Birra Messina beer

Birra Messina is an iconic Italian beer brand founded in 1923 in Messina, Sicily, originally created by the Lo Presti-Faranda family under the Birra Trinacria brewery name. Known for its golden color and crisp lager profile, it became synonymous with Sicilian brewing tradition throughout the 20th century.

In 1988, the brand was acquired by Heineken Italia. In 1999, Heineken transferred brewing operations from Messina to other facilities across Italy (primarily Massafra in Puglia). While the original Messina workers eventually founded Birrificio Messina to brew independent local beers such as 'Birra dello Stretto', Heineken retained full ownership of the historical 'Birra Messina' trademark. Under a partnership agreement initiated in 2019, Heineken partnered with the local Messina brewery cooperative to produce special recipes like 'Birra Messina Cristalli di Sale' partly in Messina, while the standard lager continues to be produced in Heineken's Italian facilities, notably Massafra.

Today, the ultimate owner of Birra Messina is Heineken N.V., the Dutch multinational brewing conglomerate headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Through its Italian subsidiary Heineken Italia S.p.A., Heineken oversees the production, marketing, and distribution of Birra Messina across Italy and international markets.