The Heineken bottle is the most iconic beer bottle in the world. The combination of the green colour, the proud shoulders and the racetrack-shaped label with the black bar, plus the characteristic Heineken word mark and red star, make it the most recognised bottle in the world.
Although the key elements of the bottle have been in the design for over a century, their details have been refined over the years. Functional improvements, the subtle evolution of the brand and a desire to keep the bottle fresh and up to date are reasons to adjust the design from time to time. Usually, these are very small evolutionary steps to ensure the brand never loses its authenticity and timeless, classic character.
Heineken was one of the very first brewers to export bottled beer. The quality was so good that while it was more expensive than local beers, people preferred the premium, imported product. To ensure consumers immediately saw the difference between the regular domestic beers and the premium quality Heineken, the bottle was made green instead of the usual brown.
Green was chosen because it radiates freshness, naturalness, purity and premium quality – just like the delicious, cold Heineken beer inside.
In principle, yes. The basic structure is always the same but details may differ depending on the culture. For example, in certain countries consumers prefer larger sized bottles, and in some countries returnable bottles are preferred.
Every day, over 1 million bottles of Heineken are enjoyed in over 170 countries. And that’s just bottles – Heineken also produces cans and draught beer.
As smooth draught from the frozen column, tapped into a frozen glass. Or from an ice-cold bottle or can straight from the Sub Zero fridge – cooled twice as fast and kept just above its freezing point.
Extra Cold beer should be served between -3°C and 1°C.
Yes, it’s slightly lighter than regular Heineken, and served extra cold making it smoother, less bitter and easier to drink, with the same delicious Heineken taste.
No, some beers are not high quality enough to withstand such cold temperatures and they will taste more like water. Premium Heineken beer retains its top quality, excellent taste so you can enjoy it extra cold.
Extra Cold is chilled to zero for instant refreshment that lasts right through to the very last sip – so you can start fresh with every sip. It’s no ordinary beer, so it’s perfect for special occasions, and any time you need something refreshingly different.
Some people find the taste of beer too bitter. Extra Cold is chilled to zero for a smoother lager that’s easier to drink – perfect for cooling you down quickly and quenching your thirst when the heat is on.
The best way to store your Heineken beer is in a cool, dry place out of direct light and heat. Of course, if you’re ready to enjoy it straight away, chill it in the fridge until it’s cooled to around 5°C.
Beer is a natural product so it has a limited storage life. Our beer will stay fresh for around six months, so check the best before date on your Heineken beer to make sure you’re enjoying fresh, quality beer.
Heineken is one of the world’s great brewers. The brand that bears the founder’s family name – Heineken – is available in almost every country on the globe and is the world’s most valuable international premium beer brand.
With our global network of distributors, and 125 breweries in more than 70 countries, we have the largest presence of all international brewers. In Europe, we are the largest brewer and cider producer.
Heineken's proud heritage includes generations of family involvement and celebrated beers. Gerard Adriaan Heineken purchased the De Hooiberg brewery and founded Heineken in 1863. He made the business an immediate success by adhering to the highest quality standards, treating his employees well, and actually offering a money-back guarantee to his customers. Heineken's success was great with demand spanning across Europe and year after year of growth backed by additional breweries.
To share in the secrets behind our beer, explore the Heineken Story
The red star is an original icon of the brand, used since the very beginning. Its exact origins are unknown but there are a few possible explanations. For example, some people think it was a symbol of European brewers in the Middle Ages, who believed it to have mystical powers to protect their brew.
Another explanation is that four points of the star symbolise the elements earth, fire, water and wind and that the fifth point is the unknown, representing an element that brewers in the Middle Ages couldn’t control.
A third explanation is that the position of a star on the front door of the brewery indicated the stage of the brewing process. During the Cold War, the original design was altered to avoid association with communism (it was replaced by a white star with a red outline). After the end of the Cold War, the original full red star was restored. For us, the red star's principle association is a festive, warm and cheerful mood.
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Alcoholic beverages also contain energy (calories) from alcohol (30 kilojoules per gram). The nutritional value of most alcoholic beverages is very low, because they contain little protein, fat or other nutrients. Some beverages however, such as beer, do contain sugars and carbohydrates as well as some B-vitamins, micronutrients and minerals.