Holsten Brewery

Did You Know?

• Holsten sponsored Tottenham Hotspur football team from 1983 to 1995 and again from 1999 until 2002.
• Holsten was the title sponsor of Premier League Darts in 2006 and 2007.
• Holsten sponsored a men's lacrosse club in Boston, MA from 1990 to 1993.

History

In 1902, the Union Brewery in Wandsworth, London, was purchased by Holsten Brauerei. Business suffered due to anti-German feeling during the First World War, leading to the brewery's closure in 1920. Holsten Pils first arrived in the UK in 1952, establishing the premium packaged lager category. A TV advertising campaign starring Donald Pleasence began in 1979, and by the mid-1980s, Holsten was the top-selling premium packaged lager in the UK.

The Mecklenburgische Brauerei Lübz was bought by Holsten in 1991. Until 1999, Holsten UK was a joint venture with Scottish & Newcastle; after that ended, Holsten UK handled the on-trade, adding the off-trade in 2000. In 2003, the Bavaria – St. Pauli Brewery, along with its Astra brand, was absorbed. Hansa-Brunnen AG, a Holsten subsidiary, runs two plants making mineral water and soft drinks for northern Germany.

Carlsberg bought Holsten-Brauerei in 2004 for £735 million, and Holsten now brews Tuborg and Carlsberg for the German market. A strike involving 200 workers took place on 6 November 2014.

Beers

Holsten Brewery’s lineup begins with Holsten Pils, a 5% ABV pale lager that debuted in 1953. The brewery also produces Holsten Export, a 5.2% ABV pilsner, and Holsten Extra Herb, a 5.0% ABV pilsner made tarter by adding extra hops early and late in brewing. Holsten Bernstein Lager is a 4.6% ABV amber lager. Holsten Edel, a 4.8% ABV pilsner, is typically sold in 330-ml stubby bottles.

Holsten Diät Pils, a 4.9% ABV light pilsner designed for diabetics, undergoes longer fermentation to eliminate residual sugars. Holsten Radler is a 2.5% ABV shandy blending pilsner and lemon-lime soda in equal parts. Holsten Alkoholfrei is a 0.0% ABV non-alcoholic pilsner. Holsten Fassbrause Zitrone, a non-alcoholic shandy mixing 70% lemon soft drink with 30% non-alcoholic pilsner, is a niche product mainly found in Northern Europe, sold in 330-ml six-packs and 500-ml cans. Holsten Maibock is a 7.0% ABV strong golden dark lager, while Holsten Festbock is a 7.0% ABV strong amber dark lager.