Maes Pils beer

Maes Pils is one of Belgium's most iconic and widely consumed pilsners. Its history dates back to 1880 when Egied Maes acquired a brewery in Waarloos. The beer itself was officially launched in its pilsner form in 1930 for the Antwerp Universal Exposition under the name Prima Maezenbier, later becoming Maes Pils in 1946.

Over the decades, the brand underwent several ownership shifts. In 1988, the Maes brewery merged with the Alken brewery to form Alken-Maes. Following a period of ownership by Scottish & Newcastle, the company was acquired by the Dutch brewing giant Heineken in 2008.

As of 2026, Maes continues to be a central part of the Heineken portfolio in Belgium. While some administrative and logistical operations have been integrated with Heineken's Dutch headquarters, the brewing itself remains localized. Maes Pils is primarily produced at the Alken-Maes brewery located in Alken, Limburg, maintaining its status as a quintessential Belgian product under global management.