Volfas Engelman
A historic Kaunas brewery and alcoholic-beverage producer whose portfolio spans beer, cider, mixed drinks, kvass, energy drinks and soft drinks.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
Volfas Engelman is a Lithuanian beverage producer based in Kaunas. Its historical roots reach back to 1853, when a brewery was established in the city and later became associated with the names Volfas and Engelman, the two founders commemorated in the company’s modern identity. The business is one of Lithuania’s longest-established brewing enterprises and has remained closely linked with Kaunas’s industrial and brewing heritage. The company’s corporate history includes a substantial transformation during the post-Soviet privatization period. In 1994, the brewery then known as Ragutis was privatized and reorganized as a joint-stock company. In 1997, 51 percent of Ragutis was acquired by the Pilsner Urquell Group. Later the same year, that controlling interest was transferred to Estonia’s A. Le Coq, a company operated by the Finnish Olvi group. Olvi subsequently became the controlling owner of the Lithuanian business. As of 2023, Olvi held 99.57 percent of Volfas Engelman’s shares. The brewery returned to its historical name, Volfas Engelman, on April 12, 2011. The restoration of the name connected the contemporary company with its nineteenth-century origins while also distinguishing it from the Ragutis period. Since 2012, the company has been led by chief executive Marius Horbačauskas. Reference material describes Volfas Engelman as Lithuania’s second-largest brewery and reports a workforce of more than 230 employees. Beer remains the core of the portfolio. The company sells products under the Volfas Engelman master brand and also markets beer brands including 1410, Horn and Fortas. Its wider beverage range reflects the diversification typical of modern brewing groups: cider is sold under names such as Fizz and Sherwood; alcoholic mixed drinks include LE COQ and G:N; and kvass products include Smetoniška Gira and Volfas Engelman Imperial Gira. The portfolio also includes energy drinks such as DYNAMI:T and BCAA Vitamin Energy Performance, together with non-alcoholic drinks including Volfas Engelman Fassbrause, Kane’s, Aura and Sakmė. Volfas Engelman therefore operates as more than a conventional beer label. It combines heritage positioning, a broad beverage portfolio and the manufacturing and distribution resources of the Olvi group. The brand’s public identity is rooted in Lithuanian brewing history, while its current product architecture serves several beverage occasions, from mainstream and specialty beer to cider, kvass, mixed alcoholic drinks, energy products and soft drinks. It is active and headquartered in Kaunas, with products reaching markets beyond Lithuania in Europe.
History
Volfas Engelman’s history begins in nineteenth-century Kaunas, where the brewery was established in 1853. The modern name refers to Volfas and Engelman, the two founders associated with the historical brewery. Over time, the business became part of Lithuania’s brewing tradition and developed a lasting connection with the city of Kaunas. The company entered a new corporate phase after Lithuania’s restoration of independence. In 1994, the brewery operating under the name Ragutis underwent privatization and reorganization, becoming a joint-stock company. This change opened the business to strategic foreign investment. In 1997, the Pilsner Urquell Group acquired 51 percent of Ragutis. Later that year, Pilsner Urquell transferred its controlling stake to the Estonian company A. Le Coq, which was operated by the Finnish Olvi group. The ownership relationship ultimately placed the Lithuanian brewery within Olvi’s regional beverage structure. The historical identity was formally revived on April 12, 2011, when the brewery returned to the name Volfas Engelman. The decision linked the present-day company with its nineteenth-century origins and replaced the Ragutis identity that had characterized the post-privatization period. Under Marius Horbačauskas, who became chief executive in 2012, the company continued operating as a major Lithuanian brewery and expanded its offer beyond traditional beer categories. The contemporary portfolio includes beer, cider, alcoholic mixed drinks, kvass, energy drinks and soft drinks. Beer is sold through the Volfas Engelman brand as well as 1410, Horn and Fortas. Cider products include Fizz and Sherwood. The company also lists alcoholic mixed drinks under LE COQ and G:N, kvass under Smetoniška Gira and Volfas Engelman Imperial Gira, energy products under DYNAMI:T and BCAA Vitamin Energy Performance, and soft drinks including Volfas Engelman Fassbrause, Kane’s, Aura and Sakmė. As of 2023, 99.57 percent of the company’s shares belonged to Olvi. Reference material identifies Volfas Engelman as Lithuania’s second-largest brewery and reports that it employed more than 230 people. The company remains based in Kaunas and functions within Olvi’s broader Baltic and European beverage network.
- 2023
Olvi ownership reaches 99.57 percent
[1]Olvi held 99.57 percent of Volfas Engelman’s shares.
- 2012
Marius Horbačauskas becomes chief executive
[1]Marius Horbačauskas took over as chief executive of the company.
- 2011
Historical name restored
[1]On April 12, the brewery reverted from the Ragutis name to Volfas Engelman.
- 1997
Pilsner Urquell Group acquires a controlling stake
[1]The Pilsner Urquell Group acquired 51 percent of Ragutis; later that year, the controlling interest was transferred to A. Le Coq, operated by Olvi.
- 1994
Ragutis privatized and reorganized
[1]The brewery operating as Ragutis was privatized and reorganized as a joint-stock company.
- 1853
Brewery established in Kaunas
[1]A brewery was established in Kaunas, providing the historical foundation for the later Volfas Engelman business.
Products and positioning
A Lithuanian heritage brewery combining historical brewing identity with a broad, contemporary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage portfolio.
Beer
Volfas Engelman Fassbrause
The principal beer identity of the brewery, carrying the historical company name. The range represents the company’s central brewing offer and anchors its heritage-based positioning in Lithuania and other European markets. A non-alcoholic soft-drink product carrying the Volfas Engelman name.
Beer
1410
A beer brand in the Volfas Engelman portfolio. It is presented as a distinct line alongside the company’s main Volfas Engelman beers.
Beer
Horn
A separate beer brand produced within the Volfas Engelman portfolio. Available product details in the reference material identify it as one of the company’s named beer lines.
Beer
Fortas
A beer brand included among Volfas Engelman’s principal beer labels, extending the brewery’s offer beyond its corporate-name range.
Cider
Fizz
A cider brand in the company’s alcoholic beverage portfolio. It gives Volfas Engelman a dedicated presence in the cider category in addition to beer.
Cider
Sherwood
A cider line marketed by Volfas Engelman as part of its diversification into fermented fruit-based alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic mixed drinks
LE COQ
An alcoholic mixed-drink brand listed in the company’s wider beverage portfolio.
Alcoholic mixed drinks
G:N
A named alcoholic mixed-drink line produced by the company alongside its beer, cider and other beverage categories.
Kvass
Smetoniška Gira
A kvass product that reflects the brewery’s participation in the traditional Baltic non-alcoholic fermented beverage category.
Kvass
Volfas Engelman Imperial Gira
A kvass product using the Volfas Engelman identity and extending the brand into a traditional malt-based soft beverage.
Energy drink
DYNAMI:T
An energy-drink brand in the company’s non-beer beverage portfolio.
Energy drink
BCAA Vitamin Energy Performance
An energy-oriented beverage listed under the company’s performance and vitamin drink offerings.
Soft drink
Kane’s
A soft-drink brand included in the company’s broader non-alcoholic beverage range.
Soft drink
Aura
A non-alcoholic beverage brand listed among Volfas Engelman’s soft-drink products.
Soft drink
Sakmė
A soft-drink label in the company’s diversified beverage portfolio.
Sources2 sources
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