Beer in Turkey

Beer in Turkey represents a distinct sector within the country's beverage alcohol market, characterized by a unique historical trajectory from the late Ottoman Empire to the modern Republic. As of late 2025, the industry functions as a mature duopoly dominated by Anadolu Efes and Türk Tuborg, operating within a highly regulated environment marked by aggressive taxation and strict marketing restrictions. While industrial lager remains the dominant product, a resilient craft beer ecosystem has emerged since the 2010s.

History

The historic Bomonti Beer Factory, established in 1890, became a symbol of industrial modernization in Istanbul.

While fermented grain beverages like boza have existed in Anatolia for millennia, the production of cold-fermented lager beer is a product of 19th-century industrialization.

Ottoman Era: The Bomonti Legacy

The modern brewing industry in Turkey began in Istanbul in 1890 with the establishment of the Bomonti Brewery in the Feriköy district by Swiss brothers Walter and Adolf Bomonti. The factory introduced bottom-fermentation technology and "artificial ice" production, allowing for year-round brewing of lager, which quickly displaced the warm-fermented ales produced by smaller artisanal brewers in Galata. The success of the brewery transformed the surrounding neighborhood, which adopted the name Bomonti and became a social hub known for its beer gardens.^[1]

In 1909, the Nectar Brewery was established in Büyükdere by a British consortium. After a fierce rivalry, the two competitors merged in 1912 to form the "Bomonti-Nectar Combined Beer Factories Company." By the end of the Ottoman period, this entity controlled over 90% of beer production, extending its reach to İzmir with the Aidin Brewery.^[1]

Republican Era and State Monopoly

Following the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the state sought to nationalize strategic industries. In 1934, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established the Ankara Beer Factory within the Atatürk Forest Farm (AOÇ) to demonstrate the viability of industrial production using Central Anatolian barley.^[1]

In 1938, the state sequestrated the Bomonti-Nectar assets, transferring them to the TEKEL (State Monopoly) administration. For decades, "Tekel Birası" became the standard beer of the country, served in state-run beer gardens (Bira Bahçeleri) that helped normalize public drinking as a secular leisure activity.

Privatization and Modern Era

The liberalization of the economy in the post-1960s period allowed for private sector entry. Türk Tuborg was established in İzmir in 1967, followed by Anadolu Efes in Istanbul in 1969. The privatization of TEKEL's alcoholic beverage division in the early 2000s marked the end of state production. The historic Bomonti factory ceased production in 1991 and was later redeveloped into the "Bomontiada" cultural complex.^[1]

Agriculture and Raw Materials

Turkey is one of the few countries in the region with a self-sufficient supply chain for beer production, though it faces risks from climate change.

• Barley: Turkey is a major global producer of barley, cultivating between 7.0 and 8.1 million metric tons annually (2024/2025 estimates), primarily in the Central Anatolia Region. The industrial brewers operate vertical integration programs, distributing drought-resistant seed varieties to contract farmers to mitigate the impact of changing rainfall patterns.^[1]
• Hops: Hop farming is highly localized in the Pazaryeri district of Bilecik Province, which possesses a unique microclimate. While the region produces distinctive local genotypes alongside international varieties like Brewers Gold, the industry remains small. Turkish brewers continue to import processed hops (pellets) for aroma-forward styles.^[1]

Market Structure

As of 2025, the market is a duopoly, with two major groups controlling over 90% of the volume. Despite population growth, per capita beer consumption is projected to decline structurally through 2028 due to economic pressures, though the market's financial value continues to rise due to premiumization.^[1]

• Anadolu Efes: The market leader and the 5th largest brewer in Europe. Headquartered in Istanbul, it operates multiple breweries in Turkey and has significant international operations in Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia. Its flagship brand is Efes Pilsen.
• Türk Tuborg: Based in İzmir, it operates one of the largest integrated brewing and malting facilities in Europe. It functions as a premium challenger and a major export hub, shipping to over 80 countries. It produces the Tuborg and Carlsberg portfolios, along with licensed brands like 1664 Blanc.

Regulatory and Fiscal Environment

The industry operates under strict regulations and high taxation, which are primary drivers of retail pricing and consumption trends.

• Taxation (ÖTV): Alcohol is subject to the Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV), which includes an automatic adjustment mechanism linked to inflation. Reports indicate that between 2012 and 2025, the tax rate on alcohol increased by over 1,500%.^[1] In late 2024, new decrees significantly raised the "minimum fixed tax," pushing the retail price of a standard 50cl beer to between 70–100 TL.
• Restrictions: Since the 2013 amendments to alcohol laws, all forms of advertising and sponsorship are banned. Retail sales are prohibited between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
• Homebrewing: The high cost of commercial alcohol led to a surge in home production. In response, the government banned the online sale of agricultural ethyl alcohol for household use in 2020 and mandated the addition of denaturing agents. Additionally, licensing fees for establishing new production facilities were raised to over 102,000 TL in 2025, creating barriers for small craft brewers.

Craft Beer

A "Third Wave" of brewing began around 2011, challenging the pilsner hegemony. Due to high capital costs and regulatory barriers, many Turkish craft brands operate as "contract brewers" (or "gypsy brewers"), producing their recipes at larger host facilities like Park Gıda in Çerkezköy.^[1]

Key players in the craft ecosystem include:

• Gara Guzu (Muğla): The pioneer of the movement (est. 2011), known for using local adjuncts like pine honey and beetroot.
• 3 Kafadar (Istanbul): A prominent contract brewer known for its Mosaic IPA and Graphite Stout.
• Knidos Brewery (Istanbul): Expanded from a brewpub to retail distribution with a wide range of styles.
• Torch Brewery (Istanbul): Located in the historic Bomonti factory complex (The Populist).
• Feliz Kulpa (İzmir): A key player in the Aegean craft scene.
• Trokya (Edirne): Reviving brewing in the Thrace region.

Culture

Beer consumption in Turkey is often accompanied by food, a culture known as "Bira Yanı" (Beside the Beer). Common pairings include the "Beer Plate" (fries, sausages, cheese rolls), Midye dolma (stuffed mussels), and Kokoreç.

The gentrification of the historic Bomonti district, centered on the redevelopment of the old brewery into the **Bomontiada** complex, has turned the area into a major hub for dining and entertainment, symbolizing the shift from industrial production to post-industrial consumption.

Brands

Major brands available in the Turkish market include:

Industrial

• **Anadolu Efes Group**: Efes Pilsen (Malt, Extra, Glutensiz), Bomonti (Filtresiz), Miller, Beck's, Bremen, Marmara, Erdinger.
• **Türk Tuborg**: Tuborg (Gold, Special, Amber, Frederik), Carlsberg, Blanc, Sol, Guinness, Weihenstephaner.

Independent / Craft

• 3 Kafadar
• Anthiocs
• Bosphorus Brewing Company
• Cunda Bira
• Dasbira
• Feliz Kulpa
• Gara Guzu
• Knidos
• Pablo
• Pera
• Red Tower
• Torch
• Trokya

See also

• Beer portal
• Turkey portal

• Beer and breweries by region
• Turkish cuisine
• Rakı