Warsteiner
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| Location | Warstein, Germany | ||||||||||
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| Opened | 1753 | ||||||||||
| Annual production volume | 2.34 million hectolitres (1,990,000 US bbl) in 2015[1] | ||||||||||
| Owner(s) | Catharina Cramer | ||||||||||
| Active beers | |||||||||||
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Warsteiner 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 most popular beer is Warsteiner Premium Verum.[2]
Warsteiner ranks fifth among Germany's best selling breweries.
History
The history of the brewing family begins in 1753, when farmer Antonius Cramer had to pay a tax of 1 thaler, 19 guilders on beer he brewed and sold himself.
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.
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.
The headquarters of the Warsteiner Brewery, the Domschänke, still stands today in the historic core of Warstein.
Breweries in the Rhine valley were bombed during World War II, and the Warstein brewery sustained some damage.
Today
The newly remodelled brewery can fill and package 5,000 bottles per hour.
To appeal to German young adults, Warsteiner began a beer-mix drink campaign that includes a Premium Cola, which contains caffeine, as well as Premium Lemon and Premium Orange drinks. Furthermore, Warsteiner has created a long-neck beer bottle and a "limited club edition" clear-glass bottle to target club-goers.
Beers
All beers are brewed in strict accordance with the Germany Purity Law of 1516.
Warsteiner Premium Verum
Premium Verum, a pilsener style beer, is Warsteiner's most popular beer, and is exported to over 60 countries. The ingredients are forest spring water, two-row malted summer barley and all German hops. The alcohol content is 4.8 percent.
Warsteiner Premium Dunkel
Premium Dunkel is Warsteiner's second most popular beer. Dunkel is a traditional style, dark beer with an alcohol content of 4.8 percent.
Warsteiner Premium Fresh
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.
König Ludwig Weissbier - Royal Bavarian Hefeweizen
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 percent.
International activities
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.[3]
Warsteiner in the United States is also friendly to homebrewers in that its bottles are pry-offs, and the labels come off with ease after a short soak, rendering the bottles re-usable. All North American Warsteiner products are brewed under license in the United States.
Warsteiner and German culture
Warsteiner makes a seasonal beer entitled "Oktoberfest" for the Bavarian celebrations each year.
Warsteiner Owner Albert Cramer has been a staunch advocate of competitive ballooning and Warsteiner is the sponsor of the German Hot Air Balloon National Team. Cramer and Warsteiner received the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, Air Sports Federation Award in 2001 and continue to be involved in Air Sports sponsorships and activities.
Warsteiner participated in the popular Newton Beerfest in October 2006, in which the company showcased its lemon-flavored Hefeweizen beer, as well as other popular beers.
In the past, the company has sponsored Austrian racing driver Harald Ertl.
The Warsteiner slogan, found on each bottle reads, "Eine Königin unter den Bieren" which literally translates into English as "A Queen amongst Beers", referring to the queen's crown on each beer bottle.
Warsteiner is the official beer of Lufthansa and served on all flights.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Biermarken in Deutschland". aktiongutesbier.de. n.d. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ↑ spiegel.de: Smart, blond, trinkfest
- ↑ Warsteiner Gruppe International (German)
- ↑ http://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/Warsteiner_en
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Warsteiner Brauerei. |
Coordinates: 51°25′18″N 8°21′16″E / 51.42167°N 8.35444°E