Birra Korça
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1928 in Korçë, Albania |
| Founder | Umberto Umberti, Selim Mboria |
| Headquarters | Korçë , Albania |
Area served | Albania |
Key people | Irfan Hysenbelliu (president) |
| Products | Blonde Ale, Dark Ale, bottled water "Kristal", ice |
| Owner | IHB Group |
| Parent | IHB Group |
Birra Korça is a brewing company established in 1928 in Korçë, Albania. Since 2004, it has functioned as a subsidiary of the IHB Group and is recognized as Albania's third largest beer manufacturer.
History
Founded by Italian entrepreneur Umberto Umberti alongside local partner Selim Mboria, Birra Korça started with an initial capital investment of 950,000 francs and an annual production capacity of 20,000 hectoliters. Its early product range featured Blonde Ale, Dark Ale, bottled water named "Kristal," and ice.
Following World War II, the brewery was nationalized under Albania's communist government. Production capacity was expanded through renovations carried out in 1955, 1957, and 1965. In April 1994, during economic reforms, the brewery was privatized through an auction to private investors.
In 2004, businessman Irfan Hysenbelliu, president of Birra Korça LLC, purchased the facility and invested €15 million to upgrade its operations. By integrating modern Czech and Italian brewing technology, the annual output increased to 120,000 hectoliters—ten times the original volume. The brewery preserves its historic architectural style while incorporating contemporary features and utilizes water sourced from springs on Morava Mountain.[1] Additionally, Birra Korça organizes the largest beer festival in the region each August.[2]
Brands
The Korça beer lineup includes a Blonde Ale, which is a European-style pilsner with an alcohol content between 4.8% and 5%, along with a Dark Ale— a Euro dark lager (dunkel) containing 5-5.2% ABV. Products are available in bottles of 0.5 litres and 0.33 litres as well as in kegs sized at 30 litres and 50 litres.
Awards
Since its inception, "Birra Korça" has received multiple accolades for quality, starting with an award in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 1928. In 2007, it was honored with the International Quality Crown Award in the Golden category by Business Initiative Directions (BID). The brewery also holds ISO 22000 certification, which is an internationally recognized standard for food safety and quality management throughout the food supply chain.
- ↑ Morava Mountain, Albania
- ↑ "Festa e birres ne Korce – Festa e Birrës, festa më e madhe në Shqipëri nderohet me Çmimin Shqiptar të Turizmit". Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2023.