Craft Beer In Israel: BeerBazaar

Craft beer is far from being a strictly American phenomenon. Craft breweries are popping up in major cities all over the globe, including Israel, where one Brooklyn native is leading the way. 

In 1994, after 20 years of working in startups, Avi Moskowitz moved to Israel with his wife and four children. Moskowitz decided to switch gears and focus his attention on Israel's economy, uniting his startup background with his love of craft beer. "I saw the opportunity to be a part of the explosive growth of craft beer worldwide and [wanted to] bring that unique experience to Israel," he says. "We operate BeerBazaar very much like a startup, with similar energy, entrepreneurial spirit, and fast growth."

BeerBazaar was started by Lior Weiss, an engineering student at the Haifa Technion, back in 2013. Moskowitz jumped on board two years later, with the intention of expanding the company throughout Israel. Under Moskowitz's guidance—and Weiss's brewmaster skills—BeerBazaar now has six locations across the country.

Moskowitz explains that Israel's craft beer scene is relatively new, taking root in the country just 12 years ago. As a result, Israeli craft beer only accounts for 2 percent of the country's entire beer market. "We expect craft beer in Israel to continue growing until it ultimately reaches the 15 to 20 percent market share, like in the U.S." Moskowitz notes, noting that the Israeli population is always on the hunt for healthy, non mass-produced products, which is exactly what his beer embodies. 

BeerBazaar plans to keep opening new branches, giving more people access to Israeli craft beer. "My wife and I were motivated to move to Israel based on the ideals of living in our homeland," Moskowitz says. "Today, our entire nuclear family, including 5 grandchildren live in Israel and we're proud to be growing deep roots in Israel."

BeerBazaar's official list of beers and styles can be found here.