The brewery was founded in 1938 by Italian engineer Luigi Melotti. The brewery was nationalized by the Derg during the Eritrean War of Independence, and was then inherited by the Government of Eritrea. Ownership in the brewery is shared between investors and the Government of Eritrea. In 1998, its factory exported up to 40% of production, with the remainder being domestically consumed. Production was affected during year 2000 and production decreased for a period of time. However the production has since got back to normal levels, now even exporting products internationally to countries worldwide. During WW2 and until today it is one of the biggest companies in Eritrea. Melotti, the wealthy owner, also built the famous "Villa Melotti" on the southern tip of Taulud Island in Massawa.
Overview
The "Asmara Brewery" plants' surface is of 100,000 square metres, 25,000 of which covered by modern and functional buildings. The industrial activity includes: the distillery, the liquor factory, the brewery, the glass factory. Distillary: the distillery is composed of a very modern installation for the production of alcohol from musts of dense wines, as this activity was installed for the industrial exploitation of the fruit of the dum palm. The distillery installation has a daily producing capability of 24 hectolitres of denatured alcohol exceeding 96o. Liquor Factory: the liquors' production has been, in the main, directed toward those qualities which find easy sale with the Ethiopian consumer, and the Melotti Liquor Factory markets several kinds of liquors particularly appreciated by the clientele. The productive capability is of about 50,000 bottles monthly. The liquors most requested are: anise, cognac, fernet, gin, and zibib. Brewery: Born during the war period in order to satisfy contingent necessities, under the impulse of the Eng. Luigi Melotti, initially, and of the widow Mrs. Emma Santini Melotti, later, the beer industry has constantly directed its own efforts to satisfy the market's exigency, both concerning the product's quality as well as the price. This program forces her to update continuously her installations. The product is appreciated in all the country and even abroad where only currency difficulties limit her already flourishing export course. The annual productive capability is about 500,000 hectolitres of beer. Sava Glass Factory:The glass factory started, in a vaster way, its own production in the month of January 1960 with the new installations which, emplaced in 1959, will allow a production which extends from the 90 gr bottle to the 1000 gr bottle and to a vast range of glasses, which will meet a favorable and satisfying setting in all the local markets.
Brewery products
The brewery produces a wide range of beverages. One of its best known is Ariki, an aniseed-flavored spirit. It also produces its famous Asmara beer and other beverages susch as gin, cognac and Fernet-Branca
Football team
The brewery operates a football team, which plays in the Eritrean Premier League since the 1990s. The team was initially founded in 1944 with the name Asmara Birra by the engineer Melotti
