Harbin Brewery
| Company type | State-owned enterprise (historically), now part of AB InBev |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Predecessor | Gloria (1908), Quilin Stock Company Limited (1946–1950) |
| Founded | January 1, 1900 in Harbin, China |
| Founder | Jan Wróblewski |
| Fate | Acquired by Anheuser-Busch in 2004 |
| Headquarters | Harbin , China |
Area served | Northeast China, limited presence in Europe and North America |
| Products | Beer (including Hapi, Golden Hapi, Harbin Heart, Harbin Premium Lager, wheat beer) |
| Owner | Anheuser-Busch InBev (parent company) |
| Parent | Anheuser-Busch InBev |
Harbin Brewery (), established in 1900 in Harbin, China, ranks as the country's fourth oldest and fourth largest brewery. It commands a dominant position within the Northeast China market and owns the Hapi beer label.
Following successful restructuring and its listing on the Hong Kong stock market, Harbin has increased its yearly production capacity beyond 1 million tons, solidifying its role as a significant entity in China's beer sector. While it competes domestically with brands such as Tsingtao Beer and Zhujiang Beer, its footprint in European and American markets remains relatively modest. In North America, Harbin beer initially reached consumers primarily through ethnic Chinese grocery stores, which continue to serve as its main distribution outlets, before gradually extending availability to other Asian retail chains.
History
The origins of Harbin beer date back to 1900 when Polish businessman Jan Wróblewski from Tarczyn, then under Russian Partition, founded the brewery in Manchuria (Northeast China) to supply Russian workers engaged on the Trans-Manchurian Railway. The brewery was renamed Gloria in 1908 and later became known as Harbin Brewery Factory in 1932 under joint Chinese-Czech ownership. After the Soviet Red Army took control of Manchuria in 1946, Soviet management operated it as Quilin Stock Company Limited until 1950, when Stalin mandated the return of Chinese assets. Subsequently, the Chinese government transformed it into a state-owned enterprise named Harbin Brewery.
In response to the 1959 famine, Harbin innovated by brewing beer using corn instead of rice. The company invested in technological advancements during the 1960s, including installing Heilongjiang Province’s first sterilization machine in 1973. In June 2003, SABMiller acquired a 29.6% share; however, by 2004 Anheuser-Busch secured control following a competitive acquisition contest with SABMiller.
Harbin Beer
Harbin Beer () is a pale lager with an alcohol content of 4.8% abv, brewed using European and Chinese “Qindao Dahua” hops, two-row malt, and German yeast strains, distinguishing it within the Chinese beer marketplace.
Beers
The product lineup features key varieties such as Hapi, Golden Hapi, Harbin Heart, and Harbin Premium Lager. Additionally, the brand offers a wheat beer to address varied consumer tastes.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- AB InBev brands
- Breweries in China
- Chinese beer brands
- Drink companies of China
- Food and drink companies of China
- Food and drink companies established in 1900
- Chinese companies established in 1900
- Companies based in Harbin
- Companies formerly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Food and drink introduced in 1900