Bäcker Brewery

Bäcker Brewery, also known as Cervejaria Backer or Cervejaria Três Lobos, is a Brazilian craft brewery based in the Olhos D'água neighborhood of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Founded in 1999 by brothers Halim and Munir Lebbos, it began as a family venture to supply their nightclub, 3 Lobos, during a revival of craft beer in Brazil. It is registered as the first artisanal beer of Minas Gerais and is one of the pioneers of the Brazilian craft beer movement, with more than 26 years of activity. The brewery produces a range of beers under brands including Backer, Capitão Senra, Tommy Gun, and Medieval, as well as Gin Lebbos and Whiskey Três Lobos Experience. Its best-selling beer, Belorizontina, was created in December 2017 to honor the 120th anniversary of Belo Horizonte and became its flagship among 21 labels. The company has participated in national and international competitions, earning awards for innovation, style diversity, and sensory quality. In January 2020, the brewery was struck by a severe industrial incident: contamination of certain beer batches with monoethylene glycol (MEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG), toxic substances used in industrial refrigeration systems. The episode caused serious poisonings and deaths, leading to a nationwide outcry and the interruption of the company's activities. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) published a technical report on August 4, 2020, pointing to failures in refrigeration systems and contamination across different production periods. The company signed compensation agreements with victims and families, acknowledging civil liability without admitting intent. Criminal proceedings later acquitted the defendants, citing lack of evidence of intent or direct criminal negligence, and highlighting failures attributed to external suppliers, including tank manufacturer Serra Inox and coolant supplier Hiperquímica, accused of adulterating the product. After the incident, Backer stated it had fully overhauled its industrial processes, adopted new control, safety, and governance protocols, and began rebuilding its market presence with a focus on regulatory compliance, transparency, and risk prevention. In 2024, the company entered judicial recovery due to the contamination event, and since then it has been gradually returning to the craft and specialty beer market, focusing on a few labels such as the Capitão Senra line.

Cervejaria Backer was founded in 1999 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, by brothers Halim and Munir Lebbos. It began as a family business to supply their nightclub, 3 Lobos, during a period of craft beer revival in Brazil. It is registered as the first artisanal beer of Minas Gerais and is one of the pioneers of the Brazilian craft beer movement, with over 26 years of operation. The brewery contributed to the professionalization of production, technical training, and the spread of beer culture in the country. It engaged in technical exchanges with Brazilian and international brewmasters, participated in industry events, and won awards in national and international competitions for innovation, style diversity, and sensory quality. Its best-selling beer, Belorizontina, was created in December 2017 to honor the 120th anniversary of Belo Horizonte and became the flagship among 21 labels. In January 2020, the brewery was impacted by a severe industrial incident involving contamination of certain beer batches with monoethylene glycol (MEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG), toxic substances used in industrial refrigeration systems. The episode resulted in serious poisonings and deaths, causing national repercussions and leading to the interruption of the company's activities. On August 4, 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) published a technical report pointing to failures in the refrigeration systems and describing contamination in different production periods. The company signed compensation agreements with victims and families, acknowledging civil liability without admitting intent. Criminal proceedings later acquitted the defendants, concluding there was no proof of intent or direct criminal negligence by the brewery's management. The rulings highlighted failures attributed to external suppliers, including tank manufacturer Serra Inox and coolant supplier Hiperquímica, accused of adulterating the product. After the incident, Backer stated it had fully overhauled its industrial processes, adopted new control, safety, and governance protocols, and began rebuilding its market presence with a focus on regulatory compliance, transparency, and risk prevention. In 2024, the company entered judicial recovery due to the contamination event, and since then it has been gradually returning to the craft and specialty beer market, focusing on a few labels such as the Capitão Senra line.

• 2024

  Company enters judicial recovery.

• 2020

  Contamination incident with MEG and DEG leads to poisonings, deaths, and interruption of activities.

• 2020

  Mapa publishes technical report on August 4 pointing to refrigeration system failures.

• 2017

  Belorizontina beer created to honor the 120th anniversary of Belo Horizonte.

• 1999

  Founded in Belo Horizonte by brothers Halim and Munir Lebbos.

Pioneer and award-winning craft brewery in Minas Gerais, focused on innovation, quality, and recovery after a major crisis.

• Belorizontina

  Flagship beer created in 2017, best-selling among 21 labels.

• Capitão Senra

  Beer line focused on after judicial recovery.

• Backer Light

  Low-calorie, zero sugar, zero carbs, gluten-free beer.

• Tommy Gun

  Beer brand produced by the brewery.

• Medieval

  Beer brand produced by the brewery.

• Gin Lebbos

  Gin produced by the brewery.

• Whiskey Três Lobos Experience

  Whiskey produced by the brewery.

• BoomMate

  Premium ready-to-drink beverage.

1. 1Cervejaria 3 Lobos I Backercervejariatreslobos.com.br
2. 2Sobre | Cervejaria 3 Loboscervejariatreslobos.com.br
3. 3Bäcker Brewery - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Cervejaria Backer - Wikipediapt.wikipedia.org