Brauerei Clemens Härle

Brauerei Clemens Härle is a family-owned German brewery based in Leutkirch im Allgäu in the Allgäu region of Baden-Württemberg. It traces its origins to Clemens Härle, who came from a farming family in Kirchdorf an der Iller and acquired the Mohr brewery in Leutkirch in 1895. A new brewery building was constructed immediately after the purchase and completed in only eight months; the first brew, an unfiltered lager, was produced on 16 February 1897. The brewery has operated continuously since then, and beer is still brewed in the original three-storey brick building. The brewery is known for its strong emphasis on regional raw materials. Brewing barley comes from farmers in Upper Swabia, hops from Tettnang (including organic hops from the Bentele organic farm), and organic wheat from Bavarian organic farms. Its product range includes Härle Export Gold, Härle NaturPils (organic), Clemens Spezial, Clemens ohne Filter, Clemens Weissbier (organic), NaturRadler, NaturRadler (organic), Echtes Radler, Härle Böckle, Landzüngle (organic), Fidelio (organic), Härle Hopfenleicht, Lager Hell (organic), Feine Weisse, Leichte Weisse and Dunkle Weisse. Since 1997 the family business has been led by Gottfried Härle, son of Karl-Clemens Härle and great-grandson of the founder. The company is a founding member of the Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft (German Sustainable Business Association), founded in 1992, and presents itself as the first brewery in Germany to have achieved carbon neutrality, in 2009. Until summer 2015 the brewery displayed the word "digestible" on its labels; on 26 August 2015 the Ravensburg regional court ruled the term illegal because it misled consumers, and its use was prohibited. An appeal to the Stuttgart higher regional court and a subsequent action before the Federal Court of Justice were unsuccessful. The brewery offers guided tours and invites visitors to its "home page" and brewery visits. It has received support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (ELER), co-financed by the European Union, for investment projects to modernise its brewing technology.

Clemens Härle came from a farming family in Kirchdorf an der Iller and had 13 siblings. Four of his brothers learned the brewer's and maltster's trade in Oberdischingen near Ulm. His brother Reinhart Härle ran the Waldschloss brewery in Waldshut, and his brother Fridolin ran the Königsegger WalderBräu in Königseggwald. Clemens Härle first leased the brewery at Bad Wurzach Castle, but it burned down. In 1895 he acquired the Mohr brewery in Leutkirch im Allgäu. The company premises were located on Wangener Straße, by the Eschach stream. The brewery included a farm, a brewery-inn and other properties. Immediately after the purchase in 1896, Clemens Härle built a new brewery building. It was completed in only eight months of construction, and the first brew was made on 16 February 1897, an unfiltered lager; the brewery produced Braunbier until the 1920s. Beer is still brewed today in this three-storey brick building. Karl-Clemens Härle passed his master brewer examination in 1948 and joined the company. With his father, he undertook to renew facilities that were up to 50 years old. From 1997, the family business has been led by Gottfried Härle, son of Karl-Clemens Härle and great-grandson of Clemens Härle. The company is a founding member of the Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft, founded in 1992. The company presents itself as the first brewery to have achieved carbon neutrality in Germany in 2009. The brewery displayed the word "digestible" on its labels until summer 2015, until the Ravensburg regional court considered the term illegal on 26 August 2015, citing that it misled consumers. The use of the controversial word was prohibited. An appeal before the Stuttgart higher regional court was unsuccessful, as was a lawsuit before the Federal Court of Justice. The brewery places great importance on working exclusively with regional raw materials. Brewing barley comes from farmers in Upper Swabia and hops from Tettnang (organic hops from the Bentele organic farm). For organic wheat, Bavarian organic farms are also used.

• 2015

  On 26 August, the Ravensburg regional court rules the term "digestible" on labels illegal; appeals fail.

• 2009

  Company presents itself as the first brewery in Germany to achieve carbon neutrality.

• 1997

  Gottfried Härle takes over leadership of the family business.

• 1992

  Company is a founding member of the Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft.

• 1948

  Karl-Clemens Härle passes his master brewer examination and joins the company.

• 1897

  First brew on 16 February, an unfiltered lager.

• 1896

  Construction of a new brewery building begins immediately after the purchase.

• 1895

  Clemens Härle acquires the Mohr brewery in Leutkirch im Allgäu.

Regional, family-owned brewery emphasising local raw materials, organic ingredients and sustainability, including carbon neutrality.

• Härle Export Gold

  Export beer.

• Härle NaturPils (Bio)

  Organic natural Pilsner.

• Clemens Spezial

  Special beer.

• Clemens ohne Filter

  Unfiltered beer.

• Clemens Weissbier (Bio)

  Organic wheat beer.

• NaturRadler

  Natural radler (beer mixed with lemonade).

• NaturRadler (Bio)

  Organic natural radler.

• Echtes Radler

  Authentic radler.

• Härle Böckle

  Bock beer.

• Landzüngle (Bio)

  Organic beer.

• Fidelio (Bio)

  Organic beer.

• Härle Hopfenleicht

  Light hop beer.

• Lager Hell (Bio)

  Organic light lager.

• Feine Weisse

  Fine wheat beer.

• Leichte Weisse

  Light wheat beer.

• Dunkle Weisse

  Dark wheat beer.

1. 1Brauerei Clemens Härle Leutkirchhaerle.de
2. 2Brauerei Clemens Härlewikidata.org
3. 3Brauerei Clemens Härlefr.wikipedia.org