Tusheti: A wild and remote region on the edge of Europe

An untouched and remote region in northeastern Georgia, Tusheti is a wild trekking paradise of mountains and ancient villages where pagan rites are still observed alongside Christian beliefs.

(CNN) — A tiny wooden hut with smoke sprouting from its chimney sits at the base of a windswept hill dotted with lambs. Inside is a large iron cauldron, scuffed from centuries of use and smothered in flames. As its interior bubbles, mountain barley and wild hops are married together to create a delightfully sweet, sour and cloudy ale known as aludi.

Gathered around the cauldron is a group of men who've stood in this very hut every year on this very day for as long as they can remember. At the helm of it all is one specially elected shulta who oversees the sacred process. Brewing aludi together is part of their unofficial brotherhood and a hallowed preparation for the coming festival.

Soon this special brew will be used to mark the start of Atnigenoba, a two-week long festival in the northeastern Georgian region of Tusheti that's filled with paganistic ram sacrifices, shrine worship, folk dancing and fiercely competitive horse racing.