Hungarian beer

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Although Hungary is better known as a wine-producing country, beer has been made there for around a thousand years and the country has a significant history of commercial beer production.

The first commercial brewery in Hungary was established in Buda in 1845 by Peter Schmidt. During the heyday of the Austro-Hungarian Empire the Kőbánya district of Budapest became the centre of Hungary's brewing industry. The Dreher brewery, named after Anton Dreher (creator of the Vienna lager style) who started a brewery in Budapest in 1862, came to dominate the Hungarian market before the Second World War.

Today, Hungary has only four large commercial brewers (three of major significance) which produce mainly lagers (Hungarian: Világos) and German-style dark beers (Hungarian: Barna):

The Dreher (Kőbánya) Brewery (Dreher Sörgyárak) in Budapest is now owned by SABMiller. Its main products are the Dreher Classic and Arany Ászok pilsener-style lagers but it also brews Kőbányai Világos, Dreher Lager and Dreher Bak (a double bock). Kanizsa Brewery also belongs to the group. It produces beer under the brands of Kanizsai Világos, Kanizsai Kinizsi, Balatoni Világos and Paracelsus.
The Borsod Brewery (Borsodi Sörgyár) is 60% owned by InBev. In addition to the local brands of Borsodi Világos, Borsodi Barna, Borsodi Bivaly, Borsodi Póló and Borostyán ("Amber"), it brews under license Beck's Stella Artois and Rolling Rock.
Brau Union Hungária Breweries is a member of the Heineken Group and has breweries in Sopron and Martfű. Its brands include Soproni, Talléros, Arany Hordó ("Golden Barrel"), Soproni Kinizsi, Sárkány Sör ("Dragon Beer") and (under licence) Heineken, Amstel, Gösser, Kaiser, Steffl, Zlaty Bažant, Schlossgold and Buckler.
The Pécs Brewery (Pécsi Sörfőzde) is majority owned by the Ottokringer Group. Its brands are Pécsi Szalon, Szalon Barna, Tavaszi Sör ("Spring Beer"), Három Király ("Three Kings") and (under licence) Gold Fassl.

A number of small and microbreweries have also emerged in Hungary over the past few years including Ilzer and Blonder.

In Hungary, people traditionally do not clink their glasses/mugs when drinking beer. This is usually explained by a legend about Austrians clinking their beer glasses when celebrating the execution of the 13 Hungarian Martyrs of Arad in 1849. Many people still follow the tradition, although younger people often ignore it.

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