Oà ¾ujsko is a Croatian brand of lager beer (5%). It is the flagship brand produced by ZagrebaÃÂka pivovara, the biggest brewery in the country which has been a part of Molson Coors Brewing Company since 2013.
The recipe and brand of Oà ¾ujsko beer originated from the Lobe brewery from Nova Gradià ¡ka.
It is made from natural ingredients â barley, yeast, hops and water. Oà ¾ujsko has a golden color. It was named after the month of March (), when traditionally the best beer is made. With developments in production this seasonality is no longer important for the quality of Oà ¾ujsko pivo and now it can be brewed all year round. It is also described as "a golden lager, with a deep white head. A sweet corn and malt nose gives to a fruity finish"
Oà ¾ujsko beer is one of the oldest brands with uninterrupted continuity of production in Croatia. Oà ¾ujsko beer originates from the Lobe brewery from Nova Gradià ¡ka.
The Lobe brewery was founded by Dragutin Lobe (Poà ¾ega 1833. - Nova Gradià ¡ka 1924.) after he moved from Poà ¾ega to Nova Gradià ¡ka in 1851. In the beginning, the brewery employed around 60 workers, and its successful operation led to its modernization and increase in production capacity in 1873. when Lobe brewery became the first steam-powered brewery in Croatia. The brewery was located on the site of today's Ljudevit Gaj Primary School in Nova Gradià ¡ka. Further expansion within the Lobe brewery opened additional beer warehouses in Poà ¾ega, Banja Luka and Zagreb, as well as a store in Masarykova street in Zagreb. The production of Oà ¾ujsko beer started in early 20th century in Lobe brewery (the exact year of the start of production in the Lobe brewery is not known; the year 1892 on today's label indicates the year of establishment of the ZagrebaÃÂka pivovara and not the start of the production of Oà ¾ujsko beer). At the beginning of the 20th century Lobe brewery begins to invest capital in the development of ZagrebaÃÂka dioniÃÂka pivovara i tvornica slada (today ZagrebaÃÂka pivovara). Along with the brewery in Nova Gradià ¡ka, Lobe also built the "Erherzog Carl" hotel which was built alongside Lobe brewery. Over time, the management of the Lobe brewery was taken over by Dragutin's son Miroslav Lobe (1861. - 1939.), under whose leadership the brewery progressed even more. At its peak, the brewery produced up to 8,000 hectoliters of beer per year. After Miroslav's death, the brewery became a branch of the ZagrebaÃÂka dioniÃÂka pivovara i tvornica slada (today ZagrebaÃÂka pivovara). Lobe brewery was shut down in 1943. and it's machines of the production plant were transferred to today's ZagrebaÃÂka pivovara. Unfortunately, due to the lack of recognition of the importance of the brewery and its heritage by the local authorities in the mid-20th century, almost every trace of the once magnificent Lobe brewery has been erased.
Oà ¾ujsko is the leading beer brand in terms of sales in Croatia, with a market share of approximately 40%. Oà ¾ujsko is the official sponsor of the Croatian national football team since 1998.