the beer product placement in one of the series had strongly captured my attention and as a result… gave me an urge to try it while I was on a trip to HK – It was the Blue Girl (藍妹啤酒). I bought it from one of the HK supermarkets “Wellcome” for about HK$9 (RM4); which is actually freaking cheap for an imported pilsner beer (http://beerbeer.org/?p=3351).
You can pretty much find it everywhere in HK especially in seafood restaurants; and despite being implied as a premium German import, the liquid is actually brewed by Oriental Brewery Co. Ltd in Seoul, South Korea. Yes, the same brewery that produces OB Beer and surprisingly there were evidently some similarities in terms of taste for both OB and Blue Girl (http://beerbeer.org/?p=3351).
Taste-wise was sweetly refreshing with a moment of crisp sensation (upper moderate carbonation) in the mouth. It’s generally a light beer with 5% abv that has a tinge of citrusy and malty character – would recommend having this with your typical Chinese meal. I would reckon it’ll be just right if this beer was parked slightly below the other bigger brands such as Carlsberg and Tiger if we were to place it into our local markets (http://beerbeer.org/?p=3351).
Jebsen Beer can trace its participation in China’s beer industry to 1906, when the company acquired Blue Girl Beer, a German beer brand. By combining a commitment to time-honoured brewing traditions, with meticulous quality standards, Jebsen Beer has consistently provided the consumer with a premium beer that delivers superior quality and taste. This is the foundation that has made Blue Girl Beer one of the most popular premium offerings in China, Taiwan, Macau and especially Hong Kong, where the brand is privileged to hold a leading position (www.jebsenbeer.com/pagedisplay.aspx?did=42852c77-4b68-4255-80a4-d81324df8f9f).
Het is het meest verkochte bier van Hong Kong. Ik heb het bier er ook gedronken.
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Blue Girl, a premium pilsner lager manufactured by Korea’s Oriental Brewery and marketed by Hong Kong’s Jebsen Group, has kept its lead in the local market for six consecutive years since 2007.
As of September 2012, its market share was 22.4 percent, far above the 10.4 percent of SKOL, the Brazilian runner-up brand. Considering its relatively expensive price, the brand’s share in terms of revenue is even higher (http://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130409000696).
The strong and bitter taste, together with the relatively high alcohol level of 5 percent per volume, was the key secret to the brand’s success, according to Michael Glover, managing director of Jebsen Beverage Co.
“We acquired the premium German beer brand Blue Girl back in 1906, in an aim to appeal to the high-class consumer group,” said Glover.
Though the initial market response was positive, the logistical cost of importing beer all the way from Germany acted as an obstacle, he added.
“This is why I selected OB as the new manufacturer in 1988,” Glover said.
“Not only is the company located close to Hong Kong and to other Chinese territories, but it was also highly qualified in brewery and packaging skills.”
The companies have ever since maintained a close partnership, which remained steadfast throughout various critical situations such as Korea’s financial crisis in 1998 and Hong Kong’s SARS breakout in 2003.
Blue Girl is also a significant factor for OB, which has been seeking to expand its overseas market in recent years.
Last year, the Korean beer maker exported 177.8 million boxes of beer, among which over 23 percent was Blue Girl, according to officials.
“The fact that Blue Girl is manufactured in Korea is a competitive factor, especially as other foreign brands such as Carlsberg and Heineken are mostly made in China,” said Charles Park, the executive director of OB.
“This is due to Korea’s credibility as a high-quality manufacturer, as well as the effect of the Korean Wave in the great Chinese region.”
(http://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130409000696)
Jebsen Group (Jebsen), a leading marketing and distribution organisation for premium products across Greater China, today announced the Fujian province launch of new Blue Girl Gold 1906 with the aim of attracting the increasing number of Mainland China’s premium beer drinkers.
China is the largest and fastest growing beer markets in the world, with analysts estimating that by 2016, Chinese drinkers will be consuming 61 billion litres of beer annually (according to market research firm Euromonitor International). The premium beer segment is projected to grow in importance, as it outpaces the growth of the rest of the market.
The new “Blue Girl Gold 1906”, referring to the year Blue Girl was purchased by Jebsen, has a more refreshing taste with 5% ABV (Alcohol by volume). Blue Girl Gold 1906 has been introduced with a sophisticated package prominently using the colour gold in both 330mL bottles and cans. The new taste stays true to Blue Girl’s German heritage, making sure that its flavour meets the needs of China’s premium beer drinkers (www.jebsen.com/PageDisplay.aspx?did=b06cf8d0-1b32-4f5d-ac85-dc43ae6bb45f).
Product Specification
Ingredients: Water, Malt, Hops, Yeast, Adjuncts
Alcoholic Contents: 5% alc./vol (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), 4.5% alc./vol (China)
(http://116.12.230.22/jebsen_beer/PageDisplay.aspx?did=42852c77-4b68-4255-80a4-d81324df8f9f)
%20-%20Blue%20Girl.jpg)
Hoe kun je bier drinken met de kroonkurk er nog op?
Heritage| You may know that Blue Girl Beer is a famous brand, but do you know what was the original label for Blue Girl Beer? In 1906, the original brand企妹and brand design was something much more like a crossover of both Chinese and Western styles – a portrait of a western goddess appearing in the Hong Kong skies. Upon the completion of the acquisition by Jebsen Group, the brand was renamed to Blue Girl Beer and the label was modified to something closer to what you see today (www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.181342618578254.42262.124671487578701).
From what I could tell it is a beer that enjoys a popular local following, I assume with more with the lower economic segment but I could be wrong.
A bit of googling revealed an interesting history with the beer first being brewed in Bremen, Germany back in the 18th Century and was imported to China to quench the thirst of some German troops in the region.
An importer, Jebsen & Co., Ltd, acquired the rights to Blue Girl Beer in 1906 and were responsible for introducing it to Hong Kong, China and Taiwan (http://beerasia.blogspot.nl/2008/07/blue-girl-lager-beer-another-hong.html).
I think the only German thing about Blue Girl was that it was once a brand in Germany long time ago. A trading firm bought just the brand name and stick it onto a beer brewed in Korea. Quite a good marketing ploy, have to admit it. Personally, I think it is a truly crappy beer (http://beerasia.blogspot.nl/2008/07/blue-girl-lager-beer-another-hong.html).
Blue Girl
Brewed by Oriental Brewery (AB-InBev)
Style: Pale Lager
Seoul, South Korea
Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Shaker
(http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/blue-girl/17329/)
Wat vinden anderen?
Cantabrian (886) - Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND - SEP 11, 2013
UPDATED: SEP 13, 2013 Claiming to be the leading brand in HK and Macau. Tasteless, odourless. Not even salty/bready as Hite or those Japanese "draft" beers. The alleged popularity tells you something about the majority that likes it, and perhaps not the product. But then, when one considers the heat of Hong Kong, this will be nice and cold, in 7Eleven, available at no further than 50 metres from wherever you are. Finally, I love the presentation, with the naiad/goddess (?) on renaissance grotesquerie style (www.ratebeer.com/beer/blue-girl/17329/).
Blue Girl®Beer was first brewed in Bremen of Germany in the 19th century. Since then, the beer had been imported to Qingdao, PRC and laid foundation for the brand to serve drinkers all around the world. In 1906, Blue Girl®Beer was acquired by Jebsen & Co. Ltd. and gradually introduced into Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan with commitment to the time-honoured German brewing traditions and meticulous quality standards. Nowadays, Blue Girl®Beer as a leading premium beer brand in Hong Kong continues to deliver superior quality, while retaining its age-old German brewing know-how and original taste that meet the needs of beer drinkers.
The trademark (Schutzmarke in German) of Blue Girl®Beer was inspired by one of the best known Greek goddesses in the 19th century, known as the Goddess of Victory. This legendary figure represents the spirit of “winning by perfection” and is widely recognized as a symbol of excellence (http://www.bluegirlbeer.com/en#history).
