Pech brewery

The brewery was founded in 1848 by Lipot (Leopold) Hirschfeld. After the death of Leopold, the plant was transferred to his son Chamuel. He expanded the enterprise and drilled a well to ensure the supply of high-quality clean water. In 1907, the brand Szalon Sör (Sal Schör) was registered as a trademark and is still produced under this name to this day. In 1911, Chamuel founded a company that would later become known as Pécsi Sörfőzde Rt (Pecsk Brewery JSC). Initially, it was known as Hirschfeld S. Sörgyár Részvénytársaság (AO S. Hirschfeld Brewery). In subsequent years, the company managed to be successful and continue to work during the Great Depression and the two world wars. After the communists came to power after the Second World War, the company was nationalized, but in the 1970s and 1980s, the growth and development rates accelerated significantly, which allowed to increase production capacity to current levels. In 1992, a few years after the end of the communist period in Hungary, the company again became a private enterprise. During privatization in 1993, the majority of the company was acquired by Ottakring Group (Austria). New management and additional capital contributed to the modernization of the brewery. In 1994, the name was changed to Pécsi Sörfőzde Rt (Pech Brewery JSC). Although the Austrian Ottakringer is a majority shareholder, the factory still operates independently of its parent company, like a true Hungarian brewery.

In 2000, the Pech Brewery was 78% owned by the Ottakring group in Vienna, Austria, and another 6% was owned by Brau Union AG. 12% of the company's shares are owned by employees, and the remaining 4% is owned by private investors, as well as local city authorities. Despite the fact that such a large percentage of shares is owned by an Austrian company, the plant still retains significant independence and is proud of its traditions.

As of October 2005, the Pech brewery produces 8 beers. Six of them are traditional Hungarian brands, while the other two are licensed by the parent company. The brewery also supplies and sells three Austrian brands in Hungary. Products are sold in bottles (0.33 L, 0.5 L, 0.66 L), cans (0.5 L), six-piece blocks (6 x 0.5 L), barrels (30 L, 50 L ) or in any other combination of the above. This beer is best known in the Dél-Dunántúl region (South Transdanubia), but it can be found throughout the country.

• Szalon Sör (Salon Schör, 4.6% vol., Light beer) - the flagship of the brewery, light beer Salon Schör has been produced since about 1907, when the brand was registered as a trademark. Since then, it has gained popularity throughout Hungary.
• Szalon Félbarna (Salon Felbarna, 5.5% vol., Dark beer) is the latest addition to the product line. This variety combines the light taste of light beer and the stronger taste of dark German beer.
• Szalon Barna (Salon Barna, 5.8% vol., Dark in the German style) - this beer turned out to be a valuable product for the brewery, since it was released together with Salon Schör in 1994.
• Három Királyok (Harom Kirajok, 6.6% vol., Seasonal beer) - Harom Kirajok (Three Kings) was first introduced in 1999 as a seasonal variety produced for a limited time: during the Christmas and New Year holidays. It is also the highest alcohol grade produced at the Pech Brewery.
• Tavaszi Sör (Tawashi Sör, 4.8% vol., Seasonal beer) - Tavashi (Spring beer) is another seasonal offer from the company, which was released around the same time as Har Kirajok. As the name implies, beer is produced in springtime, and it is slightly lighter than its winter counterpart, corresponding to the season.
• Radler (Radler, 1.4% vol., Light alcoholic beverage-beer) is a light, low-alcohol beer that is essentially a mixture of lemonade and beer.
• Gold Fassl Pils (Gold Fassl Pils, 4.8% vol., Pilsner ) is a lightweight Vienna lager owned by the parent company Ottakringer, produced under a license issued for brewing in Hungary.
• Gold Fassl Spezial ( Gold Fassl Spezial , 5.3% vol., Light beer) is a slightly stronger, golden ale from Vienna, also produced under license.

In addition to the seven listed above, the company also produces three other Austrian brands. Ottakringer Helles (5.2% vol.), Famous in Vienna, and Schneider Weiss (5.4% vol.) Unfiltered wheat beer originally from Bavaria , southern Germany, are alcoholic varieties. Nul-Komma-Josef is a non-alcoholic beer, sold only in small bottles of 0.33 L and is a valuable addition to the product line, as Hungary has a zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving (the permissible level of alcohol in the blood is 0.0 %).

Also, in addition to widespread varieties, the plant produces Pécsi sör (Pech beer) in small batches. This special unfiltered beer (5.2% vol.) Is available only in some establishments of Pecs (the most famous of which is Zellarium).