Red Stripe Beer History

Red Stripe Beer is a lager-style beer, brewed in Jamaica by Desnoes & Geddes Limited. The beer is known for its distinctive logo, consisting of a bright-red, diagonal stripe.

Origins

Desnoes & Geddes Limited was originally a soft drink manufacturer that was incorporated in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1918. Ten years later, it began brewing beer in the town of Surrey, although its ale-style recipe was too thick and heavy to be embraced by locals--only after a switch in 1938 to the current lager style did Red Stripe become truly popular.

Back in the United States

Red Stripe wasn't imported into the United States until 1985, and initially the beer was poorly received, due to its packaging in standard green bottles. Only after the Jamaican packaging was adopted--a shorter brown bottle with a painted label--did the beer's popularity soar in the United States, also fueled by the growing popularity in the 1990s of reggae.

New Ownership

In 1993, Guinness Brewing Worldwide acquired a majority interest in Desnoes & Geddes Limited. The sale brought with it a sharp uptick in international sales. In recent years, a "light" Red Stripe has joined the original recipe, also brewed and bottled in Jamaica.

Advertising and Promotions

Red Stripe is a big sponsor of reggae and ska concerts, as well as the annual Reggae Sunfest in Montego Bay. Red Strip also has sponsored the Jamaican bobsled team and served as Caribbean regional sponsor for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Fun Fact

Red Stripe beer is 4.7 percent alcohol, less than mainstream U.S. brands Budweiser and Michelob (5 percent).

References

• Red Stripe Beer website