Krombacher Brewery: A Bavarian Gem In Germany

Krombacher Brewery is one of the largest privately-owned breweries in Germany, founded in 1803 by Johannes Haas. Krombacher is a family-owned business, currently run by the descendants of Bernhard Schadeberg. Krombacher Brewery is located in Krombach, a suburb of Kreuztal near Siegen, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Krombacher produces a range of beers, including the second most consumed Pilsener in Germany, as well as alcohol-free variants, radlers, and wheat beers. In recent years, Krombacher has expanded its portfolio by investing in and distributing beers from other breweries, including a Bavarian craft brewery, Starnberger Brauhaus, located on Lake Starnberg in Bavaria.

Krombacher is Germany's second most consumed Pilsener

Krombacher Brewery is one of the largest privately-owned breweries in Germany. It was founded on February 4, 1803, by Johannes Haas, whose father was running a tavern in Krombach. The brewery is currently located in Krombach, a suburb of Kreuztal near Siegen, in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. It is not located in Bavaria.

Krombacher Brewery produces the second most consumed Pilsener in Germany, the Krombacher Pils. The brewery draws upon local mountain spring water, which is soft and low in minerals, making it ideal for brewing a Pilsner-style beer. The water is sourced from the Krombacher Rock Spring, discovered in 1722, and the Breitenbach Dam near Hilchenbach. The use of this water, along with the finest ingredients, gives Krombacher Pils its distinctive taste and crisp finish.

Krombacher Pils has a delicate bitterness and an abundance of fruity hop aromas, with a well-balanced malt backbone. It has a refreshing, long-lasting light bitter finish. The beer is best served between 6°C and 8°C (43°F and 46°F) to enhance its aromas and balance the sharpness and heaviness of dishes. Krombacher Pils is known for its versatility in food pairing, complementing a range of dishes from slow-cooked veal to spicy Asian cuisine.

In addition to Krombacher Pils, the brewery also produces an alcohol-free variant, Krombacher Radler (a mixture of Krombacher Pils and lemonade), and Krombacher Weizen, a wheat beer. Krombacher Brewery has also expanded its portfolio to include beer-based mix drinks, such as Cab (originally Cola and Beer), and dark beer, such as Rhenania Alt. The brewery's success has made it one of the largest employers in the city of Kreuztal.

Krombacher is the largest privately-owned brewery in Germany

Krombacher Brewery, located in the village of Krombach, is the largest privately-owned brewery in Germany. Krombach is a suburb of Kreuztal near Siegen, a city in a part of Germany called Siegerland, a part of North Rhine-Westphalia. The village of Krombach was first mentioned in documents around 1300, and the brewery itself was first mentioned in 1803. The Haas family founded the brewery within their family business, as, at the time, the sale of beer was only permitted to restaurants with their own breweries and malt kilns.

Krombacher Brewery is one of the largest employers in the city and is known for producing the second most consumed Pilsener in Germany, the Krombacher Pils. The brewery uses soft, low-mineral water from the local mountain spring, ideal for brewing Pilsner-style beer. The water, called Felsquellwasser, is a key ingredient in Krombacher's five-star premium lager, naturally brewed in Germany. The lager is brewed with 100% naturally dried malt from 2-row summer brewing barley and the finest Hallertau Siegel hops, resulting in a delicately bitter taste.

In addition to its popular Pilsener, Krombacher Brewery also offers a range of other beers, including an alcohol-free variant, a wheat beer called Krombacher Weizen, and Krombacher Radler, a mixture of 50% Krombacher Pils and 50% lemonade. The brewery has also introduced Cab, a brand of beer-based mixed drinks targeted at young adults, with variants such as Cab Cola and Beer, Cab Banana and Beer, and Cab Cherry and Beer. Krombacher Brewery has expanded beyond beer and also distributes Schweppes products in Germany, including Schweppes Germany's licenses for Snapple, Dr. Pepper, and Orangina.

Krombacher Brewery has a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. In 2002, they launched a Rainforest campaign, partnering with the World Wildlife Fund, to preserve one square meter of rainforest for at least 100 years for every crate of Krombacher sold. While the campaign faced some criticism and legal challenges, it reflected the company's dedication to environmental conservation. Krombacher has also endorsed responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages, encouraging consumers to confirm they are above the legal drinking age before entering their website.

Krombacher is based in Krombach, a suburb of Kreuztal near Siegen

Krombacher Brewery is based in Krombach, a suburb of Kreuztal near Siegen, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Krombach is a small town located at the foot of the Rothaargebirge hills in Westfalia. The town was first mentioned in documents dating back to around 1300, and its brewing roots go back to at least 1618, when an old record indicates that beer was being brewed and served to resting carters.

The Krombach brewery itself was first documented in 1803. The Haas family, who ran a tavern in Krombach, established the brewery as part of their family business. The location of the village on a thoroughfare between Siegen and the Sauerland proved advantageous for the brewery, which quickly gained significance beyond the small town. By 1829, the brewery had established contractual relationships with organisers of the "Olper Schützenfest" riflemen's festival, which is still supplied with Krombacher beer today.

The development of the railway network played a crucial role in the distribution and export of Krombacher beer. In 1835, the first German railway line opened between Nuremberg and Fürth, and the first freight transported on this line was beer barrels. Krombacher continued to expand and, by the late 19th century, was experimenting with brewing a Pilsner beer. By 1901, the "Siegener Zeitung" newspaper reported that Krombacher Pilsner was gaining international fame for its quality.

Today, Krombacher Brewery is the largest privately-owned brewery in Germany and ranks as the country's second most consumed beer. It is known for its Pilsener, which is brewed with soft, low-mineral spring water sourced from the local area. Krombacher has also introduced alcohol-free variants, radlers, wheat beers, and beer-based mix drinks targeted at young adults. The brewery's success has made it one of the largest employers in the city.

Krombacher's history dates back to 1803

Krombacher Brewery's history dates back to 1803 when it was founded by Johannes Haas, the son of Johann Eberhard Haas, who was a tavern owner in Krombach. The brewery was established within the family business as, at the time, the sale of beer was only permitted to restaurants that had their own breweries and malt kilns.

The Krombacher Rock Spring, which supplies water to the brewery, was discovered in 1722. This soft, low-mineral water is key to the brewing process and was originally transported from the spring to the brewery by ox cart. In 1854, a pipeline was constructed to transport the water, which ran across church property, so the owner of the brewery, Haas, had to pay 17 guilders per year to the church.

Between 1858 and 1879/82, the present brewery was built, and two caverns were constructed to be used as beer cellars. In 1896, Hermann Haas sold the brewery to Otto Eberhardt for 360,000 marks. Eberhardt ran the brewery as a limited partnership called "Hasbrauerei Eberhardt and Co." until converting it into a corporation in 1905.

In October 1922, Bernhard Schadeberg, the current CEO's grandfather, assumed management of the company, and it has been running as a family business ever since. The company is now owned by Friedrich Schadeberg, his sister Barbara Lambrecht-Schadeberg, his son Bernhard Schadeberg, and his daughter Petra Schadeberg-Hermann.

Krombacher's Starnberger Hell is an authentic Bavarian lager

Krombacher Brewery, one of Germany's leading brewing groups, has launched an authentic Bavarian lager, Krombacher Starnberger Hell, across several European countries. This lager is crafted in accordance with the German Purity Law, using only the finest Bavarian ingredients.

Starnberger Hell is brewed with pure water sourced from deep wells in the lush environs of Lake Starnberg, hops from the Hallertau region, and malt from two Bavarian malthouses. With an alcohol by volume (abv) of 4.8%, this beer offers an easy-drinking, finely-flavoured, and refreshing Bavarian lager experience.

The Krombacher Brewery acquired a minority stake in the promising Bavarian craft brewery, Starnberger Brauhaus, in July 2020. The brewery is situated on the famously picturesque Lake Starnberg in Bavaria and has experienced remarkable growth. The original location in Berg, a small village 35km southwest of Munich, was outgrown within five years, leading to a relocation to Feldafing on the opposite side of the lake in 2020.

The Starnberger Brauhaus takes pride in its selection of high-quality, regional ingredients. The founder, Florian Schuh, follows the principle that "the best is just good enough" for their beers. The brewing process adheres to the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot (purity law) of 1516, ensuring that the excellent Starnberger water, fine Hallertau hops, and premium Bavarian malts come together to create a truly exceptional beer.

Starnberger Hell, with its golden hue and well-rounded flavour, is a true delight for aficionados of traditional Bavarian beer. It has gained popularity in the German beer market over the past decade, and Krombacher's international rollout of this speciality lager will undoubtedly captivate beer enthusiasts beyond Bavaria.

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