History
It all began in 1999. The charitative initiative Airborne Beer came into being on the occasion of the 55th commemoration of the battle. The label was designed by Arie Visser in Gouda.
Airborne beer has gone from strength to strength. The Jubilee version of 3.000 bottles sold out completely. The first milestone was in 2002 when the 5,000th bottle was sold.
Initially the Pegasus with rider was chosen as the logo of the Airborne Beer. This was also the emblem of the First British Airborne Division that took part in the Battle.
In 2004 the designer changed the logo to the current ‘Parachute in action’ version.
Prince Bernhard (father of the Dutch Queen Beatrix) was one of the first who got a jubilee-bottle for his 93rd birthday (29th June 2004). He was very pleased with it. The Dutch site shows a letter with his reaction.
In 2005 the project continued by a timeless version of the parachute in action. One year later (2006), the number 10.000 bottle has been presented (the photogalery shows you a videofragment).
In 2009 another jubilee-label is designed and introduced (65 years after Market Garden en 60 years Airborne Museum Hartenstein). After ten years (January 2010) over 13.500 bottles are sold. The Lest we forget Foundation fund has raised € 6.000,=.
The benefit of the last jubilee-bottle (€ 2.000,= ) has been paid to the Airborne Museum Foundation in Oosterbeek (NL).