Sopron Brewery 130 Years Old

The Sopron Brewery and the northwestern Hungarian town of Sopron, the ‘town of loyalty’ have been shaping and enriching each other's history since 1895. Sopron contributes to this long-lasting cooperation by dedicatedly cultivating beer culture, while the brewery contributes as an employer committed to local values and a supporter of the city's cultural and sporting life. To mark this notable anniversary, a series of events bearing the title ‘Sopron, Beer Capital’ pays tribute to the 130-year-old alliance, according to a statement by HEINEKEN, the owners of the Sopron Brewery.

When Gyula Lenck started his brewery in Sopron in March 1895, perhaps even the founders did not realize what far-reaching changes they were initiating in Hungarian beer culture. Today, 130 years later, it is clear that they created a tradition of quality brewing, where traditional values, innovation, and increasingly sustainable solutions are constantly giving rise to new values.

The growth is impressive in terms of numbers: today, as much beer is produced in four days as was produced in an entire year in the early years.

It is no exaggeration to call Sopron the beer capital of Hungary on the occasion of its 130th anniversary this year: in addition to being a major employer in the region and playing an important role in the Hungarian economy and foreign trade, the Sopron Brewery is also an outstanding partner for domestic farmers. The founders' legacy, which lives on today an integral part of the legacy carried on by HEINEKEN Hungária is the use of domestic raw materials: the brewery uses 100% Hungarian barley and pays special attention to the revival and flourishing of Hungarian hop cultivation within the framework of a strategic cooperation launched with the Hungarian Interchurch Aid.

"We have always considered it important to carry out our work responsibly in the community where we operate. In line with this, we support the local economy and suppliers in a number of ways, while offering stable and varied career opportunities to people living in the region. In addition, we maintain close ties with local educational institutions and actively contribute to the cultural and sporting life of Sopron. In addition to local communities, we also support events, festivals, and sporting events that provide community experiences at the national level, thereby strengthening the sense of belonging in all the communities where we are present," CEO of HEINEKEN Hungária Plc., Nikos Zois, said.

The Sopron Brewery has already achieved outstanding results in the area of sustainability, but maintaining its leading role remains a goal for the future: just as HEINEKEN Hungária was the first to withdraw PET bottles from circulation in 2021, Sopron Brewery, as an industry model, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its own production chain to zero by 2030 as part of its owner HEINEKEN's Net Zero program, and to achieve carbon neutrality in its entire supply chain by 2040.

"Hungarian agriculture is allied with the domestic food industry, and their success goes hand in hand, supported by domestic raw material production. In making agriculture more versatile and resilient, we also attach great importance to the revival of sectors that previously functioned well. These include hop cultivation, which has a long history, but we are also paying close attention to the cultivation of barley of the right quality, another key element in the supply of raw materials for the beer industry," Minister of Agriculture Dr. István Nagy, emphasized.

"Allow me to express my appreciation to HEINEKEN Hungary and the Sopron Brewery, not only for their persistent and exemplary work leading up to this anniversary, but also because the name of the brewery has been closely linked to the name of our city for generations. The word 'Soproni' not only refers to a popular brand, but also to our shared values: loyalty, pride and commitment to the community. The Sopron Brewery is more than just a factory: it is an integral part of the city's history, economy, and cultural life," Sopron Mayor, Dr. Ciprián Farkas, said.