Zhigulevskoye (Schikulewskoe) beer

Zhigulevskoye is a historic Russian beer brand that originated in 1881 at the Samara Brewery, founded by Austrian entrepreneur Alfred von Vacano. Originally named 'Viennese Beer,' it was rebranded as Zhigulevskoye in 1934 during the Soviet era to remove 'bourgeois' connotations. It eventually became the most popular beer brand in the Soviet Union.

Today, Zhigulevskoye is not a trademarked brand owned by a single entity; it is considered a generic product type or 'standard' in many post-Soviet states. Consequently, it is manufactured by dozens of different breweries across Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and even some regional producers in Germany (often sold under the localized name Schikulewskoe). Ownership depends entirely on the specific brewery producing that particular bottle.