Founded in 1863 in Hilgezeem (Iļģuciems), a suburb of Riga; the Tannhäuser brewery stood next to it from 1870. Both closed in 1915, their equipment taken to Russia; rebuilt in 1938–1939 after the state bought them for Aldaris. Grew after the war (Iļģuciema tumšais, Dižalus); part of the Aldaris production association from 1976. The largest independent brewery of Riga today. unverified info