BEER IS TO the Netherlands what wine is to France. In common with neighbouring Belgium, the country produces a huge variety of brews, and consumers tend also to be connoisseurs.
Heineken is the country's best-known beer internationally, although the contents of its signature green bottles, when sold outside the Netherlands, tend to be produced by breweries controlled by the giant company in various locations around the world. Heineken ranks as the world's fourth-largest brewer.
In Asia, the company controls Asia Pacific Breweries, which brews in nine countries, producing Tiger and Anchor as well as local versions of Heineken.
In Holland, it also owns the country's second-best-known beer brand, Amstel, which it acquired in 1968. Both beers are pilsners with 5 per cent alcohol by volume and are known for their clean refreshing taste.
Heineken's consistency of style, wherever it is brewed, is partly to do with the use of its unique 'A' yeast, specially developed by the brewer in the late 19th century.
The company was established in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken, and during the 20th century came to dominate the Dutch brewing industry by buying up competing breweries.
