The Best Beer in Kazakhstan (And the Cheapest)
Just a quick word of praise for the best beer in Kazakhstan-one that to me is fully competitive in the international market, Tyan-Shyan Gold. The Tyan-Shyan (named after the mountains, probably more familiar to western eyes as Tien-Shien) brand is not a new one and for a while they have sold light and dark beers. But the new gold label beer is unusual for its sweet and nutty flavor. It really reminds me of McEwan’s and other Scottish beers which are also distinctive for their sweetness. You wouldn’t think a sweet beer would be good, but it is.
Unfortunately Tyan-Shyan is a cheap beer. I say unfortunately because it means that it is not sold in the elite supermarkets like Ramstor or Gros. I have to buy it at the little convenience store next to my house and they don’t always have it in stock. A larger store would have the storage space to keep it on the shelves permanently. I am always afraid that, not being featured prominently in the big, cool stores, sales will never be high and eventually the brewer will discontinue it. So please buy this beer at least to ensure that I have a constant supply!
The other funny thing about preferring a cheap beer (Tyan-Shyan and Derbes are the Bud and Coors of Kazakhstan, always the cheapest buys) is that my friends sometimes assume I order it to save money.
“Come on, get an Amstel or a Hoegaarden.”
“No, I really want Tyan-Shyan.”
“We’ll pay for it, if you want.”
“No, seriously, I want a Tyan-Shyan.”
Anyway, just wanted to give credit where credit is due and encourage Kazakhstan to put this beer up on the international market–because someday we might move back to the US and then what will I do for beer?
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I see that things haven’t changed much, then - especially regarding beer! I can remember stumbling (not literally!) upon a truly wonderful beer from Russia, which I picked up at one of the old large metal kiosks (this is about ten years ago, by the way) that used to straddle Zhibek Zholy in Almaty. It was quite cheap but incredibly rich in taste, and was from Tver, I believe - possibly just called Tverskoe.
I tried to buy a whole case load from the owner of the kiosk, but he wouldn’t do a deal or offer the slightest discount. Stupid me, I should have realised there was a reason - it was probably the only outlet for the beer in the whole of CA!
I never saw the same stuff on sale again - anywhere!
Comment by Sandy — 13 October 2007 @ 2:27 pm
When we were in KZ during 2006, this was our favorite beer! Wish we could find it here in the US… :-(
Comment by mary sue — 19 October 2007 @ 1:32 am
I have to agree and disagree with you…Agree TS is a good beer, disagree that you can’t get it at Ramstor. As I’m typing this I’m drinking a bottle I bought earlier today at the new Ramstor in the Mega.
Comment by Jeckyl — 16 December 2007 @ 9:18 pm
I stand corrected. I actually did see it in Gros the other day too.
Comment by KZBlog — 19 December 2007 @ 10:14 pm
I’ve had that happen before– people assuming you’re ordering it because it’s cheap rather than because it’s decent– which it is.
However you can get it in most supermarkets now– any Gros location, as well as the supermarket in Silkway City on Tole Bi.
Comment by Narcogen — 11 February 2008 @ 2:53 pm
I’ve had that happen before– people assuming you’re ordering it because it’s cheap rather than because it’s decent– which it is.
However you can get it in most supermarkets now– any Gros location, as well as the supermarket in Silkway City on Tole Bi.
Comment by Narcogen — 11 February 2008 @ 3:09 pm
Dear sirs!
We are a company which treat with goods of all types and we want to import your beer to Austria! We are looking for one company unknown that no selling beers like Corona, Heineken,..like this. We need a company with curious marker that is totally unknown. My question is if you don’t have one representative in import of european union we could arrive in buisness.
If you are interesting to importing send us or call us at this contact:
Te.l: 0043 676 84 70 84 200 or 0043 676 84 70 84 222
E-mail.: office@andrea-walcher.com or m.walcher@gmx.com
Atentamente
Lukas Walcher
Mat-EX Handels GmbH (S.L.)
Langenloiserstrasse 45
3500 Krems
Austria
Comment by Lukas Walcher — 2 July 2008 @ 9:49 pm