Švyturys

Lore & Background

The brewery was founded in Klaipėda (then Memel) by merchant J. W. Reincke in 1784. Its emblem features a sea eagle from the Reincke family coat of arms. In the 19th century, the brewery merged with that of landowner Theodor Preuss and became the town's main beer producer, brewing traditional Bock, Bavarian, and Porter beers. The Porter won an award at the Klaipėda International Business Fair in 1883. During the interwar period, the shareholder-owned Klaipėda brewery was highly regarded, operating its own yeast factory and a warehouse of wine and liqueurs; its Caramel beer won a medal at the 1927 Agricultural Exhibition in Klaipėda.

After being rebuilt following World War II, the brewery was named Švyturys and resumed brewing in 1946. The recipe for Baltijos beer, still used today, was developed in the 1960s. The brewery expanded and became one of the country's most modern facilities by the time Lithuania restored independence. In 1999, Carlsberg A/S bought most of the company's shares and invested in renewing production. In 2001, Švyturys merged with Utenos Alus to form Švyturys-Utenos Alus AB, restructured as a private limited company in 2003.

The brewery continues to use old German brewing technology with vertical and horizontal containers, which it says facilitates unique taste and aroma characteristics. Among all large Lithuanian breweries, Švyturys is the only one using such containers.

Reader's Guide

Švyturys holds a significant place in Lithuanian brewing as the country's second oldest brewery and a symbol of national pride. According to a 2004 AC Nielsen survey, 96 percent of respondents considered Švyturys the best beer produced in Lithuania, and 83 percent viewed it as a product meriting national pride. The brewery's Ekstra lager is the most decorated Lithuanian beer, winning a Gold Award at the World Beer Cup in 2012, as well as gold medals at the Stockholm beer festival and the World Beer Cup in earlier years. Other beers, such as Baltijos and Baltas, have also won international awards, including Superior Taste Awards from the International Taste & Quality Institute. The brewery exports to more than 20 countries worldwide. Its sponsorship philosophy focuses on supporting Lithuanian sports, culture, and art, with particular attention to the Klaipėda region. In 2012, Švyturys-Utenos alus created the Švyturys Klaipėda Origin Fund to support sport, culture, and community programmes, and the brewery has long sponsored the Klaipėda Sea Festival.