The project in the media

In the media

Articles, interviews, and mentions about research into Belarusian beer.

Onlíner26 May 2025

Onlíner: Researcher proves that borscht was once beer in Belarus

On May 26, 2025, the Belarusian online publication Onlíner published an article by journalist Sasha Manitu about my historical research into the origins of borscht. The article explores evidence that, in the lands of present-day Belarus, borscht once referred not only to a soup but also to a fermented, low-alcohol drink made from hogweed, sometimes consumed as an alternative to beer. The publication introduces historical accounts by European authors from the 16th to the 18th centuries and features commentary by Elena Mikulchik, a specialist in Belarusian culinary history. The article highlights findings from my research, “Borscht in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: Not a Soup!?”, and examines a little-known tradition in Belarusian beverage history.

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The project in the mediaOnlínerПБП

Onlíner28 February 2025

Brewing Harry Potter's Butterbeer with Onlíner

In a special Onlíner feature produced in collaboration with Alivaria, we prepared a version of Butterbeer inspired by gramatka, a traditional Belarusian beer-based soup. The article explores the recipe, the preparation process, and my research into the historical brewing traditions of Belarus. It also discusses the possible connection between gramatka and the Butterbeer described in the Harry Potter books, as well as efforts to preserve and revive historical Belarusian recipes.

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The project in the mediaOnlínerПБП

Onlíner30 December 2024

Butterbeer and Belarusian Gramatka

On December 30, 2024, Onlíner published an article about Stanislav Pridibaila's research into historical butterbeer and gramatka, a traditional warm beer-based drink associated with the drinking culture of the region. The article explores parallels between Tudor-era English butterbeer, gramatka from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the fictional drink featured in the Harry Potter books. It also discusses historical recipe reconstructions, public workshops, and tastings. The publication includes commentary from historian Aleh Dziarnovich, PhD, who described the proposed historical connection between these drinks as a convincing interpretation.

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The project in the mediaOnlínerПБП

Onlíner15 August 2024

How We Brewed Belarusian Beer from a 16th-Century Recipe

In August 2024, Onlíner journalist Sasha Manitu and photographer Maxim Malinovsky visited an island on Lake Selyava, where our team was recreating the historical Belarusian beer “Інфляцкі бір” from a recipe preserved in the manuscripts of Nikolai Mlechka, dated in the article to the period 1595–1632. The feature explores my search for historical Belarusian beer recipes, collaboration with historians, scientists and traditional craftspeople, and the brewing process itself — using local hops, juniper, wild yeast, wooden vats and heated stones. Archaeological excavations were taking place on the island alongside our brewing experiment, producing significant discoveries relating to the ancient history of Belarus.

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The project in the mediaСильные НовостиПБП

Сильные Новости16 May 2024

Gomel Researcher Investigates the Grains Used in Traditional Belarusian Beer

The news outlet Silnye Novosti covered research by Stanislav Pridibaila into historical beer-brewing traditions in Belarus. After examining dozens of volumes of folklore and ethnographic publications, the researcher identified 440 records mentioning beer, including 92 that specified the grain used. These findings were used to create a map showing the geographical distribution of wheat, barley and rye beer traditions across Belarus.

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The project in the mediaСильные НовостиПБП

Сильные Новости4 December 2023

Did Harry Potter Drink the Same Beer as Our Ancestors?

In an interview with Silnye Novosti, I explain how my interest in homebrewing led me to explore the history of Belarusian beer and reconstruct traditional brewing recipes. We discuss my research into historical sources, the reconstruction of Oboznoye and spruce beer, the search for local brewing yeast, and my work on the traditional Samokhodskoye beer recipe. A separate part of the interview explores the similarities I identified between historical English butterbeer, familiar from the Harry Potter books, and the Belarusian beer-based dish known as hramatka. We also discuss the future of Belarusian brewing, the idea of establishing a beer museum in Gomel, and the practical aspects of homebrewing. The original article concludes with a simplified beer recipe for beginners.

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The project in the mediadev.byПБП

dev.by14 November 2023

“We Had Our Own Oktoberfests”: An IT Specialist from Gomel Revives Historic Belarusian Beer Recipes

In this dev.by publication, Stanislav Pridibaila discusses his interest in the history of Belarusian brewing and his efforts to reconstruct traditional beer recipes. The article explores his early experiences with homebrewing, research into historical sources, collaboration with historians, and experiments with recreating old beer styles, including military camp beer and pine beer. It also highlights the challenges of adapting historical brewing methods to modern ingredients and equipment.

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