| Warsteiner Beer and Brewery | |
| Location: | Warstein, Soest (district), Germany |
| Owner: | Catharina Cramer |
| Opened: | 1753 |
| Production: | 2.34e6hl in 2015[1] |
| Active Beers: | |
| Key People: | Eva-Catharina Cramer (CEO) |
Warsteiner (pronounced as /de/) 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.
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.
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.
All beers are brewed in strict accordance with the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516.
Premium Verum, a pilsener style beer, is Warsteiner's flagship beer, and is exported to over 60 countries. The alcohol content is 4.8%.
Premium Dunkel is Warsteiner's second most popular beer. Dunkel is a traditional style, dark beer with an alcohol content of 4.8%.
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.
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%.
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.
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.