Stella Artois Is Introduced in Leuven

In 1926, Brouwerij Artois introduced Stella Artois in Leuven as a pale, bottom-fermented lager. Its arrival reflected the growing popularity of pilsner-type beer in Belgium and added an important lager chapter to a brewing culture more often associated internationally with top-fermented specialty beers. The name Stella, Latin for “star,” was later closely connected in the brand’s marketing with Christmas. Brewery accounts describe it as a festive seasonal beer, but surviving historical records indicate that the beer was brewed and released earlier in 1926 rather than created only for Christmas. Stella Artois subsequently became a permanent brand and developed into one of Belgium’s best-known internationally distributed lagers.