Lapin Kulta beer brings Greetings from the North

Finland's beloved Lapin Kulta truly does send its Greetings from the North! as the roots of this tradition-rich beer lie deep within Finnish Lapland. Despite its long history Lapin Kulta - the Golden Beer of Lapland - which carries the memory of gold prospectors in its name, is still a relaxed and open brand that frees the mind and stimulates the soul by offering inspiration and new social experiences with a good dose of homegrown northern humour. At the same time it remains faithful to its roots, reflecting northern mystery, purity and liberty in all its activities.

Lapin Kulta beer was born in 1873 when a group of tradesmen, officials and businessmen in Tornio founded a brewery called Torneå Bryggeri Aktiebolag. The first bottles of beer and porter were produced three years later and in 1880 the brewery's name was changed to Tornion Portteri- ja Oluttehdas Oy. In 1953 the brewery, which had survived the recession that took place at the turn of the century and prohibition, underwent yet another name change to Tornion Olut Oy.

In the 1960s a lighter and softer version of the beer was created. In 1963 this beer was named Lapin Kulta - the Golden Beer of Lapland - and already the following year it won the gold medal at an international quality competition in Brussels. Eugen Ulfves of Reklammainos came up with the name for the beer when he was at his villa in the Pellinki islands and the moon formed a golden bridge across the still water on an August night.

In 1969 the brewery was also given the name Lapin Kulta Ltd. The name was inherited from prospectors: it was held by an old mining company which was founded during the gold rush and had later come to be owned by the State. The brewery bought the mining company to gain the rights to the name and with this deal it also gained the right to pan gold. The brewery's line of business still is "gold prospecting as well as the manufacture and sale of beer."

Innovations and international success

Today Lapin Kulta is Finland's best-known beer and its only international beer brand that is exported to Sweden and other Nordic countries, Russia, the Baltic countries as well as Great Britain, among others. Lapin Kulta is internationally recognised in other ways too: for example, in 2000 it won the gold medal in London in the Premium Lager series.

Even though Lapin Kulta has a history steeped in tradition it is also an active player in the modern beer industry. It has developed the beer market with new products that cater to domestic and international trends. The fact that Lapin Kulta is the first Finnish beer brand to bring out a long neck bottle is representative of the latest currents. The long neck bottle, launched at the end of 2003, has enjoyed success by answering to the international trend of drinking beer straight from the bottle at restaurants. New flavour variants have also been brought to the market to refresh Finnish beer lovers' taste buds.

A beer that still tastes of authentic Lapland

The Lapin Kulta brewery, home of the refreshing and full-flavoured number three in the Finnish beer market, is still in its original location by the Tornio River. It is the northernmost brewery in the EU and one of the biggest breweries in the Nordic countries. Lapin Kulta is also the oldest and still one of the biggest industrial plants in Tornio.

The water used in the manufacture of Lapin Kulta beer comes from thousands of cool and clear brooks running through the fells of the far north. In addition to the clean and soft water the secret behind Lapin Kulta beer lies in carefully selected barley malts, hops as well as the brewery's own special yeast strain. The end result is a uniquely refreshing beer that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

For further information please contact:
Hartwall Ltd, Brand Manager Riku Kuusisto, riku.kuusisto@hartwall.fi or tel. +358 20 717 2843