Harbin Brewery
Harbin, Heilongjiang, China · Est. 1900
Tally's Take
Why this matters
China's oldest operating brewery, holding a dominant presence in the Northeast with their classic Hapi pale lager.
The Museum
Timeline
- 2004Won by Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch beats SABMiller in a public bidding war for China's oldest brewery, paying around $720 million for a controlling stake in 2004. Founded in 1900 by a Polish businessman in a Russian-built city, it ends up American — and then Belgian-Brazilian four years later.
The Beer Library
Beers
Harbin
Year-RoundPale Lager
China's oldest brewery, founded by a Russian to supply workers building the Trans-Manchurian railway. Beer follows railways. It always has.
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Sources
- controlConfirmed
Harbin Brewery is controlled by Founder / family.
Anheuser-Busch InBev — SEC filing · U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission · 2026-02
PrimaryHigh reliabilityAccessed 2026-08-05Reviewed 2026-08-05
Only the claims above are sourced. Everything else on this page is the archive's own research and has not yet been tied to a document — which is worth knowing rather than hiding.
Straight answers
Common questions about Harbin Brewery
- Who owns Harbin Brewery?
- Harbin Brewery is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Harbin Brewery is based in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
- Is Harbin Brewery still independent?
- No. Harbin Brewery is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev and is no longer independent.
- When was Harbin Brewery founded?
- Harbin Brewery was founded in 1900 in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
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