Brewave is the brainchild of Jeno ‘Jenci’ Zsembery and Peter Varga. Zsembery, who is currently manager of venerable London pub The Rake, said the business will help showcase how far breweries in eastern Europe have come in the last few years.
He explained: “As the EU expanded, there has obviously been an influx of eastern Europeans experiencing the UK, and what it offers.
“When people return home, permanently or otherwise, they are bringing with them ideas and appetites borne from their experiences in the UK. The desire for good beer is reaching parts of Europe a lot quicker than people are aware of.
“Drinkers from the Eastern Bloc do not necessarily only want Pilsners anymore. There are dozens of fantastic breweries springing up in countries such as Hungary and they are producing quality beer.
“Just as the UK has been influenced by breweries from other countries, parts of eastern Europe are now, in turn, being influenced by people’s experiences in the UK and beyond.”
Zsembery’s business partner Varga explained that Brewave is not just another wholesale company, but one founded on a passion for beer and promoting innovation across Europe.
“Because we are from the other side of Europe, we have experienced how the brewing sector has developed from both sides of the coin. Drinkers over there are now enjoying even more great beer, something that didn’t exist four or five years ago,” he said.
Vargas added: “We don’t want it to be a simple back and forth deal but a flow, connecting these great breweries across Europe, from East to West and back. We are getting into business with breweries that are underpinned by quality.”
Brewave is currently working with breweries from Hungary, Croatia and Austria, with companies from Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia on the horizon, too.
“Our tradeline runs from London, Holland, Germany, Austria, Hungary and to Croatia, with warehouses in London and Budapest,” said Zsembery.
The company, which is exhibiting at Craft Beer Rising later this month, is also is in final discussions with a number of breweries across the UK.
Zsembery added: “People are eager and people are keen. This generation from places such as Hungary is taking on positive influences, and multiplying it. Something we are seeing that in beer, too. It’s an exciting time.”
