Beer was brewed at Cēsis castle as early as 1590; Count Emanuel von Sievers built the brewery of Cēsis manor in the mid-19th century. In 1922 local businessmen bought it as AS Augļu dārzs. Nationalised in 1940; the production association Cēsu alus in 1976–1988. Privatised in 1995, bought by A. Le Coq (Olvi) in 1999; a new brewery at Aldaru laukums 1 from 2001. The largest brewery in Latvia by 2014. unverified info