Something is brewing in Somerset

Somerset is home to a UK brewing first, as CATHERINE COURTENAY discovers

- CATHERINE COURTENAY

It was the year Russia hosted the World Cup, but there’s another reason why Jonathann Cocogne and Michaela Mamatejova will never forget their trip to the country in 2018.

Jonathann says: “We were on a river cruise and stopped off at a restaurant. We asked to try something local and they gave us this sparkling drink. They said it was the most famous drink in Russia, but we had never heard of it!”

Jonathann is recounting the tale of how he became this country’s first brewer of the fermented soft drink called kvas.

The fact that he and his partner Michaela decided to holiday in Russia that year, and were blissfully unaware of the World Cup excitement, still makes them smile. But then, Jonathann smiles a lot, he is clearly excited about the journey he’s been on for the past few months since arriving home in Yeovil. And both he and Michaela must be Somerset’s biggest fans of this secret beverage.