Viru Õlu AS

Viru Õlu AS

The first wort was boiled in Haljala brewery on 7 July 1975; beer bottling began a month later – on 7 August 1975. In the beginning, only Ziguli beer was brewed. But in the years 1975 – 1988, brands like Ziguli eripruul (Ziguli Special Brew), Riia (Riga), Moskva (Moscow) and Kuldne oder (Golden Barley) were added to the assortment. In July 1990 began the brewing of the first dark beer Viru. In the spring of 1991, the first version of light beer Toolse came into production and dark beer Jõulumees (Santa Claus) for the Christmas of 1992. An important change in Haljala brewery took place on 2 July 1991, when the brewery of Viru Collective Farm turned into Viru Õlu Limited Company. Since 1992, major shareholder of the company is Danish brewery Harboes Bryggeri AS. In order to expand production, alterations and extensions were made and invested into modern equipment in order to take the beer quality to world level. In 1993, Viru Õlu surprised the consumers with dark beer Palmse and light beer Vihula that came into production in 1994. Next to Jõulumees, new seasonal dark beers were added to the assortment – Lihavõtte (Easter) and Jaanik (Midsummer Night).