Every country has its culinary patrimony to share with the world, and Lebanon, a place of much upheaval, is no different.

Fortunately, for beer lovers throughout Lebanon, and the world, beer trumps all politics, rises triumphant and victorious for the people to enjoy. Especially when it's a light and refreshing beer like Lebanon's number one seller, Almaza.

The Almaza brewery began in 1933 when Lebanon was still under French mandate. Five partners, many of them from the Jabre family, decided the time was right to undertake their dreams and launch what would soon be embraced as the taste of Lebanon. They were situated in Bauchrieh, just outside the capital, and the partners, and their brewery paid witness to the country's history in the making, contributing their 
beer to the process.

Though founded by five men, it was a woman who bestowed upon the brand its name - Almaza. The story goes that the wife of one of the partners gracefully passed through their meeting as they gathered to determine a name for their brew. She pointed to her diamond ring and said, "Almaza", which is the word for a diamond in Arabic.

Its representation of excellence and uniqueness resonated and so the brand was named. The label followed suit, with a red wax seal that represents a stamp of confidence and the barley sprig a reminder of quality. 

The quality was derived not only from the passion of the partners but also their savvy plan in the 1960s to visit the Amstel distillery in Amsterdam and offer a 10% stake in Almaza in exchange for some technical expertise.

 
This won them the presence of a distiller from Pilsen, the city in the The Czech Republic where Pilsner beer was born. A pilsner style, light and straw like in its color, with a soft head and pleasant finish, is perfect for this part of the world, but the partners insisted on bowing to local flavor preferences and added maize into the recipe.

In 1969 Almaza developed its first sales force and distribution network which ensured the beer was enjoyed far and wide throughout Lebanon and at its peak freshness.

But it wasn't until 1990 when peace reinstated itself in the country, that Brewery Almaza undertook an effort to pour substantial amounts of capital into the brewery as, according to their own words, they wanted to "encourage the hope and confidence that Lebanon always stood for and to set up new foundations for home-grown the product that the Lebanese people could continuously feel proud to call their own.

Now the beer flows, at a rate of 24,000 bottles an hour vs. the 1,000 bottles per hour initially produced when the brewery opened, and the Lebanese people have a beer that they're most proud of. And enjoy. And are happy to share with you.

Please visit www.almaza.com.lb or www.lacproducts.com for further information.