Golden Brau

Golden Brau — meaning 'golden beer' in German — is a Romanian pale lager launched in 1998 by Brau Union Romania, entering the Heineken portfolio through the 2003 Brau Union acquisition. Brewed with spring water, barley malt, corn and hops at 5% ABV, it quickly established itself as one of Romania's most commercially successful mainstream lagers. The beer won Gold Medals at the Monde Selection competition in Belgium in 2003, 2006 and 2007 — a remarkable hat-trick that cemented its reputation for quality in the mainstream segment. Originally brewed at multiple Heineken Romania sites including Bucharest (until 2005) and Craiova, it became particularly associated with the Craiova brewery. Despite its mainstream positioning it delivered a smooth, slightly bitter character with a clean finish that resonated with Romanian consumers across two decades.