Kellers Beer - 20 Years of Presence on Moldovan Market
The Kellers brand was purchased together with German brewing technology in 1997, when a mini-factory was built in the north of Moldova, in the Soroca district. In 2000, the factory moved closer to Chisinau, to the village of Budesti, where it functions to this day.
Kellers is a ”live” beer, because it is made from natural ingredients, without using any additives or preservatives. This production technology allows the finished product to maintain the entire complex of vitamins and beneficial microorganisms in its structure.
Imported raw materials and water from the Budesti
The beer is made in accordance with German law Reinheitsgebot from 1516, which stipulates that it can be made using only four ingredients: water, malt, hops and yeast. During manufacturing process they use quality malt (common, roasted, caramelized), which is imported from the Czech Republic and Slovenia, and two types of hops (flavored and bitter) that are also imported from Germany and Ukraine.
Over the years, the company has its own water well, which is an essential ingredient for the production of quality beer. Thus, water comes from natural sources containing substances (for example, calcium or magnesium), which are not found in other sources. This water not only improves the taste, but also helps with the biochemical processes that occur during the production of beer.
Manufacturing process
Kellers brewery does not position itself as an industrial producer, but rather as a mini-brewery, which specializes in the production of ”live” beer. The equipment, that was bought several years ago, is also from abroad, from China and Germany. The average production volume is 60-70 tons per month, but can reach 100 tons depending on the season. Currently, the factory has 17 employees. The plant is also equipped with a professional laboratory in which each news series of product is tested.
The manufacturing process starts in the unit where raw materials are stored. Here the malt is grinded and then it goes to the brewing unit where it mixes with water. When the must is formed and started to boil, hops are added in several stages, at intervals of 15, 85 and 105 minutes.
Afterwards, everything is transferred to the fermentation unit, where all the processes are automated. Here the yeast is added and the product starts the fermentation, which is different depending on the variety of beer: for example, the fermentation of dark beer lasts one month, of white beer, about than 14 days. The product then passes through a special filtering device. Also, there is a separate workshop where the process of pouring beer in kegs and plastic bottles takes place.
The scheme of Kellers beer manufacturing process:
Kellers – ”live” beer with limited shelf life
Kellers Unfiltered (light and dark) is a ”live” beer that has a shelf life of only 5 days, while filtered beer (also light and dark) can be stored for 30 days. This is a fairly low-alcohol beer: from 4 to 4.7%, and its density varies from 11 to 14%. Kellers products are not pasteurized.
Kellers beer is delivered from factory in plastic bottles to supermarkets and in kegs to small stores and bars. The company produces beer on a custom-made basis and the volume of production differs depending on the season. For example, in winter, the beer is produced less often, it is brewed once in two weeks, while in the summer it can be brewed two or three times a week. Dark beer is more in demand in the cold season, while in summer the filtered and unfiltered light beers are in high demand.
Beer is sold only in Chisinau and in the vicinity of the city. To ensure delivery throughout the country, the manufacturer would have to increase the price. Another problem is the short shelf-life of the unfiltered beer. For the same reasons, the beer was never exported.
The factory also produces kvas. It is also made from yeast, contains a kvas concentrate (with the aroma of rye bread) and water, and also has a limited shelf-life of 5 days.
Kellers Beer can be found in the supermarkets chains Green Hills, Fidesco, IMC Market, Fourchette, No1, Megapolis Mall, etc., as well as in several locations such as Pivzavod or Beershop.