Viru Brewery

Viru Brewery was Estonia's third largest brewery,[1] and produced the Wiru, Puls, Žiguli and various other brands. It was located in Haljala in Lääne-Viru County.[2] Production of beer was discontinued in 2020.[3]

AS Viru Õlu

Industry	Brewing
Predecessor	Viru kolhoos Õlletehas
Founded	1975
Headquarters	Haljala , Estonia
Products	Beer and soft drinks
Parent	Harboes Bryggeri A/S
Website	www.wiru.ee/en

Viru Brewery in Haljala

History

Viru Brewery grew out of one of the branches of the Viru collective farm, or kolkhoz in 1975. Originally only Žiguli beer was produced, a pale lager with minimum 2.8% abv which was brewed throughout the Soviet Union.[4] During the first year, 640.000 litres of beer was produced, and in the following year more than five million litres of beer was made in Haljala.[5]

In 1991 the collective brewery was formed into AS Viru Õlu, and in 1992 Harboes Bryggeri A/S of Denmark became the biggest shareholder. Production of Christmas beer, Bear Beer and soft drinks started in the 1990s. In 2008 Viru Brewery bought the "Puls" trademark of the former Pärnu Brewery.[5]

Viru Brewery was a member of the Estonian Breweries Association (Eesti Õlletootjate Liit) which represents the interests of the larger Estonian breweries.[6] In 2019 the company declared a net loss of 488,200 euros.[7]

In July 2020 Harboe Group announced that beer production would be transferred from Haljala to other Harboe breweries in Germany and Denmark, following years of financial losses.[3]

See also

• Beer in Estonia

References

1. Äripäev. Väikeõlletootjad sõlmisid riigiga pooliku diili. (in Estonian)
2. Viru Brewery.
3. ERR News. Viru Õlu to stop brewing in Haljala.
4. Kuulutaja. THE VIRU AND VIRU-NIGULA BREWERIES ARE PART OF THE HISTORY OF ESTONIAN BEER. (in Estonian)
5. Harboes Bryggeri. Viru Õlu Brewery.
6. Eesti Õlletootjate Liit. (in Estonian)
7. Virumaa Teataja. Viru Õlu continued to make losses. (in Estonian)