Logo’s on Glassware
This page explores the appearance of Heineken’s logos on drinking vessels, with a specific focus on glassware. While branding is now closely associated with beer glasses, this was not always the case.
The sections below outline the transition from unbranded or minimally branded vessels to the recognisable Heineken logos that began appearing on glassware in the early 20th century.
Before branded glassware (1864–1930)
In the early decades of Heineken’s history, branding rarely appeared directly on drinking glasses. Beer was typically served in generic vessels, with a stronger emphasis placed on signage, barrels, crates, and printed materials to communicate brewery identity.
Durable materials such as porcelain and stoneware were more commonly used for decorative or commemorative vessels, as they provided a reliable surface for printed crests, wordmarks, and ornamental designs. While such objects exist in later forms within the collection, no confirmed examples of Heineken-branded glassware from this early period are currently known.
As a result, this era is represented here primarily through historical context rather than physical glassware examples.
The emergence of logos on glassware (from 1932)
The earliest confirmed example of a Heineken logo appearing on glassware in the collection dates to 1932. From this point onward, logos began to play a more visible role on drinking vessels, reflecting broader developments in branding, advertising, and international distribution.
Over time, Heineken’s logos on glassware evolved in response to changes in graphic design, production techniques, and marketing strategy. The logos shown below are presented by era, illustrating how visual identity shifted while maintaining recognisable core elements.
1932–1950 — Early wordmarks on glassware
1930-1937

Early glassware featuring a crowned crest above the Heineken wordmark. The presence of this emblem reflects Heineken’s emphasis on heritage and quality during the early 1930s.
While similar crests are known to have appeared in international branding contexts, the exact market distribution of this glassware variant is not fully documented. Its design suggests use during a period when Heineken was expanding its presence beyond the domestic market

This glass is among the earliest known examples in which Heineken’s five-pointed red star appears prominently on glassware. While the star had already been part of the brewery’s identity since the late 19th century, its appearance on drinking glasses marks an important moment in the visual translation of the brand from labels to serving objects.
Traditionally, the red star is said to represent the four natural ingredients of beer — barley, hops, water, and yeast — with the fifth point symbolising the “magic” of brewing: the craftsmanship and expertise that transform these ingredients into beer. This interpretation has long been part of Heineken’s brand narrative and helps explain the star’s central role in its visual language.
The restrained design of this glass, featuring the star and wordmark without additional crests or decorative framing, aligns with early 1930s branding practices, when Heineken was moving toward clearer and more recognisable identifiers. While the exact market or distribution context of this specific variant is not fully documented, its design strongly suggests use during the interwar period, as Heineken expanded both its domestic and international presence
Transitional wordmark with red star (c. 1935–1947)

Unfortunately there is not alot of images for this logo. This logo represents a later evolution of Heineken’s early glassware branding, dating to approximately the period between 1935 and the end of the Second World War. While it retains the five-point red star introduced earlier in the decade, the typography of the wordmark shows a noticeable shift toward a heavier, more confident style.
In this variant, the lettering appears more compact and assertive, reflecting broader design trends of the late 1930s and 1940s, when brands increasingly favoured clarity and strength in their visual identity. Subtle typographic changes — such as the treatment of letterforms and spacing — distinguish this logo from earlier examples, indicating a conscious refinement rather than a decorative update.
Glassware from this period is relatively scarce, likely due to material shortages and production limitations during the war years. As a result, surviving examples are often fragmentary or poorly preserved, making exact classification challenging. Nevertheless, the consistent presence of the red star confirms its established role as a central symbol in Heineken’s branding by this time.
This logo marks a transitional phase: bridging the ornate early 1930s designs and the more standardised post-war identity that would follow in later decades.
1950–1975 — Post-war standardisation
Black ribbon and hops emblem (c. 1951–1960)



This logo marks the first appearance of the black ribbon banner combined with the hop motifs in Heineken’s visual identity on glassware. Introduced in the early 1950s, this design represents a clear shift toward a more structured and recognisable brand system following the disruptions of the Second World War.
The black ribbon serves as a strong framing element for the Heineken wordmark, improving legibility and consistency across different applications. Beneath the ribbon, the stylised hop cones and barley leaves emphasise the product’s agricultural origins and reinforce Heineken’s connection to traditional brewing ingredients.
By this period, the red five-point star had become firmly established as a core brand symbol, positioned above the wordmark as a visual anchor. Together, the star, ribbon, and hops form a balanced composition that would influence Heineken’s branding for decades to come.
This logo reflects a moment of consolidation and confidence: Heineken presenting itself as both modern and rooted in tradition, at a time when international markets were reopening and brand recognition became increasingly important.
It is also possible that in stead of the red star, there is the red “Royal” marking, or a red windmail (USA only) marking.
Modernised wordmark without possessive “s” (1956 – 1975)


This logo represents a subtle but meaningful refinement of Heineken’s visual identity. During this period, the possessive form “Heineken’s” was simplified to “Heineken”, aligning the brand name more closely with international naming conventions and improving clarity across global markets.
While the typography of the wordmark was adjusted, the surrounding visual language remained intentionally consistent. The black ribbon banner and the hop motifs beneath it were retained, reinforcing continuity with the established post-war identity introduced in the 1950s. The red five-point star remained positioned above the wordmark, continuing its role as the brand’s primary symbol.
This combination of change and continuity reflects Heineken’s growing confidence as an international brand: modernising its name presentation while preserving recognisable elements that conveyed tradition, quality, and brewing heritage.
The logo marks a transitional phase toward the cleaner, more standardised identities that would emerge later in the 20th century.
It is also possible that in stead of the red star, there is the red “Royal” marking, or a red windmail (USA only) marking.
Small remark on the logo’s shown. The might look exactly the same, but take a close look at the “k”.
Retrospective red-star emblem (c. 1975)

This logo appears to have been introduced around 1975 and is notable for its deliberate visual reference to earlier Heineken glassware from the pre-war period. The composition — featuring a large red five-point star, the return of the possessive “Heineken’s”, and the circular arrangement of the wordmark — closely echoes glass designs used between approximately 1935 and 1947.
Unlike the original versions, this later iteration displays cleaner production techniques, more consistent colour application, and improved print quality, all characteristic of mid-1970s manufacturing. These differences suggest that the logo was not a continuation of the earlier design, but rather a conscious revival of historic branding elements.
The reintroduction of the apostrophe is particularly striking, as it had been removed from Heineken’s standard wordmark in earlier decades. Its return here reinforces the impression that this logo was intended as a commemorative or heritage-inspired design, rather than part of the main contemporary brand system.
The logo also exist with golden letters.
1975–1992 — Modern branding and hop motifs
Refined hops emblem and stabilised identity (c. 1975–1992)


This logo represents the stabilised form of Heineken’s glassware branding used from the mid-1970s through the early 1990s. While the overall composition — red five-point star, black ribbon wordmark, and central placement — remains unchanged from earlier designs, the hop motif beneath the ribbon was subtly revised.
The hops appear more stylised and uniform, reflecting improvements in printing techniques and a move toward greater visual consistency across glassware. This refinement did not alter the symbolic meaning of the motif, which continued to reference Heineken’s brewing ingredients and agricultural roots, but it did modernise its appearance for a contemporary audience.
During this period, Heineken increasingly favoured consistency over experimentation, using a stable logo system that could be applied across a wide range of objects, markets, and production runs. As a result, glassware from this era often appears visually similar at first glance, with differences emerging only in details such as colour, finish, or minor emblem adjustments.
This logo marks the end of a long phase in which Heineken balanced tradition and modernity through incremental refinement rather than radical change.
This was also the first time Heineken introduced a “glass for the ladies”.
1992–present — Contemporary interpretations
Streamlined hops and trademark emphasis (c. 1992–2000)

This logo marks a period of consolidation in Heineken’s glassware branding during the 1990s. While the familiar composition of red five-point star, black ribbon wordmark, and hop motif was retained, two notable refinements were introduced.
The hop emblem beneath the ribbon was further simplified and standardised, reflecting contemporary design practices that prioritised clarity, consistency, and reliable reproduction across large international production runs.
In addition, the explicit “Trade Mark” designation was introduced near the red star. This addition signals Heineken’s increasing emphasis on legal brand protection as its visual identity became firmly established worldwide. By this time, the logo functioned not only as a design element but also as a legally protected mark, requiring clear and consistent presentation.
Together, these refinements reflect a mature brand identity: stable in form, deliberate in detail, and supported by both design and trademark strategy.
Subtle hop refinement in the global era (c. 2000–2008)

This logo represents a minor but deliberate refinement of Heineken’s established glassware identity during the early 2000s. The core elements — red five-point star, black ribbon wordmark, and “Trade Mark” designation — remain unchanged, reflecting a fully stabilised and globally recognised brand.
The hop motif beneath the ribbon was adjusted once more, appearing slightly more compact and stylised than in the 1990s version. These changes are subtle, but they reflect ongoing optimisation for modern production methods, ensuring consistent reproduction across different glass shapes, sizes, and manufacturing locations.
By this period, Heineken’s visual identity had reached a level of maturity where evolution occurred through incremental refinement rather than visible redesign. Logos from this era often appear nearly identical to earlier versions, with differences only becoming apparent when viewed side by side.
This logo illustrates how Heineken entered the 21st century with a brand system focused on stability, recognisability, and precise control over even the smallest visual details.
Modernised ribbon and refreshed hop emblem (c. 2008–2015)

This logo reflects a broader modernisation of Heineken’s visual identity introduced in the late 2000s. While the familiar elements — red five-point star, “Trade Mark” designation, and hop motif — were retained, the ribbon banner carrying the Heineken wordmark was subtly redesigned.
The ribbon appears cleaner and more streamlined, with refined edges and improved proportions. These adjustments align with contemporary branding trends that emphasised clarity, scalability, and digital compatibility, ensuring the logo performed equally well across physical objects and emerging digital media.
At the same time, the hop motif beneath the ribbon was refreshed once again. The leaves and cones were simplified and standardised, maintaining their symbolic reference to brewing ingredients while adopting a more uniform and modern appearance.
This period marks Heineken’s transition into a fully integrated global brand system, where updates were carefully coordinated across packaging, glassware, advertising, and digital platforms. Rather than introducing radical changes, the company focused on polishing and aligning existing elements to maintain consistency in an increasingly complex media landscape.
Heritage-forward global identity (c. 2016–present)

This logo represents a modernised evolution of Heineken’s glassware identity introduced in the mid-2010s. While it preserves the brand’s core symbols — the red five-point star, ribbon wordmark, and hop motif — several meaningful adjustments reflect a more contemporary and globally unified design approach.
The “Trade Mark” designation was replaced with “Est. 1873”, shifting emphasis away from legal protection toward heritage and longevity. This change reframes the logo as a statement of history rather than ownership, reinforcing Heineken’s identity as an established, enduring brewery.
The hop motif was simplified further and rendered in a lighter, fresher green tone, contributing to a cleaner and more modern appearance. The red star was also subtly refined, with adjustments to colour and proportion that enhance clarity across both physical glassware and digital representations.
Together, these changes reflect a brand language designed for a global audience: confident, recognisable, and rooted in heritage while remaining visually contemporary. This logo marks the culmination of decades of incremental refinement, balancing tradition with modern branding expectations.