Heineken Experience tickets and tours

How did Heineken become one of the world’s most popular beers? The company has a long history, but here are a few of the highlights of its evolution.

In 1869, Gerard Heineken switched from traditional top fermentation to the Bavarian method of bottom fermentation, producing a clearer, purer beer that kept longer. The new beer was celebrated for its quality and called 'Gentleman's Beer' rather than 'Workman's Ale'. By 1875, the beer had won a gold medal at the International Exposition in Paris.

In 1881, cooling systems were installed in the brewery and in 1886 a new strain of yeast (A-yeast) was developed to improve flavor (it is still used today). By 1889, the beer won gold at the World Exhibition in Paris.

In 1932, Heineken opened a pilot brewery in Rotterdam, enabling the laboratory to research new methods and test results. Following a period of huge international expansion, Heineken introduced reversed osmosis (hyper filtration) in 1980, improving water processing and quality in Europe. In 1999, the beer in the green bottle was voted Brand of the Century in the Netherlands.