Köstritzer

The Köstritzer Black Beer Brewery Ltd. is a brewery in Bad Koestritz at Gera. She is one of the oldest black beer breweries in Germany.

History

In 1543, the brewery found in the so-called Erbzinsregister as " Köstritzer Erbschenke " first documentary mention, so that it is one of the oldest breweries in Germany. The counts of the House of Reuss took over the brewery in 1696 and renamed it to " ritterschaftliche Gutsbrauerei " around. Since 1806, the brewery is allowed to use the title " Princely Brewery ", as the Knight of the House of Reuss were elevated to princes. In the year 1811 6400 hectoliters (hl) were different varieties of beer produced and sold to Berlin, Dresden, Magdeburg and Frankfurt am Main.

From the living in Weimar, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is narrated that he temporarily mainly different varieties of beers, among others Breweries Koestritz and Oberweimar and fed on bread bread. The scholar Wilhelm von Humboldt wrote on November 17, 1823 from Weimar to his wife Caroline von Humboldt, inter alia, about his own diet and Goethe:

1829 burned the operation and another 15 buildings into Koestritz. Then, the brewery was rebuilt in the west wing of the castle. 1875 leased the entrepreneur Rudolf Zersch the princely domains Koestritz, Duerrenberg and Hartmann Village, and the Brewery. The operation was initially expanded under the guidance of the master brewer Carl Holomoucky in the castle and at other production sites in Koestritz.

It is now the varieties Köstritzer black beer and lager flower Elster Thales were produced. The dark beer was attributed to a health-promoting effect from 19th century to the first half of the 20th century. In a display of 1893 promoted the brewery, it will of " high medical authorities recommended for anemic, lung disease, have recently given birth, nursing mothers and convalescents of any kind '. The brewery sent to Otto von Bismarck on his birthdays containers with flower Elster Thales and campaigned with his laudatory review of the beer.

In 1896, the brewery had a capacity of 40,000 hl, and presented annually 25,000 hectoliters of beer here, of which 12,000 hl black beer.

Between 1906 and 1908 was Zersch in Koestritz build a new brick building as an operating building. After the Second World War, the brewery was confiscated in October 1948 and converted into VEB Köstritzer black beer brewery. In the German Democratic Republic was the Köstritzer brewery one of the few companies that manufactured beers for export. The beer was from 1956 to 1976 exported to Germany, then to turn to the whole of Eastern Europe. A complete construction of the new brewery was carried out in the period 1979 to 1990.

The company was taken over in April 1991 to one hundred percent of the Bitburger Holding. The brewery was heavily modernized by 1991 to 1993. 1993 established the company as their main brand " Köstritzer black beer " in the German market. 1989 about 12,000 hl of beer were brewed black. The brewery has their total emissions in the years 1991 (145.000 hl) to 2005 (879.000 hl) increased more than fivefold. (compared to today approximately 700,000 hectoliters per annum )

It was advertised in a national launch campaign with the 450 - year anniversary of the brewery license and the slogan "The black with the blonde soul ", an allusion to the title of the French spy movie comedy The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe. From July 2008, this slogan was abandoned and replaced by " Are moments soul."

Presence

Products include now next to the " Köstritzer black beer " also " Köstritzer Edelpils ", " Köstritzer special beer ", " beer cellar Köstritzer " and mixed beer drinks " Köstritzer bibop " and " Köstritzer Edelpils cyclists ". The beers are now exported to more than 50 countries.

Köstritzer is the market leader in Germany in the field of dark lager beers with 31 percent market share. The system introduced in 2002 beer mix Bibop ranked 2008 in East Germany, with sales of 41 712 hectoliters to place 2 Coke Biermixmarken.

Pictures

Köstritzer black beer

Portal of the brewery in Koestritz

Filling the brand Edelpils at the brewery in Koestritz

Coasters from the GDR Köstritzer export black beer

Köstritzer bibop logo

Label Köstritzer black beer (DDR )