History

Before the paths of Asahi in Japan and our breweries in Europe came together, each of them had a long history of its own.
How the time flew with Asahi and particular our European breweries that now belong to it?

• 1615

  Grolsch Brewery founded by Willem Neerfeldt in Groenlo.

• 1629

  The first reference to the brewery in Tychy, owned by the House of Promnoc, appears.
  

• 1718

  Timisoara Brewery established, at the initiative of the Austrian authorities ruled by Prince Eugene of Savoy.
  

• 1768

  Establishment of the Dojlidy brewery. A large brewing plant was erected in Dojlidy in 1768.
  

• 1842

  Birth of a legend. Beer in Pilsen used to be brewed alternately by individual burghers with brewing rights. The quality varied, so the burghers of Pilsen had the idea of setting up their own brewery to make good beer. On 5th October 1842 in the new Burghers’ Brewery the brewer Josef Groll brewed the first batch of the new Pilsner beer that soon conquered the world.
  

• 1845

  1845 is an important year for Fuller’s. It was then that the partnership papers of Fuller, Smith & Turner were officially signed, marking the start of something special for London's brewery scene.
  

• 1846

  Birra Peroni Company established by Francesco Peroni in the North of Italy.

• 1854

  First batch of Kőbányai Ser produced in Budapest. The brewery, later tobecome the leading brewery in Hungary, still operates on the original premises.
  

• 1859

  Pilsner Bier trademark. As the popularity of Pilsen lager spread throughout Bohemia and the countries around, imitations started to appear. So, in 1859 the Burghers’ Brewery had registered “Pilsner Bier” as a trademark, although this is also used by other beers from Pilsen.

• 1874

  Velké Popovice brewery founded. František Ringhoffer buys a brewery with a mill, fermenting cellar and malt kiln for his estate in Kamenice, and founds the Velké Popovice Brewery. The first 60hl batch of beer sees the light of day on 15th December. One year later the brewery is producing 18,000 hl, a figure which increases to 80,000 hectolitres of beer after extensive reconstruction work in 1902.
  

• 1878

  Beginning of the brewery located in Cluj-Napoca.

• 1889

  Osaka Beer Brewing Company established by Komakichi Torii, with the goal of producing an authentic Japanese beer.

• 1892

  Asahi Beer launched. "Asahi" (rising sun) was named with the pride of a beer from the land of the rising sun, symbolizing promise and growth as the morning sun rises.
  

• 1892

  Brewery in the Romanian city of Brasov established.

• 1895

  Foundation of the Hugger Brothers Brewery in Poznań.
  

• 1897

  Theo de Groen introduces the half-liter Swingtop bottle, which has a porcelain cap, a rubber gasket and a metal clamp.

• 1900

  Asahi Beer wins gold medal at 1900 Paris Expo and receives numerous awards in Japan and abroad.
  

• 1913

  The production of Pilsner lager passes the magical threshold of one million hectolitres. The Burghers’ Brewery becomes the largest brewery in Europe.
  

• 1949

  Asahi Breweries created through the breakup of Dai Nippon Breweries under Japanese post-war economic reforms for decentralization, as part of a push by the occupation government to encourage economic democratization.
  

• 1950s

  Fuller’s London Pride, one of Britain’s most iconic Beers was first brewed. London Pride took its name from the Latin for a flower, “Saxifraga × urbium”, that arose from the rubble in Blitz-hit areas of wartime London, and thrived against all odds becoming a symbol of hope. It has been brewed beside the River Thames ever since.
  

• 1956

  Asahi Cider was launched – alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples.
  

• 1967

  First batch of beer brewed in the Šariš brewery.
  

• 1971

  Japan’s first aluminum canned beer.
  

• 1986

  Corporate Identity launched and corporate mark redesigned.
  

• 1987

  Asahi Super Dry launched. Japan's first dry draft beer with a crisp and refreshing taste (not bitter or heavy). Revolutionizes the beer industry in Japan.
  

• 1992

  Cornish Orchards launched - Andy Atkinson arrived at Westnorth Manor Farm with his herd of dairy cattle in the spring of 1992. The farm is part of the Duchy of Cornwall Estate.
  

• 1993

  International expansion of South African Breweries into emerging markets begins with the purchase of majority control of Dreher Breweries, the largest brewer in Hungary.

• 1994

  Dark Star Brewing Co launched in the cellar of a pub in Brighton.
  

• 1995

  South African Breweries join Polish market. Technological investment process and the implementation of modern enterprise management techniques begin.

  South African Breweries acquired their first brewery in Romania in Buzau.

• 1997

  South Africal Breweries acquired the Šariš brewery.

• 1997

  Asahi Super Dry launched in 12 European countries.
  

• 1998

  Asahi Beer reclaims top share of Japanese market after 45-year interval.

• 1999

  Lech Browary Wielkopolski and Tyskie Browary Książęce merge and form together Kompania Piwowarska SA. One of the largest and most modern brewing companies in Poland is established.

• 1999

  Meantime Brewing Co founded by Alastair Hook.
  

• 2001

  South African Breweries acquired Plzeňský Prazdroj.

• 2003

  Asahi Food & Healthcare Co., Ltd. established.

• 2005

  SABMiller`s operations in Romania united under Ursus Breweries.

• 2008

  Asahi acquired the stock of a leading freeze-dried food company, Amano Jitsugyo Co., Ltd.
  

• 2011

  Changed to pure holding business structure under Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.

• 2017

  Asahi acquired SABMiller’s beer businesses in Central Europe. Asahi Breweries Europe Group created.

  Our common
  journey begins…

• 2022

  As we emerge from the global Covid-19 pandemic stronger than ever with a renewed focus on innovation, we share our new Asahi Europe & International purpose of Creating Meaningful Connections.

  

• Asahi Europe & International launch Peroni 0.0%, our best ever tasting non-alcoholic beer delivering the same crisp and uplifting Italian taste experience, at 0.0% alcohol. The launch includes a global partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team featuring a new racing car with Peroni 0.0% branding.

  

• Asahi Super Dry partnership with City Football Group commences and includes teams in Manchester City (UK), Melbourne (Australia), Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan), Sichuan Jiuniu (China).

  
• 2023

  Asahi Super Dry, an icon of modern Japan promises to take rugby fans on a journey beyond the expected through our partnership of the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.