Birra Korça
Encyclopedia
Birra Korça is a brewing company, founded in Korçë
, Albania
, in 1928. The company is a subsidiary of IHB group since 2004. It is the second largest beer
producer in Albania.
After the end of the World War II
and with the establishment of the communist regime in Albania on January 11, 1946 the brewery became property of the Albanian State according to the laws of the time. Several reconstructions and renovations were done in the years 1955, 1957 and 1965 and the production was gradually increased. In April 1994 following the change in the political climate, as well as economic downturn, political and social unrest, followed by the liberalization of the market, in Albania the brewery was sold in auction and was bought by a group of businessmen.
In 2004 the brewery was bought by the businessman Mr. Irfan Hysenbelliu the president of “Birra Korça LLC”. Soon after this a 15 million euro
(€) investment was made to renovate and renew the factory. Since then the brewery has under gone a deep technological and architectural reconstruction. The traditional design has been preserved by adding new elements of the same style. Using the latest Czech and Italian technology it brews 120.000 hectoliters of beer annually, ten times the output of the old brewery. The water comes from natural springs of Morava
Mountain. Birra Korca holds an annual beerfest during the month of August which is the biggest in the region.
). Birra Korça is sold in bottles 0.5 lit and 0.33 lit also in kegs 30 lit and 50 lit.
, Greece
in the year 1928. In 2007 in London
, England
the company was awarded the International Quality Crown Award in Golden category from the Executive Chairman of Business Initiative Directions (BID), Mr. Jose E. Prieto. Birra Korça is a holder of ISO 22000
certificate which is an international standard intended to be used by organizations within the food chain. It contains traditional quality assurance preventive measures plus preventive food-safety measures. In 2009 in Frankfurt
, Germany
again Birra Korça was awarded with the International Arch of Europe Award in Diamond Category competing against businesses from 178 countries. This prize was handed over to Mr. Kasem Hysenbelli (the representative of Birra Korça) from, Mr. Prieto. Birra Korça has widespread distribution in Albania and is exported to a number of neighboring countries. In 2011 Birra Korca entered the American market and can be purchased at various locations in Massachusetts
.
Korçë
Korçë is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people , making it the sixth largest city in Albania...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, in 1928. The company is a subsidiary of IHB group since 2004. It is the second largest beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
producer in Albania.
History
Birra Korça is the first beer brewed in Albania. The brewery was established in the town of Korçe, Albania, in 1928. It was founded by an Italian investor Umberto Umberti and Selim Mboria a local investor. The initial capital for the company was 950,000 francs. The initial production capacity was 20,000 Hl per year. It produced Blonde Ale Beer, Dark ale, bottled water “Kristal” and ice.After the end of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and with the establishment of the communist regime in Albania on January 11, 1946 the brewery became property of the Albanian State according to the laws of the time. Several reconstructions and renovations were done in the years 1955, 1957 and 1965 and the production was gradually increased. In April 1994 following the change in the political climate, as well as economic downturn, political and social unrest, followed by the liberalization of the market, in Albania the brewery was sold in auction and was bought by a group of businessmen.
In 2004 the brewery was bought by the businessman Mr. Irfan Hysenbelliu the president of “Birra Korça LLC”. Soon after this a 15 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
(€) investment was made to renovate and renew the factory. Since then the brewery has under gone a deep technological and architectural reconstruction. The traditional design has been preserved by adding new elements of the same style. Using the latest Czech and Italian technology it brews 120.000 hectoliters of beer annually, ten times the output of the old brewery. The water comes from natural springs of Morava
Morava
Morava is a Slavic river name. It may refer to:Rivers:* Great Morava in central Serbia** South Morava , tributary of the Great Morava** West Morava , tributary of the Great Morava...
Mountain. Birra Korca holds an annual beerfest during the month of August which is the biggest in the region.
Brands
Beers under the Korça brand include: Blonde Ale, European type pilsner 4.8-5% abv and Dark Ale a 5-5.2% abv Euro dark lager (dunkelDunkel
Dunkel, or Dunkles, is a dark German beer. Dunkel is the German word meaning dark, and dunkel beers typically range in colour from amber to dark reddish brown. They are characterized by their smooth malty flavour....
). Birra Korça is sold in bottles 0.5 lit and 0.33 lit also in kegs 30 lit and 50 lit.
Awards
“Birra Korça” holds several quality awards. First award was taken in ThessalonikiThessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in the year 1928. In 2007 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
the company was awarded the International Quality Crown Award in Golden category from the Executive Chairman of Business Initiative Directions (BID), Mr. Jose E. Prieto. Birra Korça is a holder of ISO 22000
ISO 22000
ISO 22000 is a standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization dealing with food safety. This is a general derivative of ISO 9000.-Food safety:...
certificate which is an international standard intended to be used by organizations within the food chain. It contains traditional quality assurance preventive measures plus preventive food-safety measures. In 2009 in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
again Birra Korça was awarded with the International Arch of Europe Award in Diamond Category competing against businesses from 178 countries. This prize was handed over to Mr. Kasem Hysenbelli (the representative of Birra Korça) from, Mr. Prieto. Birra Korça has widespread distribution in Albania and is exported to a number of neighboring countries. In 2011 Birra Korca entered the American market and can be purchased at various locations in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.