The Dutch company, founded at the end of the XNUMXth century, has overgrown with more than a hundred factories scattered around the world during its existence, and has become a real giant in the brewing industry.
You can buy products of the popular premium brand in almost any country. The manufacturer produces a foamy drink under different brands, the most famous of which are Heineken and Amstel. And it all started with a small brewery in Amsterdam.
Heineken Company History
The date of foundation of the corporation is considered to be 1873, when the company received its modern name. However, the brewery was bought by the founder of the company Gerard Adrian Heineken a little earlier – in 1864.
Initially, a top-fermented ale, popular among the townspeople, was launched at a small brewery. Things were going well, but they did not bring serious profits, until an enterprising businessman decided to take a chance and included innovations gleaned from Bavarian professionals in the process.
The changes benefited the plant. After trying a bottom-fermenting method little known in brewing, Heineken abruptly changed course and gained popularity in no time.
Significant for the company was 1886, when Dr. Elyon, a student of Louis Pasteur, discovered a special type of A-yeast. This secret ingredient is still part of the production of the famous brewery and, along with other ingredients, determines its unique taste. Innovations did not stop there – Gerard Heineken equipped the plant with modern equipment: refrigerators and special lamps.
At the beginning of the XNUMXth century, the company entered the Asian and American markets, and in the second half of it began to rapidly increase its capacity and open factories in European countries, displacing the leaders of the brewing industry and standing on the same level with such giants as Anheuser Busch InBev and Carlsberg “. It is worth noting that throughout the entire period of development, the Heineken corporation has maintained family traditions and continuity, passing the reins of government to the younger generation.
Heineken’s secret of popularity
The recipe for making Heineken foamy drinks is still carefully guarded and is a secret. The Dutch manufacturer considers the process of creating beer to be real magic, as evidenced by the image of a star on the product label. Its four rays symbolize the ingredients (barley, water, hops and yeast), which must be of consistently high quality, and the fifth symbolizes the magic of brewing.
At the core of production:
100% pure products and natural fermentation process.
The use of a horizontal fermentation method, more suitable for the original A-yeast, instead of the usual vertical one.
Long ripening period (about 1 month) and strict quality control at all stages.
All this allows you to create a special balanced taste, recognizable by the consumer. It has grainy, bready and malty notes with hints of herbs, fruits and slight bitterness.
Common to all Heineken beers is a noble golden amber hue and a refreshing effect that makes it ideal for drinking in the heat.
Types of beer Heineken
Each enterprise of the corporation produces drinks under its own brands (Amstel, Edelweiss, Desperados, Zlaty Bazant, Doctor Diesel, etc.) with original characteristics and design. The traditional Dutch Heinken beer includes the following varieties:
Heineken (4,8%)
A time-tested classic drink made according to old recipes from the 6th century. The process uses several varieties of hops and Heineken-A yeast. In the taste of beer, in addition to malt and hoppy notes, there are hints of bananas, caramel and roasted chestnuts. Before serving, the foamy drink is recommended to be cooled to 8-XNUMX degrees. Seafood dishes, salmon, dry-cured game are good as snacks.
Heineken Light (3,2%)
Light golden beer with the addition of Cascade hops, which are traditionally used for making craft drinks. On the palate, a subtle sourness is noticeable, which is in perfect harmony with the sweetness of the malt and a slight bitterness of the hops.
Heineken 3 (3,3%)
One of the latest developments, in the process of creating which the mashing method is used. The addition of caramel malt gives the beer a high aroma and bright amber color. Balanced multifaceted taste, medium strength and low calorie content distinguish this product.
Heineken 0.0 (non-alcoholic)
The drink is made on the basis of classical technology using our own yeast according to a specially developed recipe. Double filtration provides the beer with a recognizable sweet-malty aroma with a delicate hint of unfermented wort. The fruity and grainy tones characteristic of all Heineken products are also present. The low-calorie drink is almost not bitter and perfectly refreshing.
Heineken is produced in glass (0,33 l, 0,5 l or 0,65 l) and aluminum cans (0,5 l), in five-liter kegs and bulk metal kegs (20 and 30 l).
Relevance: 29.11.2018
Tags: Beer, Cider, Ale, Beer brands