Baltika also plans an alcohol-free beer, catering to the growing minority who distinguish social drinking from stupefaction.

ECONOMIST: Russian beer

While Sun learnt about brewing and rooted out bad old habits from its acquisitions, Baltika took an early lead.

ECONOMIST: Russian beer

Danish brewer Carlsberg has said it plans to buy up the remaining 15% of its Russian division Baltika this year.

BBC: A Carlsberg sign

The new alliance aims to match Baltika with three national brands, including Stella Artois, which will be brewed under licence inside Russia.

ECONOMIST: Russian beer

"The Carlsberg Group will take the necessary steps to arrange for a delisting of Baltika as soon as possible, " the firm said in its statement.

BBC: A Carlsberg sign

Witness, on January 10th, the assassination of Ilya Weissman, the Russian finance director of one of the few really successful foreign investments in Russia, the Nordic-owned Baltika brewery in St Petersburg.

ECONOMIST: What will Putin do?