Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About us When was HEINEKEN founded? The story began almost 150 years ago in 1864, when Gerard Adriaan Heineken acquired a small brewery in the heart of Amsterdam. Learn more about Our History . Is the company still owned by the family? Four generations of the Heineken family have been actively involved in the expansion of the Heineken brand and the HEINEKEN Company throughout the world, and the passion of the family remains as strong today as it was in 1864 when we first started brewing beer. What is the relationship between Heineken Holding N.V. and Heineken N.V.? Heineken Holding N.V. holds 50.005% interest in Heineken N.V. The role Heineken Holding N.V. has performed for the HEINEKEN group since 1952 has been to safeguard its continuity, independence and stability and create conditions for controlled, steady growth of the HEINEKEN group’s activities.

The stability provided by this structure has enabled the HEINEKEN group to rise to its present position as the brewer with the widest international presence and one of the world’s largest brewing groups and to remain independent. Learn more about the Heineken Holding N.V. Can I visit a Heineken brewery? The Heineken Experience is located at one of the most impressive industrial heritage sites of the Netherlands; the original Heineken brewery in Amsterdam. In this unique environment, you are going to experience HEINEKEN's rich history and the tradition and craft of brewing. You’ll learn the extraordinary story of the people behind this remarkable company, now the most international beer company in the world. Attractions include a mini brewery, a tasting bar, as well as the “Stable Walk”, where visitors will be able to access the stables to view HEINEKEN's iconic Shire horses. Are you ready to be brewed in the Brew U simulator? A visit to the Heineken Experience takes about 90 minutes. Two drinks are included! Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, please visit the website of The Heineken Experience .

How do I apply for a job within the HEINEKEN company? You can find out more about working for HEINEKEN by visiting our Careers section on this website which will give you a flavour of our Company. The site does not hold vacancies but the connections to our Operating Companies provide access to local opportunities. Additionally, our International Graduate Programme website can also be accessed through the careers section as well. Learn more about applying to HEINEKEN . Brands What brands are part of HEINEKEN's portfolio? HEINEKEN is committed to the responsible marketing and consumption of its more than 250 international premium, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. Our global and international brands are Heineken, Amstel Premium Pilsener, Desperados, Sol and Strongbow Gold. In the Brands section of this website you can find out more about our brands and global presence. How much Heineken beer is being sold worldwide? According to our 2014 Annual Report, we sold 29.5 million hectolitres of Heineken beer in the premium segment and a total of 181.3 million hectolitres of beer.

More detailed information can be found in our 2014 Annual Report . What are the main ingredients in Heineken beer? Heineken contains water, barley malt, hops and the unique Heineken A-yeast. Is Heineken the same around the world? The reality is that 100% of all the Heineken beer brewed worldwide is done so using the same recipe and that about 95% of this beer has the same final product specifications. For the other 5 % we can say that, due to local legal/tax reasons (in most cases special alcohol regulations), the final product specification is only somewhat different. (e.g. in Ireland and Sweden). Where is Heineken beer sold? HEINEKEN is the world’s most international brewer. Heineken beer was the first and remains the only truly global beer brand, enjoyed in 178 countries around the world. Learn more about the Heineken brand . Where does the Red Star on the label come from and what does it stand for? The red star is an original icon of the brand, used since the very beginning. Its exact origins are unknown, and there are a few explanations.

For instance one explanation is that it was a symbol of European brewers in the Middle Ages, who believed it to have mystical powers to protect their brew. Another explanation is that four points of the star, accounted for the elements earth, fire, water and wind and that the fifth point is the unknown, which is an element that brewers in the Middle Ages couldn’t control. A third explanation is that the position of a star on the front door of the brewery indicated the stage of the brewing process. During the Cold War, the original design was altered to avoid association with communism (it was replaced by a white star with a red outline). After the end of the Cold War, the original full red star was restored. For us, the red star's principle association is a festive, warm and cheerful mood. Does Heineken beer contain any gluten? Beer contains gluten, which comes from the grain from which it is brewed. Gluten is a protein type naturally present in all grains, of which only a fraction ends up in the final beer. The proportion depends on the kind of grain that is used. The use of barley results only in traces of gluten in the beer whilst wheat contributes considerably more. It also depends on the brewing process.

Generally speaking: the clearer and blonder the beer is, the less gluten it may contain. Some people are allergic to gluten and have to follow a diet that minimises or excludes their gluten intake. Whether beer can be part of such a diet or not, is dependent on the extent of the allergy and the beer type consumed. In many cases lager beers pose no problem for people who have a gluten allergy. However, it is up to the individual to assess his or her sensitivity, and/or to consult a medical doctor or dietician in case of questions. Does Heineken beer contain any Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)? The Heineken brand and all our other full malt brands such as Gösser® and Zywiec® do not use ingredients derived from genetically modified crops. The company does not anticipate any change to this situation. Our full (downloadable) GMO Policy can be found in the Sustainability Policies section . Does Heineken beer use additives in its brewing process? Heineken is brewed in a natural brewing process, with no additives. It contains water, barley malt, hops, and the unique Heineken A-yeast for the fermentation in the brewing process.

What do the terms 'pilsener' and 'lager' mean? Are they the same? Essentially, they both refer to the same thing. However, the name Pilsener comes from the town Pilsen in the Czech Republic. Traditionally, the only true pilsener is beer from that region. Today, whether a beer is a lager or a pilsener usually depends on the common usage of the country in question. We use the name 'pilsener' to mean a bright, pure, bottom fermented beer, as opposed to darker and top fermented beers (often called 'ale' or 'stout'.) How do you guarantee the quality of your products? Maintaining quality across many markets presents an enormous challenge in logistics, sales, and business partnerships and in the brewing operation itself. HEINEKEN breweries can call upon the expertise and support of HEINEKEN Supply Chain - our specialist in-house consultancy that ensures global product quality. For decades HEINEKEN Supply Chain has designed, built and helped to operate breweries in all parts of the world.

The service includes research and development work for new products, giving advice on brewing, logistics, technical staff, best practices studies and providing full feasibility and management studies for a wide range of projects. What is 'light' beer? Light is a so-called reduced-alcohol, low-calorie beer: it contains at least 33 per cent less calories than Pilsener beers. The original gravity and the alcohol content determine the number of calories. Therefore, light beers are always lower in original gravity and alcohol. Does non-alcoholic beer really contain no alcohol? Not literally 'no alcohol'. In general non-alcoholic beers are made in one of three ways: a very short fermentation to get a beery taste but very little alcohol, or a normal fermentation after which the alcohol is removed by means of a selective filter, or a combination of the above methods. Every brewery has its own brewing methods and secret recipes - this is one of ours. Careers How do I apply for a job within the HEINEKEN company? You can find out more about working for HEINEKEN by visiting our Careers section on this website which will give you a flavour of our Company. The site does not hold vacancies but the connections to our Operating Companies provide access to local opportunities.

Additionally, our International Graduate Programme website can also be accessed through the careers section as well. Learn more about applying to HEINEKEN . Financial What is the discount between Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares? Detailed information can be found within the Share Information (Investors- Share Information ) section of this website. Why is there a difference between the share price of Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V.? Heineken Holding N.V. shares trade at a discount to the Heineken N.V. shares. This seems odd, as the dividend policy of both companies is equal. There are some factors that might have an influence: The number of Heineken N.V. shares is double the number of Heineken Holding N.V., which makes Heineken N.V. shares more liquid. Heineken N.V. is part of the main Dutch index, AEX, and of important international indices where Heineken Holding N.V. is not, resulting in higher demand of Heineken N.V. shares. Heineken N.V. is on the list of most active funds of the Euronext Amsterdam, which makes the Heineken N.V.

shares more visible than the Heineken Holding N.V. shares. Are there still Heineken Holding A and B shares? No, A and B shares do no longer exist. During the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on 20 April 2005 it was decided to convert the A and B shares into one kind of (ordinary) shares since there is no need any more for this (historical) difference. Next to the ordinary shares there are now only priority shares. Why did Heineken Holding N.V. use to have A and B shares? When Heineken Holding N.V. was established, Mr Heineken and his business partner chose for different shares. The shares that were owned by Mr Heineken were called B shares, while the others were A shares. Later, when stock dividends and recaps took place, only A shares were issued. What does IFRS mean? International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). European Union regulation requires all publicly listed companies based in the EU to report their financial statements under IFRS as of January 1, 2005. IFRS replaces the previous Dutch GAAP.

Stock information Most Popular Beers - Beers from 35 Countries - Thrillist Flickr/Alpha CHINA - Snow Beer FUN FACT: Despite the fact that you've probably never heard of it, Snow Beer is actually the most popular (meaning best-selling) beer in the entire world. It's sold almost exclusively in China, which apparently has a lot of people. CZECH REPUBLIC - Pilsner Urquell Pilsner Urquell was the first pilsner beer in the entire world (invented in 1842). DENMARK - Carlsberg Despite also being the best-selling beer in Russia, Carlsberg is very much a Danish invention (and has the distinction of being the flagship brew of the fifth-largest brewery group in the world). ETHIOPIA - St. George Lager In Ethiopia, beer has long been a drink of choice, and the crisp St. George out of Addis Ababa has helped cool down locals and travelers since 1922.

Flickr/s_a_i_d_a FRENCH POLYNESIA - Hinano Tahitian treat Hinano tastes like a hybrid of Heineken & Bud and packs a low punch, which is a good thing considering it's best consumed by the icy bucketful on a white-sanded beach. Also, this and Tabu are pretty much the only options in the archipelago. They taste the same. INDIA - Kingfisher With a market share of over 50%, Kingfisher is akin to some sort of monarch in the Indian beer world. INDONESIA - Bintang Beer Bintang's bottle looks a lot like a Heineken... it apparently tastes like a Heineken... but it's not Heineken, dammit (although it is owned by them)! It's a Pilsner-style beer brewed in Surabaya. related Flickr/Crispin Semmens ISRAEL - Goldstar There's a pretty large debate raging in Israel about whether Goldstar or competitor Maccabee is the better beer. But despite the fact that Goldstar edges out sales of Maccabee ever so slightly, they're both made by Tempo Beer Industries. So... those guys win.

ITALY - Peroni While being slightly more well-known the world over for their Nastro Azzurro, Peroni Brewery in Italy has more in-country fame for its eponymous pale lager. JAMAICA - Red Stripe The famous, stout little bottles. The strong desire to get little beads woven into your hair after you drink a few. This one's a no-brainer. Flickr/Pietro Zuco JAPAN - Asahi The four major beer producers in Japan are Asahi, Sapporo, Kirin, and Suntory (yes, THAT Suntory). They're all in close competition, but recently, Asahi has narrowly edged past its rivals -- somehow without the aid of Bill Murray. KENYA - Tusker Tusker, East Africa's best-selling beer, was so-named because the brewery founder was killed in an elephant-hunting accident. And now people are reminded of it every time they drink. It kinda sucks. LAOS - Beerlao Beerlao is half-owned by the Laotian government and half-owned by Carlsberg, and claims to have a 99% market share... so it's got that going for it, which is nice.

Flickr/Antony Stanley MADAGASCAR - Three Horses Beer Collectively referred to by locals as "THB", Three Horses Beer produces a variety of brews within Madagascar, but its flagship is its pilsner. MEXICO - Modelo Grupo Modelo, the largest Mexican brewery group, produces a bunch of beers you might recognize (Corona being chief among them), but most of them are exported directly to the US. Within the country itself, however, Modelo is king. NETHERLANDS - Heineken Ah, Heineken. Its distinctive green bottle definitely makes it the most recognized Dutch beer out there, which is appropriate given the fact that its manufacturer, Heineken International, is the world's third-largest brewer. Flickr/James Cridland NORWAY - Ringnes Ringnes is a storied brewery that was founded in 1876, and its success was mostly based on the popularity of its pilsner.

Today, it's entirely owned by Danish beer giant Carlsberg, prompting a descendant of its founder to remark: "A country without a leading beer brand is like a man without potency." PAKISTAN - Murree Beer Murree is only legally available within Pakistan, due to the prohibition of exportation of alcohol from the country. While sales of alcohol are just beginning to catch on in any large way, Murree Beer is already popular in clubs and liquor shops. PHILIPPINES - San Miguel Pale Pilsen The brewery behind San Miguel Pale Pilsen, San Miguel (duh), has a market share of around 95% in the Philippines. related Flickr/tadekk POLAND - Zywiec Widely considered to be an emblem of Poland and a source of national pride, Zywiec features a man and a woman dancing around the Polish coat of arms on its label. They're really going for the Polish vote on this one. ROMANIA - Ursus Ursus's slogan in Romania is "The King of Beers in Romania". Ursus is also a genus of bear. But it's not "The King Of Bears", in Romania or anywhere else. Because that title goes to Mike Ditka.

RUSSIA - Baltika There's no hiding the fact that Russians drink a lot. It's usually vodka, but in a pinch (for example, when multiple bears are hoarding the vodka), some of them will occasionally turn to beer. That beer is usually Baltika. SCOTLAND - Tennent's Lager While Scotland's beer scene is a bit difficult to distill down (hehe) into a representative brew, Tennent's is easily the most popular lager in the country. SINGAPORE - Tiger Beer Tiger Beer was founded in Singapore in 1932, and today can be found in more than 60 countries. It is not brewed inside Charlie Sheen. Flickr/Kullez THAILAND - Singha The Singha is a powerful mythological lion... and now you can drink it! It might be neck-and-neck with competitor Chang Beer, but c'mon -- Singha's gonna win every time. TURKEY - Efes Pilsener Efes, a large European beverage group, produces the flagship Efes Pilsener, which is said to have a sweet flavor resulting from rice added at points during the brewing process.

VENEZUELA - Cerveza Polar Production of this polar bear-adorned beer began in the 1940s, and is still going strong today -- it's the largest brewery in Venezuela! Pairs well with arepas. Adam Lapetina is a food/drink staff writer at Thrillist, and Red Stripe will always be the national beer of his heart. Follow him on Twitter at @adamlapetina . Case Analysis For The Heineken Business Commerce Essay Case Analysis For The Heineken Business Commerce Essay Published: Last Edited: 23rd March, 2015 This essay has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work written by our professional essay writers. Heineken is the world 3th largest beer company based on Netherlands. It has raised significant sales throughout European countries, also their products are sold in nearly almost all countries. It has breweries in 65 countries. It bought foreign breweries or acquired licensing to cut manufacturing cost, expand product line, and facilitate local distribution.

For the special case, Heineken didn`t establish it`s breweries in the united states because it considered to keep images for 'import beer.' On the other hand, it invested in new- internet based technique to manage international distribution system efficiently. Heineken has been growing up continuously by using a joint venture with big competitors to expand into a new market. To raise global market share, it also plan special strategies for each countries. Many government leaders strongly recommend domestic firms to go international in order to create jobs and economic growth. However, some companies have trouble advancing into overseas market because of a lack of knowledge about the foreign market. 1) Economic issues - directly connected to the profit (sales) â‘ Population: The potential customer population of the target market quite depends on type of the product or service (that a company is marketing). To a B2B firm, for example, the number of people in the country is not a good indicator of how large the market is. Also, B2C firms usually consider the targeted population instead of the number of the whole population. Age and gender are generally considered as main variables for assessing foreign markets. Consideration about households such as average family size in that country could be also a good indicator.

However, it is hard to foresee the future and compare with other markets only with simple factors such as age and sex. It could be a good way of understanding foreign markets to pay attention to population distribution using tools like population pyramids. â‘¡ Income: A critical economic factor to look into the target market is income level of the nation. Companies trying to go into foreign markets can measure the market potential through GNI or GDP. Also, they can decide which indicator to use according to the market or product type; for example GNI per capita can be a clear index to grasp the population's standard of living. Nevertheless, average values about income such as GNI, GDP are insufficient to figure out income level of the whole population. In most nations, income isn't fairly distributed among the entire population of each country; also there is no certain correlation between income level per capita and degree of income inequality. In short, using income indictors without information of income distribution can distort the result of market research. 2) Non-economic issues â‘ Cultural issues: Cultural factors such as language, race, religion, historical background, which reflect attitudes, values, and beliefs, vary among countries. Going into global market without understanding of the target market's culture brings about the failure.

It is quite important for firm leaders to figure out how managers manage the firm, how employees behave and how consumers response according to each country's cultural background. â‘¡ Government regulations: Each nation has its regulation and taxation on foreign trade. For alcoholic beverage firms, government regulations might be stricter in some countries that are especially sensitive about alcohol consumption of their people. Additionally, taxation on alcoholic beverages varies among different countries. For example, Islamic countries such as Egypt may give a harsh control to their alcoholic beverage import. Q2. Discuss the advantages or disadvantages for Heineken of exporting its beer from one country to another. Advantages â‘ Expand Sales: expanding into international market gives various chances to get profit for Heineken. The long term relationship with international market lasts, export development cost can be covered and they increase their additional sales through the market. Also, company can further create economies of scale to decrease producing cost. â‘¡ Acquire Resources and Compete with Rivals: Heineken can acquire resources by sharing and learning knowledge and experience with new marketing technique and foreign competitors. Consequently, Heineken will improve quality of products, and it can gain more market share in international market.

â‘¢ Minimize Risk: Beer is sold certain seasons: especially summer. Thus, Heineken can utilize and avoid seasonal factors during different season in foreign countries. Also, selling product to multiple markets allows Heineken to diversify their business and spread risk. Disadvantages â‘ Complexity in Operations: Heineken need to plan various marketing strategies to meet different needs for each country. Thus, it causes increase in product cost. Also, there are a lot of unpredictable situations for Heineken such as establishment regulation to limit alcohol, natural disaster etc. Heineken has no choice but to be dependent on fluctuation other countries` situations. â‘¡ Cultural Collision: multinational companies have to consider various cultural differences among different countries. For instance, religion, customs, purchasing behaviors are things to consider. Consumption of alcohol is a sensitive matter in this sense to many countries and can cause numerous social problems. Q3. What are the key issues facing Heineken insofar as international licensing is concerned? License, is a grant by the holder of a copyright or patent to another of any of the rights embodied in the copyright or patent short of an assignment of all rights.

In the case of a beer company as Heineken, this would mean to license a brewery in a country they wish to enter. The licensed local brewery then would produce Heineken branded beer with Heineken's unique recipe. This way, Heineken does not need to personally build a new brewery in that area which saves time and money. Heineken has used licensing as a way to expand its business internationally. Although this business of licensing may sound like a complete win-win situation, at times there are side effects that come along with it. For instance, despite the advantages of licensing, Heineken has otherwise restrained itself from licensing a local brewery in markets such like the US. This was for reasons that had to do with the fact that Heineken was a beer company. Reasons that people consume a certain brand of beer can be various but simply to name the two main reasons would be because first, a consumer is simply loyal to that brand because they grew up with it or, for a second reason, to drink a particular brand of beer gives the consumer a sense of exoticness. The first reason usually goes for local brands, and the second reason goes for foreign brands.

Thus, to produce a beer that people drink mainly because it is a foreign brand in a local brewery would definitely drive consumers away. Moreover because consumers believe that the "real" Heineken beer comes from Dutch breweries, Heineken is able to charge double for Dutch made beers. The case of Hoegaarden illustrates the difference of perception on locally-made beer and imported beer. After Korean consumers found out that Hoegaarden, a Belgian beer was being locally produced, many complained that the taste was different. Some even started calling the beer O-garden, referring to that fact that it was licensed to Korean beer company OB. Q4. Compare the FDI between Heineken and Anheuser-Busch Anheuser-Busch has FDIs in usually large emerging markets such as China and Mexico. It invests heavily in these markets through large local companies. In China for instance, Anheuser-Busch paid $700 million for the Harbin Brewery and in the case of Mexico, Anheuser-Busch owns 50 percent of Modelo, the maker of Corona. Heineken who was the pioneer of entering international markets for beer companies, has slightly smaller scaled FDIs.

Apart from the size of the FDIs, Heineken usually entered countries that were neighboring or African countries that had historical relations with European countries. â…¢. Conclusion 1. Alternatives 1) The current situation: Heineken has refused to establish a brewery in the United States, instead, they keep shipping its beer to the U.S. That's because customers in the U.S. don't accept the fact that the beer, which is made in a brewery in there, is the same with what Heineken export from its home country. 2) Alternatives We recommend not to ship Heineken beers into the U.S. but to set up a brewery in the U.S. In the case of Asahi beer, which is the top Japanese beer, they increased in sales, using FDI when they go into the foreign market. Penetrating into the U.S. market with FDI, which is distinguished from licensing, would help American customers notice there is no difference between beer from Netherlands and from its own country. For using this strategy in the U.S. market, we suggest a couple of effective ways to cope with the potential risk. â‘ Positive marketing: The failure that Heineken experienced previously results from customers' recognition.

In order to make this tactic successful, therefore, Heineken has to give customers perception that beer from the U.S. brewery has no difference from the original one. Heineken could actively use various marketing strategies such as blind tasting. â‘¡ Pricing: It has high risk for Heineken to suddenly switch its distribution channel. There is possibility to bring about the same failure with before, so they can use a gradual way to relieve risks. Pricing is a good way. At the beginning, Heineken maintain the original exported beer at the same time produce beer in the U.S. brewery. Then they differentiate the price between two kinds of beer, even if there is no change in the recipe. The original exported beer would have higher price than the other. Thus, we can expect for customers in the U.S. to make a choice between Heineken beers, not another brand. 2. Recommendation Actually, Heineken is doing a quite good job in the global market, but they tend to pursue only safe way in their marketing. Therefore, we could recommend some ways to improve their state in the international market which is getting tough. First of all, we give a recommendation of growing in the U.S. market.

Even though other markets of developing countries, such as BRICs, are arising, the U.S. market is still one of the largest markets worldwide. So, it would be better for Heineken to penetrate the U.S. market more positively Secondly, it would be important for Heineken to sustain and extend its global market share. Do not stop raising the number of its worldwide breweries and the reputation in each nation. Last but not least, more aggressive and innovative advertising about its product might help to improve its sales and status in the industry. It seems that the main target of Heineken cannot include young people, so it can have a chance to capture the young who would be its large target. Additionally, Heineken needs to grasp trends such as well-being. It should lead as well as follow the trend; they can introduce low-calorie and healthy beer to follow well-being trend. The Netherlands: What determines the country origin of a beer? - Quora Quora Food The Netherlands: What determines the country origin of a beer? Example: Heineken. It is a Dutch brand but the ingredients are not Dutch nor is it brewed in Holland. Its license is by Spendrups located in Sweden.

Written Apr 20, 2014 The country of origin is where the beer is produced. Nowadays that means that you may by a beer by a Dutch company that is not Dutch. If a beer is produced in many different countries, I'd say it could be considered 'international.' For instance, Heineken is a Dutch company that produces international beer. 236 Views Written Nov 29, 2013 Jump back 30-40 years and beer brands are nice and tidy, German beers coming from Germany, Swedish beers from Sweden Dutch beers from Holland etc. Brewers after then got taken over or took over other brands to become international companies with licensed brewers all over the place. The connection between brand name and original country is mostly lost. Kind of raises the question whether a Merc or BMW produced in the US is then an American car. Is a Philips TV Dutch? Only thing I can say is that a US Budweiser is not Budweiser, seeing how it does not come from Budweis (Budějovice). There was a nice little war some time back when Anheuser tried to bully all others into chucking the name, including the original Budweiser brewery itself.

The term "Pilsener" has come to wide acceptance, even where the product comes from nowhere near Pilsen (Plzeň). As an info tidbit: The biggest producer (harvester) and also the biggest exporter of hops is incidentally Germany. In production followed by the Czech Republic and then the US. Heineken is considered by traditional beer brewing nations, respectively consumers therein, to be an internationally identity void solution of watery plonk. A chauvinistic unkindness, no doubt, especiallys seeing that Germany, where the condemnation is popular, hardly produces anything different. Connoisseurs of beer are best advised to seek out small local breweries of which the Netherlands still has some. They are still very much in the tradition, barely bothered with exporting beyond city or county borders and give a hint of what beer used to be. For the Pilsener experience (forget Anheuser) the area of same name in the Czech Republic is the only place. 147 Views Written Nov 30, 2013 I assume the exact recipe and the yeast come from Heineken's laboratory which is part of their main brewery in Zouterwoude.

The licence to brew according to this recipe is owned by Heineken. So I'd be hard pressed to call it anything else than a Dutch beer. 307 Views The Best Beer Countries in the World - Thrillist Thrillist Log in or Sign Up to start saving places View your Get Thrillist in Your Inbox Discover the very best food, drink and fun in your city. Eat up! I confirm I am at least 21 years old Follow Thrillist McDonald's Makes a Giant, Party-Size McFlurry When Garrett Oliver says that beer is as old as civilization itself, he’s not kidding. Maybe that’s why, unlike the Olympics or World Cup, global beer supremacy is a difficult thing to quantify when borders are brought into question. If you’re looking at sheer production volume numbers, China is number one. If you’re looking at consumption per capita numbers, it’s the Czech Republic. But if you’re looking at quality, innovation, and the overall scene, the numbers are far from the only things to consider, especially given the rapid change in the industry in the past decade.

We hit the statistics logs, critical ranking publications, history books, and bars (obviously) to come up with a list of which countries are doing good beer the most proud these days. Related Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 13. Ireland Sure, drinking beer in a pub is one of the first things that comes to mind when describing Irish culture. And while the country does rank number six in beer consumption per capita, Ireland’s brewery explosion is a recent development. Less than a decade ago, just five breweries controlled the market, but today that number is at 50. Newcomers like the White Hag, Galway Bay Brewery, and Trouble Brewing are forging a trail for critically adored craft beer in the Emerald Isle. In 2013, the government went a step further by enacting new laws that create incentives and offer education for aspiring brewers, which pretty much ensures that the growth trend will continue. Continue Reading Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 12. New Zealand New Zealand’s agricultural good fortune has helped make them one of the most quickly ascendant brewing countries in the world.

Already known for barley production, their citrusy indigenous hops varieties now play a huge part in their ability to compete with some of the most popular -- and, in an increasing number of cases, best -- hop-driven American brews on the market. It’s not just IPAs, though: internationally adored Kiwi microbreweries Yeastie Boys, 8 Wired, Liberty Brewing, Tuatara Brewery, and Moa Brewing have exploded in popularity for all styles of beer from saisons to stouts. Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 11. Sweden Sweden’s beer culture has begun to explode in spite of itself: local laws prohibit the sale of retail beer above 3.5% ABV outside of state-controlled shops, meaning local craft breweries have limited places to stock their brews within the country. Seemingly in defiance, new breweries are still popping up and garnering international attention, including Nya Carnegiebryggeriet, a sister brewery opened in partnership with Brooklyn Brewery. Plus, the country’s world-class beer bars, which are host to some of the most diverse international draft lists out there (the country’s second only to Canada in American beer imports ), help Swedes round out their boozing.

Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 10. Italy Thanks to its location deep within wine country, political backlogs, and the wine industry’s incredible lobbying power over the government, brewers have had little to no support in incentivizing beer culture. Even so, things have taken a sharp turn upwards in the past decade and a half with a veritable boom of microbreweries. Locally and internationally acclaimed brewers such as del Ducato, LoverBeer, and del Borgo are ushering in an era of change with complex, innovative approaches to traditional styles, unhindered by a base brewing tradition. You can expect Italy’s full beer potential to come to fruition in the coming years, but, even today, it’s top notch. related Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 9. Norway A large part of beer culture is appreciating beers from elsewhere, and Norway’s beer bars have an uncanny ability to curate some of the best lists on the planet. This has helped to spur a craft movement of its own in the country, with breweries like Nogne Ø paving the way for young upstarts.

RateBeer included Fjell Bryggeri and Lindheim Ølkompani as two of the best new breweries in the world for 2015, tying them with the USA for tops on the list. Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 8. Netherlands The Netherlands’ international beer reputation is based mainly on Heineken (and subsidiary brewery Amstel), but there’s plenty of things going on under the trunk these days: Holland is home to two of the world’s 10 designated Trappist breweries (the only others are in Belgium, Austria, and the USA), and it’s home to a thriving beer culture with world-class bars and taprooms around the country. Microbreweries Brouwerij Emelisse and Brouwerij de Molen are the most critically adored little guys in Holland these days, and are routinely included in top global beer lists. Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 7. Canada For years, beer tradition in Canada did little to step outside of pale lagers pumped out en masse by macrobrewers. But, much like their neighbors to the South, Canada gained an initial wave of craft breweries in the early ’80s that carried through to today.

Quebec can lay claim to some of the earliest and most vocal international acclaim for its Belgian-inspired beers: almost half of the top-rated beers in the country come from the province, including Unibroue, Dieu du Ciel, and McAuslan. Couple this with a smattering of world-class beer bars from coast to coast and burgeoning microbreweries, such as Toronto’s Bellwoods and BC’s Parallel 49, and you’ve got a beer culture that can compete on the global scale. Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 6. Japan As a country known for its attention to detail in production, it should come as no surprise that great beer in Japan is far from an afterthought. Known domestically as ji-biru (“local beer”) or kurafuto bia (“craft beer”), microbreweries have been taking off since the mid-'90s when government restrictions on brewing minimums were relaxed . Since then, there has been no limit to the styles of beer tackled, ranging from Belgian witbiers to hoppy IPAs to coffee stouts from breweries like Kiuchi Brewery (who makes Hitachino Nest Beer) and Echigo Biru.

Japanese microbreweries are also perennial winners at the International Brewing Awards, and, in the past few years, exports have increased dramatically thanks to popularity and increased production, making it easier to get your hands on a bottle (especially on the West Coast). related Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 5. Denmark While Denmark’s beer styles haven’t been as popular outside its borders as powerhouses like Belgium’s or Germany’s, they have a solid lineup of traditional seasonal specialties, while the tidal wave of new microbreweries emulate international styles with aplomb. The far-and-away darling of the craft beer scene there is Mikkeller, whose very presence has done plenty to elevate Denmark in the eyes of the international community and has ushered in a revitalized era of production and brewery openings. Along with other popular small breweries such as To Øl, it’s common to see Denmark represented on bottle and draft lists in the best beer bars around the world and on top beer-rating lists. Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 4. Germany Germany ranks in the top five countries in the world for volume of beer production and ranks number three for beer consumption per capita.

Even with numbers aside, it’s practically against the law to make bad beer: the Reinheitsgebot (or German Beer Purity Law) has kept many breweries’ recipes the same for centuries. Mainstays like Ayinger still provide beers that are considered gold standards for their styles, and historic breweries, like Riegele, who exemplify popular domestic styles, keep local specialties alive despite lack of interest outside the country. Even with the stringent tie to tradition, revolutionary small breweries have been popping up: some, like Freigeist (translated as “free spirit”), highlight “endangered” German styles, while some young upstarts in Berlin, like Vagabund Brauerei, are doing international styles in what was once a beer wasteland of a city. Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 3. United Kingdom Craft beer in the UK is not only thriving, it’s exploding: slow-but-steady changes in legislation have led to the highest number of breweries in the country since World War II, and advances in technology and investment in the industry are revitalizing everything from kegging practices to hop production.

The UK now boasts the highest number of breweries in the world per capita , and innovative breweries such as the Wild Beer Co, the Kernel, Beavertown, and Harviestoun have begun to draw younger drinkers away from the pale lagers that have dominated pubs’ draft lines for decades. Plus, along with Belgium and Germany, the UK is amongst the historical core of style creation that acts as a pillar for modern beer-making. Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 2. United States Traditionalists may deny it up and down, but there is no questioning it: the United States is a world leader in beer today. Breweries here are opening at a rate of 1.5 per day , American brews positively dominate global ranking lists, and, although the overall amount of beer consumption has dipped slightly, there has been a marked increase in the consumption of craft beers in the US of A. The American brewing style is so popular in other countries that craft brewers are expanding to Europe, including Stone’s plans for a Berlin brewery and Brooklyn Brewery’s sister operation in Sweden.

Breweries like Hill Farmstead, Russian River, and 3 Floyds have entered the rarified upper atmosphere of globally adored breweries, where almost forgotten styles have been revitalized and innovated upon with a ton of success. However you slice it, the unprecedented explosion of beer culture in the USA is showing no signs of slowing down. related Jennifer Bui/Thrillist 1. Belgium Whether you’re drinking a lambic, saison, dubbel, or witbier, Belgium is a rare example of tradition meeting innovation that lives through to present day. Globally, the esteem of Belgian beer has not waned in the slightest, thanks to brands like Kwak, Rodenbach, Gulden Draak, Chimay, Cantillon, Tilquin, and Brasserie Dupont. Thanks largely to preserved Belgian brewing techniques, styles are still widely emulated, and production methods, including bottle fermentation and coolships, are still used. But on top of that, contemporary breweries like de la Senne, Alvinne, and Hof ten Dormaal have kept things fresh in the country by elevating traditional styles by using modern techniques and ingredients.

Simply put, it’s hard to top the globally recognized and coveted brands that come from Belgium, all while still hosting a vibrant culture within its own borders. Zach Mack is Thrillist's contributing beer writer, the owner of Alphabet City Beer Co. in NYC, and absolutely nothing else. Follow him: @zmack .

Question: What country does Heineken beer come from?
Answer: Netherlands