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
UPCOMING 02.12.2022 - 05.12.2022
72h International Idea Competiton:
"(Re)Thinking the modern dream of recent past"
Hanoi Ad Hoc invites you to explore alternative possibilities for the post-industrial city.
24.09.2022
Ha Noi Ad Hoc on Mosaic Culture - VTV4
Recently, Ha Noi Ad Hoc had an opportunity to share our project in the News and Culture Mosaic program produced by VTV4 (The international broadcaster of Vietnam Television).
23.06.2022
Ha Noi Ad Hoc on VinMagazine
It has been more than a year since we started implementing the project, this is the first time Hanoi Ad Hoc share the motivation and formation process of the project. If you are interested, please take a look at our interview here.
