Hommel Beer Factory
BIA HOI CULTURE'S ORIGIN: FROM A COLONICAL DRINKING TO A CULTURE OF URBAN DWELLERS
Introduction
Before the French colonization, Vietnam had a long history of rice alcohol production. The beer industry was created in 1892 by Alfred Hommel, founder of Hommel Brewery (Brasserie Hommel) in Hanoi. Along with the Larue Brewery (Brasserie Larue) in Saigon, the Hommel Brewery was one of the two biggest breweries in Indochina.
Beer was the drink that seemed most suitable in the Indochina climate. At first, beer was mainly consumed by the French, then it became more and more popular with local Vietnamese people.
Besides water, the ingredients used by the Hommel Brewery were malted barley and hops imported from Europe and a proportion of rice (preferably denitrogenated). The difficulty was not in the purchase of ingredients of first quality, but in purifying water used, acquiring expensive brewing equipment, and adapting it to the hot and humid climate of Hanoi. Another challenge for the production of bottled beer was transportation. The brewery came up with the idea of producing a draft beer called bia hoi sold in kegs instead of bottles. Over time, bia hoi became a staple of Vietnamese culture and it remains so to this day.
Name: Brasserie Hommel / Société de la Brasserie Hommel / Société des Brasseries et Glacières de l'Indochine / Hanoi Brewery / Hanoi Brewery Company / Hanoi Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (Habeco)
Location: 183 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ha Noi
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Chronological timeline
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Agents
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Investigations
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Architectural and Urban preliminary assessment
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Perspective / Thematic / Narrative point of view
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Bibliography
Hanoi Ad Hoc 1.0
Architecture, Factories and (Re)Tracing the Modern Dream of Recent Past
Haprosimex Thang Long
1933
Lo Duc Wine Factory
1898
Hommel Beer Factory
1885
Electrical Technical Factory
1954
10 Garment Factory
1946
Hanoi Soap Factory
1958
Sao Vang Rubber Factory
1956
Thang Long tobacco Factory
1957
Thong Nhat Match Factory
1956
Hong Ha Stationery Factory
1956
Cau Duong Wood Factory
1959
8/3 Textile Factory
1961
Hai Chau Confectionery Factory
1965
Van Diem Sugar Factory
1958
Gia Lam Train Factory
1905
Van Dien Fertilizer Factory
1960
Tran Hung Dao Mechanical Factory
1957
Hanoi Concrete Factory (Chèm)
1961
Tien Bo Printing Factory
1946