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Bavaria is a Dutch beer brand owned by Bavaria NV, part of Swinkels Family Breweries NV. The company occupies a unique position in the international beer market – it is an independent family business run by representatives of the seventh generation of the Swinkels dynasty. In 2016, Bavaria NV produced over seven million hectoliters of beer, with a net profit of €32,9 million. The brand is currently present in more than 130 countries.
In addition to the flagship beer “Bavaria”, the assortment portfolio includes the brands Swinkels, Hollandia, Rodenbach, Trappist beer La Trappe. Licensed production is organized in Russia and South Africa. The facilities of the enterprise also produce soft drinks, malt and grain extracts.
The history of the company can be traced back to 1680. At that time, Dirk Vereyken owned the brewery in the town of Lieshout – his tax reports were preserved in the archives of the local municipality. The business was inherited from father to daughter until Vereiken’s great-granddaughter married Ambrosius Swinkels. Since 1764, the history of the brewery has been inextricably linked with the name Swinkels. Today, the company is run by representatives of the seventh generation of the family – key positions and seats on the board of directors are occupied by 26 cousins and second cousins.
The name “Bavaria” was coined by Piet Swinkels in 1925, after the construction of a new brewery, to indicate the use of bottom-fermentation technology by the plant and emphasize the connection with the homeland of the famous German beer. Since the 1930s, the sign of the “Swinkels Brothers Firm” has been replaced by a new one: “NV Beiersch Bierbrouwerij Bavaria”. In 1933, a bottling shop was launched, which produced 2000 bottles per hour.
Since 1973, the company has been expanding internationally, primarily in Southern Europe. In the late seventies, Bavaria became one of the first producers of non-alcoholic beer. By 1981, total production reached 1 hectoliters. In 000, Bavaria NV bought a majority stake in the Belgian brewery Palm, declaring its intention to increase its stake to 000% in 2016.
Trademark fight
The Swinkels family spent more than 10 years litigating with the Bavarian Union of Brewers, proving the right to call their beer Bavaria. The brand was registered by a Dutch company in 1995, while the German side, challenging the legality of this decision, applied for trademark protection Bayerisches Bier (“Bavarian beer”) 6 years later. An Italian appeals court in Turin put an end to the protracted conflict by ruling in favor of the Dutch brewers. Prior to that, they won in Australia, Spain and achieved a positive decision of the European Court in Luxembourg.
Interesting Facts
During a tour of the brewery, visitors are told the story that one of the fans of local beer was the famous artist Van Gogh, who lived 7 kilometers from the village of Lieshout. The story ends with the assumption that if he had limited himself to drinking only this drink, then perhaps he would not have encroached on the life of his friend Gauguin and would not have lost his left ear. The exposition of the mini-museum presents a board from a beer barrel, which the painter used as a palette for paints.
Awards
Big Moscow International Beer Festival:
- 2008 – Prize “Blue brother” (Bavaria Malt) and diploma “People’s tasting” in the category “Best non-alcoholic”.
World Beer Championships, Chicago:
- 2012 – Silver (Bavaria Pilsner) medal and “Highest Recommendations” mark.
International Beer Challenge, London:
- 2012 – Silver (Bavaria Lager Shandy) medal;
- 2014 – 2 bronze (Bavaria Fruity Rose, Bavaria Wit) medals;
- 2015 – Silver (Bavaria Bok Bier) and 2 bronze (Bavaria Swinckel’s, Bavaria Premium Original Non-Alcoholic) medals.
Australian International Beer Awards, Балларэт:
- 2017 – Gold (La Trappe Quadrupel) and bronze (Bavaria Pilsner) medals.
RankABrand, Amsterdam:
- 2011, 2012 – second place in the list of the best brewing companies in Holland;
- 2015 – first place in the TOP-5 Dutch brewing companies, a special prize for the introduction of “green” and energy-efficient technologies.
IMD-Lombard Odier Global Family Business Award, Монтрё:
- 2015 – international award (Bavaria NV) for an outstanding family business.
SAN Advertiser of the Year:
- 2010 – gold award for packaging redesign, silver – in the categories “Rapid Development” and “Integrated Communications”.
IMC European Awards, Brussels:
- 2011 – Grand Prix and 2 gold awards for the DutchDress advertising campaign and flash mob.
Types of beer Bavaria
Bavaria Premium Pilsener, 5%
The flagship product of the brand, awarded with prestigious awards in competitions in Europe, USA, Australia. The light golden pilsner has a characteristic luster and a finely bubbled head. The aroma reveals grassy and sweet-malty tones, the bouquet also has hints of meadow hay, fresh apples, pleasant hop bitterness. The taste is a continuation of aromatics, the aftertaste diversifies the range with refreshing citrus notes. As snacks for Bavaria Premium Pilsener, the manufacturer recommends deep-fried squid rings, barbecue chicken wings, spicy meat dishes.
Bavaria Radler Lemon, 2,0%
Light, refreshing drink, which is a mix of beer and natural lemonade with a pronounced citrus aroma. The premiere of the novelty took place in the UK market in the summer of 2013, the low-alcohol radler was introduced as a product to quench the thirst of cycling fans. The beer is golden-straw in color, when poured into a glass, forms a high cap of creamy white foam. The taste is sweet and sour, reminiscent of the filling in a lemon meringue pie, hop bitterness is practically absent. It will make a worthy gastronomic pair for beef steak, dried duck breast, grilled fish. Before serving, it is recommended to cool to 3-4 ° C.
Bavaria Malt, 0,0%
The product is produced in Russia, at the facilities of the Moscow-Efes Brewery, and is positioned as a non-alcoholic and low-calorie beer drink. A special production technology allows you to create beer not with a minimum, but with zero strength, which is confirmed by the HFFIA certificate. The color resembles fresh apple juice, the foam is not inferior in durability and density to alcoholic varieties. The aroma is dominated by tones of hay, carbonic acid, and a slight fruitiness is felt. The taste characteristics of Bavaria Malt are as close as possible to European pale lagers: malty sweetness is set off by the taste of unmalted grain and bready sourness.
Bavaria 8.6 Original, 8,6%
Strong European-style lager produced by the company since 1986. Subsequently, the 8.6 line was replenished with Gold, Red, Absinthe and other variations on the theme. Powerful and balanced, well hopped beer. Thanks to the technological features of the fermentation stage, it acquires a rich aroma of dried fruits, grains and anise, in the background there is the smell of apples, reminiscent of cider. The noble bitterness of hops makes the taste rich and full, and notes of licorice and caramel perfectly “mask” alcohol tones. Despite the high declared strength, it is easy to drink, not burning, but warming. Among the snacks recommended by the manufacturer are foie gras, blue cheeses, smoked ham, anchovy and olive tapas.
