Although Hungary is better known as a wine-producing country, beer has been made there for around a thousand years and the country has a significant history of commercial beer production.

Contents 1 History 2 Breweries 3 Economy 4 Culture 5 See also 6 References 6.1 Notes 6.2 External links

[edit] History

The first commercial brewery in Hungary was established in Buda in 1845 by Peter Schmidt. During the heyday of the Austro-Hungarian Empire the Kőbánya district of Budapest became the centre of Hungary's brewing industry. The Dreher brewery, named after Anton Dreher (creator of the Vienna lager style) who started a brewery in Budapest in 1862, came to dominate the Hungarian market before the Second World War.

[edit] Breweries

Today, Hungary has only four large commercial brewers (three of major significance) which produce mainly lagers (Hungarian: Világos) and German-style dark beers (Hungarian: Barna):

• The Dreher (Kőbánya) Brewery (Dreher Sörgyárak) in Budapest is now owned by SABMiller. Its main products are the Dreher Classic, Arany Ászok and Kőbányai Világos pilsener-style lagers but it also brews Dreher Bak (a double bock). Kanizsa Brewery also belonged to the group. It produced (till its recent closure) beer under the brands of Kanizsai Világos, Kanizsai Kinizsi, Balatoni Világos and Paracelsus.
• The Borsod Brewery (Borsodi Sörgyár) is 60% owned by InBev. In addition to the local brands of Borsodi Világos, Borsodi Bivaly, Borsodi Póló and Borostyán ("Amber"), it brews under license Beck's, Löwenbräu, Stella Artois and Rolling Rock.
• Heineken Hungária (used to call Brau Union Hungária Breweries) has breweries in Sopron and Martfű. Its brands include Soproni, Talléros, Arany Hordó ("Golden Barrel"), Soproni Kinizsi, Sárkány Sör ("Dragon Beer") and (under licence) Heineken, Amstel, Gösser, Kaiser, Steffl, Zlaty Bažant, Schlossgold and Buckler.
• The Pécs Brewery (Pécsi Sörfőzde) is majority owned by the Ottakringer Group. Its brands are Pécsi Szalon, Szalon Barna, Tavaszi Sör ("Spring Beer"), Három Király ("Three Kings") and (under licence) Gold Fassl.

A number of small and microbreweries have also emerged in Hungary over the past few years including Ilzer and Blonder.

[edit] Economy

Beer consumption has declined to 70 litres per capita since the 1980s when beer consumption was 100 litres per capita. Price wars are taking place between domestic product and imports from Western Europe which are gaining a firm market position. The main product is pale lager with approximately 90% of the market. ^[1]

[edit] Culture

In Hungary, people traditionally do not clink their glasses/mugs when drinking beer. This is usually explained by a legend about Hungarians taking a vow not to do so claiming that Austrians clinked their beer glasses when celebrating the execution of the 13 Martyrs of Arad in 1849. Many people still follow the tradition, although younger people often ignore it, citing that the vow was only meant to last 150 years. ^[2]

A Hungarian surname known as Pevarnik comes from the root word pevo, which is Slavic for beer.

[edit] See also

• Beer and nationality

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

v • d • e Beers of the world Africa Kenya · Morocco · South Africa Asia China · Hong Kong  · India · Indonesia · Iran · Israel · Japan · Korea (North) · Korea (South) · Laos · Pakistan · Philippines · Singapore · Syria · Taiwan · Thailand · Tibet · Vietnam Europe Austria · Azerbaijan · Belgium · Bulgaria · Czech Republic · Denmark · England · Finland · Germany · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Netherlands · Norway · Portugal · Poland · Romania · Russia · Scotland · Serbia · Slovenia · Sweden · Turkey · Ukraine · Wales Americas Brazil · Canada · Caribbean · Chile · Mexico · United States · Venezuela Oceania Australia · New Zealand Beer and breweries by region · List of countries by beer consumption per capita