Originally only Žiguli beer was produced, a pale lager with minimum 2.8% abv which was brewed throughout the Soviet Union.

[5] In 1991 the collective brewery was formed into AS Viru Õlu, and in 1992 Harboes Bryggeri A/S of Denmark became the biggest shareholder.

In 2019 the company declared a net loss of 488,200 euros.

[7] In July 2020 Harboe Group announced that beer production would be transferred from Haljala to other Harboe breweries in Germany and Denmark, following years of financial losses.

[3] The Haljala brewery was sold to a Finnish businessman, who leased it to the Pyynikin Brewing Company of Tampere.