Beers brewed under license in "other countries"

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openmedia

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#3461940 16-Feb-2026 16:54

openmedia:

Starting to see an increased number of beers where they aren't brewed in either country of origin, or even under license in NZ.

Under license in NZ isn't that unusual, for example most Heineken sold in NZ and AU is brewed under license by DB Brewers in Auckland. There are a bunch of other beers available locally that are brewed under license.

Here are a couple of odd examples I've recently found

Corona in Bottles is now brewed in China
Peroni Nastro Azzurro in Bottles is now brewed in Japan by Asahi (their owner), but the 330ml cans are brewed in Rome.
Personally the Italian brewed Peroni is considerably better than the Japanese brewed versions. Corona has never been one of my preferred beers, and even Sol which used to come from Mexico is now brewed locally.

Has anyone else been noticing this, and do you have any examples around draft versions? I'm now taking a lot more notice of where a beer has been brewed when I'm buying overseas products. I typically buy local beers anyway, but if we've got visitors I usually get in a "lager" style beer.

I've just noticed that the larger 500ml cans of Peroni are brewed in Australia. So it appears we can get atleast 3 different versions of Peroni in NZ.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

LookingUp

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#3461945 16-Feb-2026 17:53

This is what got me back into home brewing! It was very noticeable when a raft of international beers started tasting more and more like either Steinlager or DB Export. I'd have to be pretty thirsty to drink one now.

farcus

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#3462059 16-Feb-2026 23:45

LookingUp:

This is what got me back into home brewing! It was very noticeable when a raft of international beers started tasting more and more like either Steinlager or DB Export. I'd have to be pretty thirsty to drink one now.

While craft beers make up 90% of what I drink (although I am not a hazy fan) - I still appreciate Steinlager. It is a good hot summer day thirst quencher.
It is a bit harsh to group Steinlager in with DB Export!

nitro

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#3462060 16-Feb-2026 23:53

farcus:

jonherries:

My Asahi 0.0 was brewed in Italy…

Jon

So is Asahi Super Dry 5.0 alc in cans.
I think the bottled stuff is brewed locally (or maybe Aus).

the 355ml cans are brewed in Italy, but the 500ml cans i got from woolworths are "Made in Australia".

trig42

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#3463330 20-Feb-2026 13:17

farcus:

LookingUp:

This is what got me back into home brewing! It was very noticeable when a raft of international beers started tasting more and more like either Steinlager or DB Export. I'd have to be pretty thirsty to drink one now.

While craft beers make up 90% of what I drink (although I am not a hazy fan) - I still appreciate Steinlager. It is a good hot summer day thirst quencher.
It is a bit harsh to group Steinlager in with DB Export!

I don't drink a huge amount of beer these days, but when I get together with (some of) the family, we get on the beers.

We like an NZ 'craft' beer - Behemoth, Garage Project, Lakeman etc.

Our 'day drinking' beers though - for me - are Macs purples, Macs greens (sorry, don't know what they call them, but they're a Hazy and non-hazy IPA) and Steinlager Classic (canned).
I really enjoy Classic Steinlager. Don't have any time for Steinlager Pure - to me it's just another green bottle beer.

maoriboy

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#3463336 20-Feb-2026 13:48

LookingUp:

This is what got me back into home brewing! It was very noticeable when a raft of international beers started tasting more and more like either Steinlager or DB Export. I'd have to be pretty thirsty to drink one now.

Me too. Nothing quite like making 20l of the beer of your choice, that you can then pour from the tap of your kegerator. In saying that, I can appreciate an ice cold Lion Brown/Red, Speights or Steiny on a hot summer day.

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NzBeagle

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#3463338 20-Feb-2026 13:52

maoriboy:

In saying that, I can appreciate an ice cold Lion Brown/Red, Speights or Steiny on a hot summer day.

Bonus points if you've just finished an outdoor activity, such as the lawns. Raises the quality of most beers.

wellygary

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#3463339 20-Feb-2026 13:53

LookingUp:

This is what got me back into home brewing! It was very noticeable when a raft of international beers started tasting more and more like either Steinlager or DB Export. I'd have to be pretty thirsty to drink one now.

r/TheSimpsons - And here we have Duff, Duff Lite, and our newest flavor, Duff Dry.

LookingUp

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#3463465 21-Feb-2026 13:26

farcus:

LookingUp:

This is what got me back into home brewing! It was very noticeable when a raft of international beers started tasting more and more like either Steinlager or DB Export. I'd have to be pretty thirsty to drink one now.

While craft beers make up 90% of what I drink (although I am not a hazy fan) - I still appreciate Steinlager. It is a good hot summer day thirst quencher.
It is a bit harsh to group Steinlager in with DB Export!

Sorry - I didn't quite mean it like that. I meant that the Lion brewed "imports" now have a distinctly Steinlager flavour, and the DB brewed imports have a discernible DB Export taste. Once upon a time I'd enjoy Stella, Grolsch, Becks, and occasional Heineken, but I wouldn't bother now as they taste very significantly different to their European versions. Much prefer my own lager/pilsner now I've dialled in a recipe.

Handle9

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#3463497 21-Feb-2026 16:37

I don't understand this concept of DB Export having a taste.

cddt

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#3463541 22-Feb-2026 05:44

LookingUp:

Sorry - I didn't quite mean it like that. I meant that the Lion brewed "imports" now have a distinctly Steinlager flavour, and the DB brewed imports have a discernible DB Export taste. Once upon a time I'd enjoy Stella, Grolsch, Becks, and occasional Heineken, but I wouldn't bother now as they taste very significantly different to their European versions. Much prefer my own lager/pilsner now I've dialled in a recipe.

I can't comment subjectively since I can't drink beer anymore, but at least Heineken is brewed under very strict supervision, i.e. right yeast, horizontal tanks, samples sent to Amsterdam monthly for analysis. Other domestic brands may well be using CF (continuous fermentation, which was invented by DB) but certainly not Heineken.