Thread: КВАС

I read a litte about квас and learned that is is a mildly alcholic malt beverage made from bread and could contain additives such a fruit.

But what does it really taste like- light beer? Is is sour like beer, or is it it sweet like the "awful" non-alcholic malt beverages you can find in American supermarkets.

Who drinks it, everybody including children. Why is it drunken and when? Is it drunken because it tastes good and is refreshing, or is it like coffee, something that in reality tastes bad but is an enculturated habit.

Can it be bought in the US?

Originally Posted by Siriusly

I read a litte about квас and learned that is is a mildly alcholic malt beverage made from bread and could contain additives such a fruit.

But what does it really taste like- light beer? Is is sour like beer, or is it it sweet like the "awful" non-alcholic malt beverages you can find in American supermarkets.

Who drinks it, everybody including children. Why is it drunken and when? Is it drunken because it tastes good and is refreshing, or is it like coffee, something that in reality tastes bad but is an enculturated habit.

Can it be bought in the US?

It tastes definitely not sour, even, i would say, a bit sweet. Though taste may vary, indeed. I drank it many times because of its taste - Its really good !!! So If you havent tasted it (I'm really surprised if you havent drunk it) then You have to taste it !!!

Originally Posted by Siriusly

I read a litte about квас and learned that is is a mildly alcholic malt beverage made from bread and could contain additives such a fruit.

But what does it really taste like- light beer? Is is sour like beer, or is it it sweet like the "awful" non-alcholic malt beverages you can find in American supermarkets.

Who drinks it, everybody including children. Why is it drunken and when? Is it drunken because it tastes good and is refreshing, or is it like coffee, something that in reality tastes bad but is an enculturated habit.

Can it be bought in the US?

Стоим с бидончиками в очереди. Наконец привозят бочку. Вкус детства! Здесь в русских магазинах какое-то убогое подобие.


"Боже, чуть не разрыдался когда эту бочку увидел на фото....вот ведь вкусный квас был...Не то пойло что теперь в бутылках тут продают " форум

it tastes weird, cant say im a fan myself

IMHO it`s easy to do it at home...all you need is a few loans of old bread, yeast and water.

Originally Posted by Lampada

Стоим с бидончиками в очереди. Наконец привозят бочку. Вкус детства! Здесь в русских магазинах какое-то убогое подобие.

Kvas from barrels is the best! Bottled kvas tastes like bad coca-cola.
Помню времена, когда родители летом вручали нам трехлитровые банки и отправляли за квасом. Несешь домой и облизываешься.

Originally Posted by ST

IMHO it`s easy to do it at home...all you need is a few loans of old bread, yeast and water.

Да где ты здесь правильный хлеб возьмешь?

Обычно приезжали 2 цистерны - одна c квасом, для всех, а другая с пивом для взрослых. А сегодня вообще, да - то, что по крайней мере у нас в русских магазинах толкают под этикеткой "КВАС"...

I read a litte about квас and learned that is is a mildly alcholic malt beverage

Alcoholic? Never recognized that... I mean, it probably can (or even certainly should? I've no idea how it's made) contain alcohol due to its manufacturing process, but it has never been regarded as an alcoholic drink as far as i remember.

Who drinks it, everybody including children.

The sentence is probably missing a question mark? If so, yes, absolutely. Everybody.

But what does it really taste like- light beer?

Well, there are some things in life one should try on his/her own and not rely on others' opinions. КВАС is probably one of them

Я помню, как меня удивляло, что бывшим алкоголикам не рекомендовалось пить квас.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Kvas from barrels is the best! Bottled kvas tastes like bad coca-cola.

Квас квасу рознь. Если на бутылке не написано "напиток брожения" то это обычный шипучий безалкогольный отстой, который пить невозможно. Еще небось с аспартамом вместо сахара. Кроме Очаковского и Николы такие - все. А квас из бочек по крайней мере в Москве именно очаковский завод и производил.

Да да да! Помните киоски с большими синими буквами аля рюс К В А С, в них баллоны большие и белые, через окошко пролазит маленькая кружка - три копейки, Большая - пятак! Пена!! Даааа!

А у нас последние несколько лет местный пивзавод снова стал квас делать, и в бочках продаёт и в пакетах. Вкус тот самый... Сегодня вот пакет кваса взял...

Originally Posted by Leof

Да да да! Помните киоски с большими синими буквами аля рюс К В А С, в них баллоны большие и белые, через окошко пролазит маленькая кружка - три копейки, Большая - пятак! Пена!! Даааа!

"В углу кто-то тихо заплакал..."
А. Аверченко

I don't care for it myself. Though, my host mother also swore it WASN'T alcoholic (I'm sure it was). I think it may have to do with what the typical Russian considers "alcoholic" -- until recently beer was considered to be a "soft-drink" after all.

Originally Posted by Бармалей

I don't care for it myself. Though, my host mother also swore it WASN'T alcoholic (I'm sure it was). I think it may have to do with what the typical Russian considers "alcoholic" -- until recently beer was considered to be a "soft-drink" after all.

How it can be alcoholic if even small children are allowed to drink it without any limits?

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

How it can be alcoholic if even small children are allowed to drink it without any limits?

Ну, не забывай, мы говорим про Россию..... В России - все возможно.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Originally Posted by Бармалей

I don't care for it myself. Though, my host mother also swore it WASN'T alcoholic (I'm sure it was). I think it may have to do with what the typical Russian considers "alcoholic" -- until recently beer was considered to be a "soft-drink" after all.

How it can be alcoholic if even small children are allowed to drink it without any limits?

The alcohol content in Kvas is like 0.05%, that's why it is considered non-alcoholic. If you want to get drunk on Kvas, you are in for a long night (better make sure the toilet seat is up!)

Квас is non-regulated by "alcohol-control" authorities in the U.S.

It is not considered an alcoholic beverage here (U.S.), because of extremely low alcohol content... natural part of any malt beverage. Under U.S law, Kвас can be sold to children here... there is no danger of the child becoming "drunk".

I like to drink it myself... I think, for me, it is a Russian alternative to American "root beer". I like the taste.

But please, no worries... bottled Квас in the U.S. is safe, legal, and children can buy it here in the U.S. You can find it usually in Russian, or "international" markets.

As a U.S. parent, I would worry more about U.S. "cough/cold medicines", which children can also buy... and these have higher alcohol-content than Квас.

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

The alcohol content in Kvas is like 0.05%, that's why it is considered non-alcoholic. If you want to get drunk on Kvas, you are in for a long night (better make sure the toilet seat is up!)

С этикетки Очаковского - "Объемная доля спирта не более 1.2 %". гг законодатели хотят объявить пивом все, где больше 0.5% - ну знаяит будут делать с 0.5

I should have answered this question myself...because I have brewed my own beer for years!
When starches such as are in the malt used to make beer and which are also in bread, are mixed with water warm enough [155 degrees F] to convert the starches to sugar; then exposed to yeast, fermentation can take place and change the starches to alchohol. In brewing this is all none under conditions to maximize fermentation and prevent contamination.

I therefore suspect that brewing kvacc is just a simplistic "natural" product, the predecessor to beer brewing, that can result in a product that is slightly alcoholic. Airborne yeast is normally present in small amounts and so some unintended fermentation could occur during brewing of kvass; but as was already stated, only in very small amounts since the process is not controlled.

Natives of S. America make an alcoholic beverage where the women of the tribe take a starch root and chew and chew it, then spit the liquid into a bowl (the chewing and warmth convered the starch to sugar). When enough is accumulated it is stored for days (allowing the natural yeast to ferment it) then they have a milky beer. And they get plenty drunk on it!

Ditto for mare's milk alcohol of the Monglians.