Founded in Klaipėda (Memel) in 1784 by the merchant J. W. Reincke, whose sea eagle is still on its arms; joined in the 19th century with the brewery of T. Preuss. Ostquell under the Germans, almost destroyed in 1944; rebuilt as Švyturys, brewing again from 1946, Baltijos from 1965. Carlsberg holds the majority since 1999; in December 2001 merged with Utenos alus (Utena, brewing from 1977) as Švyturys-Utenos alus. unverified info