Cristal Alken at beer Collections

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European Breweries History: Cristal Alken

In beer-rich Belgium, the province of Limburg has relatively few breweries, but produces several of the country's better Pilseners. One of its breweries, in the village of Alken, is principally known for a Pilsener called Cristal.

The name Cristal reflects the novelty of golden beers when they first appeared. Although one of the founding families of this brewery has been in the business since 1881, the present establishment dates from 1923, and the name of Cristal from 1929. The brewery, and this beer, grew during a boom in coal-mining in the area.

The brewery at Alken still operates, though in the last of the 20th centry it was involved in several mergers. In the first merger which occured in 1988, Cristal Alke merged with another Belgian brewery specialising in a Pilsener beer, the Maes brewery located in Maes, near Antwerp. Alken-Maes bought 50 per cent stake in Brewery De Keersmaeker in Kobbegem, home of Mort Subite in 1989. In 1994 Alken-Maes was acquired by the French Company The Danone Group. Alken-Maes then acquired 50 per cent of Brewery De Keersmaeker (Mort Subite). In the year 2000 Scottish & Newcastle plc accuried Alken-Maes along with Brasseries Kronenbourg from the Danone Group. IN the year 2002 Alken-Maes purchased the Louwaege Brewery in Kortemark.