And the winner is...

 Once again, the Haitian beer gets the gold, the glory and confirms its bragging rights…pinning one additional gold medal to its shoulders. This medal comes short after the Dutch brewer Heineken NV’s recent acquisition of Brasserie Nationale d’Haïti, the Haiti based brewer of Prestige; confirming Prestige’s Lettre de Noblesse in the American-Style Cream Ale/Lager category. 

Gathering an elite international panel of judges screening through 799 breweries from 54 countries and 45 U.S. states, entering 3,921 beers in 95 beer style category, the 9th bi-annual competition of the 2012 Brewers Association World Beer Cup is referred to some as zeu Olympics of Beer Competition.

"It's called 'The Olympics of Beer Competition' for good reason," said Charlie Papazian, president of the Brewers Association, the U.S. -based trade association that has put on the competition every two years since 1996. "The event brings together great brewers from all corners of the globe. Plus, the awards are highly regarded. It’s no surprise that a brewer who wins a World Beer Cup gold award knows that their winning beer represents the best of that beer style in the world.[1]

The emblematic Prestige is for Haitians a thing of pride; Evidence that Haitian excellence is possible amidst its tag of the poorest country in the Americas. Currently being exported to the US and Canada, Prestige now reaches its Diaspora, and the ever growing network of fans and aficionados.

Indeed, Prestige delivers a very agreeable, satisfying and distinctive taste. At 5.6% alcohol, it comes in strong but delivers to the palette smoothly. “There may bit a bit of voodoo in every 4th beer” says a foreigner tasting Prestige for the fist time[2]…surely referring to the lager’s nice kick, but also to the perfectly abstract, at times even supernatural nature of the Haitian people. Yep! From an island like no other, it’s a beer come true!

Prestige, born and raised in Haiti – with Dutch parents.

And compliments to Haitians worldwide! This is something to celebrate and to be proud of.


[1] http://www.brewersassociation.org/pages/media/press-releases/show?title=2012-world-beer-cup-winners-announced
[2] beerofthecaribbean.com

Prestige, la bière d’Haïti

So, we’re pretty sure that by now, you’ve heard that Heineken NV has acquired more shares of BRANA, the brewer of our national pride, Prestige and other leading brands such Malta H and Guinness. BRANA also produces and bottles other well-known-and-sentimentally-haitian brands such as Toro,  King Cola and Sources Crystal. They also produce Teem, 7up and Pepsi under license.

This comes at a time where there’s a lot of signs of Haiti being the apple of the eye of many foreign investors, where, perhaps Haiti is the new land of opportunity…Oh by the way (and this has nothing to do with our post today) the US is changing their slogan to “the United States of infinite possibilities”.

There are a lot of mixed feelings about the acquisition, but let us put you at ease with the idea, and show you how we see it. Mercedes Benz will always be German even if some of its cars are produced in Mexico. Budweiser will always be American even if a Belgian company owns it, and Prestige will always be THE Haitian beer even if produced by the third largest brewer in the world. This change will actually help propel Prestige onto another level. Sure, Prestige is already sold in certain states in the USA and Canada, but how proud would you feel if you found Prestige on a cruise ship, and in the most secluded of places!?

What we’re trying to say here is that Heineken NV making this move, the local market will surely benefit from it. For one, it means more jobs. I personally bet ya that within 2 years we will have at least 2 to 3 other local beers. How fun would that be to have the choice between 3 Haitian beers on a menu. I know that on a Monday night, I’d love a Prestige light. Okay, maybe two.

You see, the more there is demand for the beer, the more places the beer is sold, the more sustainable jobs here in Haiti there will be. Heineken is a pretty good example to follow when it comes to great Corporate Responsibility socially, environmentally and financially - and will continue on with BRANA's traditions. This opens up a world of possibilities.

Now, if you’re worried that by having a foreign shareholder means that Prestige will no longer be truly Haitian, you are surely mistaking. Prestige was born and raised in Haiti. Prestige belongs to us. It belongs to you. It belongs to me. It is us, consumers, who are the true owners of Prestige and it will belong to generations to come. 

Kenbe Prestige ou! 

Btw, Heineken NV is a publically traded company. Hint hint…You might want to buy a few shares yourself. ;)

Kenbe Prestige Ou

For the past year, the slogan for Prestige has been "Kenbe Prestige Ou," a nice play on words inviting the Prestige drinker to hold his or her beer up, or a more patriotic secondary meaning, where we encourage fellow Haitians to keep the optimism.

This week, we decided to go with a TV ad for Haiti's beer. You don't need to speak Créole to understand this commercial. Just like Prestige, it has a global appeal.

The seductive commercial below is a collaboration between Lux Production Group and PubliGestion featuring Pooh Bear. Feel free to leave your comments. Tell us why you love it, because we know you will! Kenbe Prestige Ou !

Bon Flo, Forever

Bon Flo was an incredibly talented writer, a Rap Kreyol visionary with a contagious energy and flow. He will be missed.

As we launch this Prestige/KisaKiHipHop TV ad, let it be considered as an ode to the immortal him.

Bon Flo, You may be gone, but your essence lives on forever.

The PubliGestion Team.

Why is the Prestige Beer Bottle Brown?

Prestige is the only and preferred Haitian beer, and in Haiti, electricity is pretty scarce. As such beer storage is an issue, and so is meat storage – but that’s a whole other story. So, here is an attempt at explaining why the Prestige beer bottles are brown. You ready for this?

But before we reveal any “secrets” let’s take a little beer history tour. A long time ago, a monk decided to put some beer in a bottle, and he realized that after leaving it in there for hours, it was still fresh. Ta-da, there you go… that’s the history of bottled beer.

Once upon a time, the Prestige bottle was green, but since then, the beer bottles have remained brown. Why you may ask? Why is such an elixir, such a nifty crafted beer, stored in what some would call an unpleasant color?

Power (a.k.a kouran) is not always available in our country, and the people at BRANA (Brasserie Nationale d’Haiti) - the Prestige brewers, want their products to always be at their best. Beer must always remain at a steady temperature. So again, why brown bottles? Well, that’s because the color brown helps to keep direct light out of the Prestige bottles, and that maintains the beer brand spanking new while tasting fresh and original.

We guarantee you that Prestige beer does taste fresher, and is more flavorful thanks to its brown bottles than any of its Caribbean counterparts, in say… a green bottle. Since our favorite beer is not directly exposed to sunlight, it does not lose its texture, and especially not its flavor.

Some day, we’ll discuss why the bottles are short and stubby! :)

One Love, y’all.