Our Heritage
The history of AB InBev is a global story that spans continents and generations. It's not just our history, it's the history of beer itself.
1240
Leffe beer is first brewed at the Notre-Dame de Leffe abbey in what is now Belgium.
1366
The Den Hoorn brewery, now home to Stella Artois, is founded in Leuven, Belgium.
1397
Beer-making begins at our Spaten brewery in Munich, Germany.
1445
Hoegaarden monks discover the unique recipe for wheat beer.
1847
Irish immigrant John Kinder Labatt opens his namesake brewery in London, Ontario, Canada.
1876
Adolphus Busch co-creates American-style lager Budweiser in St. Louis Missouri, at what would later become the Anheuser-Busch brewery.
1880s
Two of Brazil’s oldest brewers are founded: Antarctica in 1885 and Brahma in 1888.
1890
Otto Bemberg establishes his German-style brewery in Quilmes, Argentina.
1892
Castle Brewery is opened by Charles Glass during the gold rush in Johannesburg, South Africa.
1900
Harbin brewery opens its doors in China, establishing it as the nation’s oldest beer brand.
1925
Cervecería Modelo begins brewing in Mexico City, Mexico and introduces its now-iconic brand, Corona.
1926
The Brouwerij Artois introduces Stella Artois beer as a Christmas gift to the people of Leuven, Belgium.
1987
Belgium’s Brouwerij Artois and Piedboeuf Brewery, maker of Jupiler, join to create Interbrew. Labatt, Spaten and other brands follow.
1998
Brazilian brewers Brahma and Antarctica become Ambev. The brands are joined by local brewers in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and other Latin American nations.
2004
Interbrew and AmBev merge to create InBev.
2008
InBev combines with Anheuser-Busch in the U.S. to become Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev).
2013
Mexico’s Grupo Modelo becomes part of AB InBev.
2014
South Korea’s leading brewer, Oriental Brewery (OB) joins the AB InBev family of brands.
2016
AB InBev combines with SABMiller to become the world’s leading brewer.
