Utenos Alus
| Company type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1977 in Utena, Lithuania |
| Founder | Gediminas Jackevičius (initiated construction), Evaldas Mockus (first manager) |
| Headquarters | Utena , Lithuania |
Area served | Lithuania and over 20 international markets |
Key people | Evaldas Mockus (first manager until 1993) |
| Products | Beer, cider, soft drinks, drinking water |
| Parent | Carlsberg Group |
The Utenos Alus Brewery is a Lithuanian brewing company based in Utena, Lithuania. It forms part of the European segment of the Carlsberg Group. In addition to catering to the domestic market, it also manufactures specialty items for Linas Budrys.
History
Construction of a state-of-the-art brewery commenced in 1970 in Kloviniai, Utena, selected for its pristine environment and plentiful water resources. The project was overseen by Evaldas Mockus, who served as the inaugural manager until 1993. The brewery's design and technical expertise were provided by the Czech Republic’s Techno Export Group, including brewing engineer Jerzy Tomáek, known for installing traditional copper kettles that remain a distinctive feature on Utenos Pilsener branding.
The brewery’s first product, Igulinis beer, was introduced on January 14, 1977. Utilizing Czech brewing techniques, Utenos Alus rapidly enhanced its lager quality and secured a strong foothold locally. The facility also produced favored soft drinks such as Citrina and Altukas.
In 1991, the brewery transformed into a public limited company named Utenos Gėrimai AB. Following Lithuania’s independence, it broadened its beer portfolio with labels like Lietuviškas, Aukštaitijos, Studentiškas, and especially Porteris—a dark porter that gained international acclaim beginning in 1992 through multiple awards.
By 1997, Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH), a Nordic investment consortium, acquired a stake in Utenos Gėrimai AB. In 2001, BBH consolidated Švyturys and Utenos Alus into Švyturys-Utenos Alus AB. Since 2008, the company has been integrated within the Carlsberg Group, reinforcing its presence in the Baltic beer sector.
Statistics
In 2011, the brewery produced 102 million liters of beer alongside 31 million liters of other beverages. Its beer products reach over 20 international markets.
Production
- Utenos Utenos (Pale Lager)
- Utenos Auksinis Special (Premium Lager)
- Utenos Auksinis (Premium Lager)
- Utenos Pilsener (Pilsner)
- Utenos Dark (Dunkel)
- Utenos Porteris (Baltic Porter)
- Utenos Kvietinis
- Utenos Classic
- Utenos Radler Cola (beer cocktail)
- Utenos Radler Lemon (beer cocktail)
- Utenos Radler Orange (beer cocktail)
- D-Light (beer cocktail)
- Kiss, Somersby (ciders)
- Vichy Classique (drinking water)
- Vichy Fresh, Vichy Classique Vivasport (soft drinks)
Key facts about Utenos Alus
- The construction of Utena’s most advanced brewery began in 1970 under Gediminas Jackevičius with support from Czech TechnoExport; brewing engineer Jerzy Tomášek installed iconic copper boilers featured on Utenos Pilsener packaging.
- The initial beer batch (Žigulinis) was produced in 1977.
- In 1980, the brewery supplied soft drinks for the Moscow Olympic Games.
- Production facilities were rebranded as ‘Non-alcoholic Drinks Complex of Utena’ in 1985.
- In 1992, it reorganized as a public limited liability company named Utenos Gėrimai and began modernization efforts.
- By 1997, Baltic Beverages Holding and Hansa Investments acquired half of the company’s shares.
- Utenos Alus received gold medals at Agrobalt’99 and was named Lithuanian Product of the Year in 1999.
- In 2000, production expanded to include Vichy Classique water and Kiss cider; the beer lineup was refreshed.
- The 2001 merger with Švyturys resulted in Švyturys-Utenos Alus headquartered in Utena.
- In 2004, a public initiative led by Utenos Alus established June 24 as an official Lithuanian holiday.
- In 2007, it introduced Lithuania’s first beer bottled in clear glass containers.
- In 2008, Utenos Alus joined the Carlsberg Group, one of the world’s leading brewing conglomerates.
The Utenos Modern Brewing Centre
During the fall of 2012, the Utenos Alus Brewery inaugurated the Modern Brewing Knowledge Centre, reinforcing the organization's dedication to advancing brewing technology and fostering industry education.