|BEERS 2012}} beer expo in Tel Aviv.{{cite news|last=Yariv|first=Amit|script-title=he:עד גמר המלאי|url=http://www.calcalist.co.il/consumer/articles/0,7340,L-3558296,00.html|accessdate=19 September 2012|newspaper=Calcalist|date=11 January 2012|language=Hebrew}}

{{Portal|Beer}}

• Beer in Israel
• Lone Tree Brewery

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{IMDb name|0823347|Nikolaus Starkmeth}}

Category:2006 establishments in Syria

Category:Food and drink companies established in 2006

Category:Golan Heights

Category:Breweries

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