Brauerei Jos. Baumgartner

Brauerei Jos. Baumgartner is an Austrian private brewery based in Schärding, Upper Austria, with roots going back to 1609. It describes itself as one of the most modern breweries in Austria and as a 100% independent Austrian private brewery, deeply rooted in the Innviertel region. The company is owned by the Gemeinnützige Baumgartner-Spanlang-Stiftung, a charitable foundation established under the will of the last family owner, Marie Spanlang (née Baumgartner), which supports institutions for disabled children and elderly people. The brewery produces a broad range of beers — including Märzen, Zwickl, Pils, Export and wheat beer — as well as beer mixes and lemonades. Its portfolio has earned international recognition, with awards such as a gold medal at the 2016 World Beer Cup for Baumgartner Junghopfenpils and a gold medal at the 2018 European Beer Star for Baumgartner Braurubin. The brewery also operates a brewery shop, offers audiovisual tours, and runs the traditional Baumgartner-Bräustüberl "Wirtshaus zur Bums'n" in the historic Denisgasse in Schärding. Historically, the company was also active in granite quarrying and gravel works, which were spun off into separate companies under the foundation in 1989. The brewery itself has been a family business for over 400 years, was converted into a stock corporation (AG) in 1989 and then into a GmbH in 2011, when it also moved its headquarters to a new administration building. Since early 2022 it has been a member of the Association of Independent Private Breweries of Austria. The brewery remains privately held and independent of any corporate group.

The brewery's origins date to 1609, when its ancestral house inside the then city walls of Schärding was first mentioned. The Innviertel region was then densely packed with breweries, many of which disappeared over the centuries; Brauerei Jos. Baumgartner instead grew into one of Austria's largest mid-sized brewing companies. The company remained in family ownership for over 400 years. In 1938 the company acquired the Niklas brewery at Schloss Niederwesen in Wesenufer on the Danube. Marie Baumgartner married Othmar Spanlang, who became head of the firm and died unexpectedly in 1950 at the age of 49; his widow then took over management. Between 1950 and 1954 the brewery was rebuilt outside the gates of Schärding, directly opposite the brewhouse of the competing Kapsreiter brewery. In 1973 a large depot was established in Linz to better serve the central Upper Austrian region. The Wesenufer site, which had ceased brewing in 1975, was closed in 1993 after specializing in lemonade production. After the death of company head Marie Spanlang (née Baumgartner) in 1989, the business — including the brewery and granite quarries — was converted into a stock corporation (AG), with the newly established Gemeinnützige Baumgartner-Spanlang-Stiftung holding the majority. The foundation, following the legacy of founder Marie Spanlang, supports charitable institutions for disabled children and elderly people. The granite operations were spun off as legally independent companies, Bayerische Granit AG and Schärdinger Granit Industrie AG, under the foundation. In 2002 a new logistics hall was opened in St. Florian am Inn. In spring 2011 a new administration building was opened and the company headquarters moved from Denisgasse to Franz-Xaver-Brunner-Straße 1; at the same time the brewery was converted from an AG into a GmbH. Since early 2022 the brewery has been a member of the Association of Independent Private Breweries of Austria (Verein der Unabhängigen Privatbrauereien Österreichs). The historic ancestral house in Denisgasse still houses the Baumgartner-Bräustüberl "Wirtshaus zur Bums'n". The brewery's main buildings with brewhouse and storage are located at the edge of Schärding's historic old town near the Linzer Tor, separated only by a narrow street from the brewhouse of the competing Kapsreiter brewery. The company remains independent and free of corporate or shareholder directives, and describes itself as 100% independent.

• 2022

  Becomes a member of the Association of Independent Private Breweries of Austria.

• 2018

  Gold at the Austrian Beer Challenge for Baumgartner Märzen and Baumgartner Weisse Hell; gold at the European Beer Star for Baumgartner Braurubin.

• 2017

  Bronze at the European Beer Star for Baumgartner Zwickl Dunkel; gold at the Austrian Beer Challenge for Baumgartner Weisse Dunkel.

• 2016

  Gold at the World Beer Cup for Baumgartner Junghopfenpils; bronze for Baumgartner Weisse Hell.

• 2014

  Awarded Pegasus in Gold (Upper Austrian Business Prize) and silver at the European Beer Star for Baumgartner Zwickl Dunkel.

• 2011

  Opening of a new administration building; headquarters moved from Denisgasse to Franz-Xaver-Brunner-Straße 1; conversion from AG to GmbH.

• 2002

  Opening of a new logistics hall in St. Florian am Inn.

• 1993

  Closure of the Wesenufer site, which had specialized in lemonade production.

• 1989

  After the death of Marie Spanlang, the company is converted into a stock corporation (AG) majority-owned by the newly established Gemeinnützige Baumgartner-Spanlang-Stiftung; granite operations are spun off.

• 1975

  Brewing operations at the Wesenufer site cease.

• 1973

  Establishment of a large depot in Linz to serve the central Upper Austrian region.

• 1954

  Rebuilding of the brewery outside the gates of Schärding.

• 1950

  Othmar Spanlang, head of the firm, dies unexpectedly at age 49; his widow Marie takes over management.

• 1938

  Acquisition of the Niklas brewery at Schloss Niederwesen in Wesenufer on the Danube.

• 1609

  First mention of the brewery's ancestral house inside the city walls of Schärding.

Independent, family-tradition Austrian private brewery emphasizing regionality, modern brewing technology, and charitable ownership.

• Baumgartner Märzen

  A Märzen-style lager; gold at the 2018 Austrian Beer Challenge.

• Baumgartner Zwickl Dunkel

  A dark Zwickl; silver at the 2014 European Beer Star and bronze in 2017.

• Baumgartner Junghopfenpils

  A pilsner with young hops; gold at the 2016 World Beer Cup.

• Baumgartner Weisse Hell

  A light wheat beer; bronze at the 2016 World Beer Cup and gold at the 2018 Austrian Beer Challenge.

• Baumgartner Weisse Dunkel

  A dark wheat beer; gold at the 2017 Austrian Beer Challenge.

• Baumgartner Braurubin

  A fruit beer; gold at the 2018 European Beer Star.

1. 1Herzlich Willkommen | Brauerei Baumgartnerbrauerei-baumgartner.at
2. 2Geschichte | Brauerei Baumgartnerbrauerei-baumgartner.at
3. 3Brauerei Jos. Baumgartner – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4Brauerei Jos. Baumgartner – Wikidatawikidata.org