Oriental Brewery
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Predecessor | Doosan Group (ownership from 1952) |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Founder | Showa Kirin Brewery (Kirin Company) |
| Fate | Acquired by AB InBev |
| Headquarters | South Korea , South Korea |
Area served | South Korea, Japan (Daiei Supermarket chain), China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Guam USA |
| Products | Beer (OB, Cass, Cafri, Budweiser, and others) |
| Owner | AB InBev |
| Parent | AB InBev |
| Website | www |
Oriental Brewery (commonly known as OB) () is a South Korean brewery currently under the ownership of AB InBev. It was initially established by the Doosan Group.
History
Oriental Brewery was originally founded in 1933 by Showa Kirin Brewery (Kirin Company). In 1952, it transitioned into private ownership under the Doosan Group. The company changed hands in 1998 when it was purchased by InBev. To alleviate debt, AB InBev sold OB in July 2009 to a firm affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., while retaining an option to reacquire the brewery within five years. This option was exercised in April 2014, bringing OB back as a subsidiary of AB InBev.
OB is known for producing several prominent Korean beer labels, including OB, Cass, and Cafri lagers. The firm expanded its offerings in March 2001 by merging Cass Beer, which had an annual production capacity of 1,120,000 KLE, and added brands such as Red Rock, OBE, KaprI, and Budweiser. In July 2002, OB became the first brewery in Korea to earn ISO 9001 certification from the Korea Standards Association.
After being acquired by Dutch company Molte Industries in September 2010, OB ultimately became part of Belgian-based AB InBev again in April 2014.
OB Golden Lager
Ranking as the fourth best-selling beer in South Korea, OB Lager is a pale lager with an alcohol content of 4.4% A.B.V., available in cans, bottles, and on draft. Its origins date back to 1948. The brand name changed from OB Lager to simply OB in 2003 alongside a recipe modification that incorporated rice; it later evolved into OB Blue in 2006 with further adjustments to the formula.
OB Light
A lighter variant of OB Lager featuring an alcohol volume of 4.2%.
OB Premier Dunkel
A beer styled as Dunkel/Tmavý.
OB Premier Pilsner
This premium all-malt pale lager is brewed using German noble hops to deliver a rich flavor profile.
OB Premier Weizen
A traditional German Hefeweizen-style beer offering.
Cass Fresh Cold Brewed
Cass Fresh Cold Brewed is a pale-golden pale lager with a 4.5% ABV. Originally brewed by Cass Brewery, it became part of Oriental Brewery (OB) following its acquisition from Jinro-Coors in 1999. During the 1980s, Cass commanded roughly 70% of Korea’s lager market but lost ground to Hite by 1994. Under OB’s management, the brand was revitalized and captured a 51% market share by 2000. The launch of Cass Red in 2007 along with ongoing promotional efforts helped Cass Lager regain its position as South Korea’s best-selling beer by 2011.
The brand attracted international recognition after British chef Gordon Ramsay praised it for being "unpretentious," "easy," and "fresh," naming it his preferred beer pairing with Korean dishes. Despite Ramsay’s culinary stature, his endorsement generated debate among viewers who questioned the beer’s quality.
Non-alcoholic lookalikes mimicking Cass—such as "Cars" and "Cdss"—are occasionally passed off as genuine within noraebang (karaoke rooms), where alcohol sales are legally prohibited.
Cass Light
A low-carbohydrate pale lager containing 4.0% ABV.
Cass Ice Light
A pale lager variety.
Cass 2X
This beer has an alcohol content of 2.9% ABV.
Cass Red
A pale lager distinguished by a higher alcohol level at 6.9% ABV.
Cass Beats
Launched by OB in the year 2015.
Cass Lemon
A crisp beer infused with natural lemon juice and featuring an ABV of 6.9%.
Cass 0.0
A non-alcoholic beer brand manufactured by Oriental Brewery.
Cafri
Cafri, containing 4.2% alcohol by volume, is one of the lightest beers widely available in South Korea. It is packaged in clear 330 ml long-neck bottles but ranks below OB, Cass, and Hite in terms of market share.
Aleston Black Ale
A porter-style beer offering.
Aleston Brown Ale
This British-inspired ale is brewed using noble hops combined with pale malt.
Bergen bräu
A budget-friendly beer produced by Oriental Brewery specifically for Japan’s Daiei Supermarket chain; it is not connected to the Belgian Bergenbräu label.
Bergen bräu Neu Welt
Another beer variant from Oriental Brewery made for Daiei Supermarkets in Japan, distinct from the Belgian Bergenbräu brand.
Bergen bräu Zero
A sugar-free beer crafted by Oriental Brewery for Daiei Supermarkets; unrelated to the Belgian Bergenbräu products.
Blue Girl (4.5%)
This version contains 4.5% ABV and is marketed in China, while a stronger 5% variant is produced for Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
Blue Girl (5.0%)
Exclusively available in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, this 5% ABV Blue Girl beer is brewed by or for Jebsen Beer.
Blue Girl Draft
A discontinued draft beer formerly brewed by Oriental Brewery (part of AB-InBev) on behalf of Jebsen Beer.
Dester
A pale lager style beer.
Dester Gold (100% Malt)
A pure malt version of Dester that is currently exported solely to Malaysia and Singapore.
Essential Beer
A pale lager variety.
Guam USA Beer Company Island Lager
A pale lager produced by the Guam USA Beer Company.
Red Rock
An amber lager/Vienna-style beer that is premium and unpasteurized.
Sonderberg
A pale lager brewed in pilsner style.
Suntory The Premium Malt
Originally from Suntory Holdings Limited, this deep pilsner features an alcohol content of 5.5%.
Budweiser
Budweiser is an American-style pale lager crafted by Anheuser-Busch, a division of Anheuser–Busch InBev. First introduced in 1876 in St. Louis, Missouri, it remains one of the best-selling beers in the United States and is distributed across more than 80 countries worldwide. Due to trademark conflicts, the brand name varies in certain markets. Its recipe includes up to 30% rice alongside hops and barley malt. Budweiser is available both on draft and in packaged forms globally.
Bud Ice
Launched in 1994 under the name "Ice by Budweiser," Bud Ice features a higher alcohol volume at 5.5%. It became well-known through an advertising campaign starring a mischievous penguin who steals beer from Bud Ice consumers while singing the "doo-be-doo-bee-doo" line from "Strangers in the Night."
Hoegaarden
Produced by Hoegaarden Brewery located in Hoegaarden, Belgium, this wheat beer holds a prominent position within the specialty beer segment.
Beck's
Beck's Brewery (Brauerei Beck & Co.), based in Bremen, Germany, was acquired by Interbrew in 2001 for €1.8 billion; at that time it was Germany’s fourth-largest brewer. Since 2008, Beck’s has been part of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Production for the U.S. market shifted to St. Louis, Missouri in early 2012, although some consumers have expressed dissatisfaction with this American-made version.
Stella Artois
Stella Artois is a Belgian pilsner lager with an alcohol content ranging from 4.8% to 5.2%, originally brewed in Leuven by Brouwerij Artois since 1926. A lower-alcohol variant at 4% ABV has been available since 2008 in countries including Britain, Ireland, Canada, and New Zealand. Following corporate mergers, Stella Artois is now produced under Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewing company.
Leffe
Leffe is a high-end Abbey beer label under the ownership of InBev Belgium, which operates as the European branch of Anheuser–Busch InBev. This brand features a variety of popular beers produced in substantial quantities.
Löwenbräu
Based in Munich, Löwenbräu is a brewery controlled by Anheuser-Busch InBev that promotes most of its beer offerings as brewed in compliance with the Reinheitsgebot, the historic Bavarian beer purity regulation established in 1516.
Corona
Corona Extra is a pale lager crafted by Cervecería Modelo in Mexico, distributed both domestically and internationally, except within the United States. Due to an antitrust agreement linked to Grupo Modelo’s acquisition by AB InBev, distribution rights in the U.S. belong to Constellation Brands. Corona ranks among the world’s best-selling beers and is commonly served with lime or lemon outside Mexico. It holds the position of the top imported beer in the American market.
The Hand Malt Beer
Belgian Wit A Belgian-style white ale featuring 5.0% alcohol by volume and an IBU of 9.
Slow IPA An India Pale Ale with reduced alcohol content, notable for its unique flavor profile and aroma; its appearance is similar to that of Corona or Pilsner. Alcohol content is 4.6% ABV with an IBU of 40.
Mocha Stout A stout infused with coffee flavors and chocolate undertones, topped with a rich creamy head. Contains 5.0% ABV and an IBU of 28.
Extra Special Ale An English-inspired beer distinguished by a deep orange hue. It has an alcohol volume of 5.7% and an IBU rating of 23.
Belgian Dubbel This brew incorporates Korean Yeot (a traditional candy) during production. It features 7.2% ABV and an IBU of 21.