Warsteiner
Location | Warstein, Soest (district), Germany | ||||||||||
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Opened | 1753 | ||||||||||
Key people | Eva-Catharina Cramer (CEO) | ||||||||||
Annual production volume | 2.34 million hectolitres (1,990,000 US bbl) in 2015[1] | ||||||||||
Owned by | Catharina Cramer | ||||||||||
Active beers | |||||||||||
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Warsteiner (German pronunciation: [ˈvaːɐ̯ʃtaɪnɐ, ˈvaʁ-]) beer is brewed in the Arnsberg Forest Nature Park outside of Warstein, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Warsteiner has been owned by the Cramer family since 1753. Warsteiner is Germany's largest privately owned brewery; its best selling beer is Warsteiner Premium Verum.[2]
Warsteiner ranks fifth among Germany's best selling breweries.
History
[edit]According to Inc Magazine, "In 1753, the farmer Antonius Cramer from the town of Warstein, Germany [laid] the foundation for a German beer dynasty.[3]"
The earliest mention of the brewing company is a tax record from 1753, when Antonius Cramer paid 1 thaler, 19 guilders on beer he brewed and sold himself.[citation needed]
His son Johannes Vitus followed in his footsteps and brought the selling of home-brewed beer into his house, in the heart of Warstein. His company benefited from its central location. However, in 1802 a devastating fire left Warstein in ruins and ashes - the business of the Cramers fell victim to the flames.[citation needed]
At the same time, they rebuilt their house as a guest accommodation and became through the establishment of the St. Pancras Church the centre of the town.[citation needed]
The headquarters of the Warsteiner Brewery, the Domschänke, still stands today in the historic core of Warstein.[citation needed]
Breweries in the Rhine valley were bombed during World War II, and the Warstein brewery sustained some damage.[citation needed]
Beers
[edit]All beers are brewed in strict accordance with the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516.[citation needed]
Warsteiner Premium Verum
[edit]Premium Verum, a pilsener style beer, is Warsteiner's flagship beer, and is exported to over 60 countries. The alcohol content is 4.8%.[citation needed]
Warsteiner Premium Dunkel
[edit]Premium Dunkel is Warsteiner's second most popular beer. Dunkel is a traditional style, dark beer with an alcohol content of 4.8%.[citation needed]
Warsteiner Premium Fresh
[edit]Warsteiner's only non-alcoholic beer, brewed exactly like the Premium Verum and then having the alcohol extracted. The beer contains 80 calories per 12 oz. bottle.[citation needed]
König Ludwig Weissbier - Royal Bavarian Hefeweizen
[edit]Royal Bavarian is a golden hefeweizen style beer. It is brewed with natural yeast and Bavarian ingredients, and has an alcohol content of 5.5%.[citation needed]
Export and licensing
[edit]Warsteiner has been exporting its beers internationally since the 1980s. Furthermore, Warsteiner founded and acquired shares in other international breweries like Isenbeck brewery in Argentina and breweries in Africa.[4]
All North American Warsteiner products are brewed, bottled, kegged and canned at the brewery in Warstein, Germany.[citation needed]
In some international markets, Warsteiner and Koenig Ludwig beers are license brewed by Mahou-San Miguel Group.[5]
In the UK the beer is imported by James Clay & Sons.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Biermarken in Deutschland". aktiongutesbier.de. n.d. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ spiegel.de: Smart, blond, trinkfest
- ^ "Warsteiner's Commitment to Sustainability is a Model for Us All".
- ^ Warsteiner Gruppe International (in German)
- ^ Mahou-San Miguel, Our Brands