Forget the myths about Soviet prohibition: beer in the USSR was more than just a drink, it was part of the culture. Since 1936, Zhigulevskoe became the benchmark, and brewing became a priority for the food industry. Millions of liters were produced annually across the country. By 1980, more than 500 breweries operated in the Union. In addition to the famous Zhigulevskoe, Moskovskoe, Leningradskoe, and Rizhskoe were also produced. The Moscow Badaevsky Brewery and Krasnaya Bavaria in Leningrad were industrial giants. Consumption reached 25 liters per person per year by the 1980s. Beer was sold on tap at tents and in three-liter cans called "treshkas." In 1985, Gorbachev's anti-alcohol campaign reduced beer production by 20%, but did not destroy the love for it. The quality of Soviet beer was often questioned due to malt shortages, when rice or corn grits were added to the recipe. However, GOST 3473-78 standards ensured a certain consistency of flavor, albeit with regional variations. After the collapse of the USSR, the market exploded with foreign brands. But nostalgia for those "Zhiguli" cars lives on: many modern producers still produce beer under iconic Soviet names, reviving the taste of the era.