Brauerei Reichenbrand

Brauerei Reichenbrand GmbH & Co. KG is a German brewery located in the Reichenbrand district of Chemnitz, Saxony. Founded in 1874 by Karl-Friedrich Hofmann, the brewery has weathered ownership changes, nationalization under East Germany, and reprivatization after reunification. Today it produces a range of beers under the brands Reichenbrander and Bergt Bräu, including Pilsner, Bock, Weizen, Kellerbier, Dunkel, Helles, Festbier, Radler, and Red Ale. The brewery also makes Fassbrause, a German soft drink. It is a member of Brauring, a cooperative of private breweries from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The brewery operates a factory outlet (Werksverkauf) and maintains a strong regional presence. Its Bergt Bräu brand, lost during the GDR era and subject to a trademark dispute, was revived in 2021. In 2024, the brewery received recognition at the World Beer Award.

The brewery was built in 1874 by Karl-Friedrich Hofmann in Reichenbrand, now part of Chemnitz. In 1895, after Hofmann's bankruptcy, Gustav Oswald Bergt took over the brewery. From 1910, it operated as Brauerei Gebr. Bergt. After World War II, until about 1965, it was known as Brauerei Oswald Bergt Reichenbrand, and also as Bergt Siegmar-Schönau and Bergt Karl-Marx-Stadt. In 1969, the state acquired a share in the brewery, and in January 1972 it was fully nationalized. In the early 1970s, keg filling was discontinued. On 1 January 1980, the brewery became a division of VEB Getränkekombinat Braustolz Karl-Marx-Stadt. After the political change in East Germany, the brewery was reprivatized on 1 April 1990 and extensively modernized in the early 1990s. Today it brews various beers under the brands Reichenbrander and Bergt Bräu, and also produces Fassbrause. It is a member of Brauring.

• 2024

  Receives World Beer Award.

• 2021

  Bergt Bräu brand revived.

• 1990

  Reprivatized on 1 April.

• 1980

  Becomes a division of VEB Getränkekombinat Braustolz Karl-Marx-Stadt on 1 January.

• 1972

  Fully nationalized in January.

• 1969

  State acquires a share in the brewery.

• 1910

  Operates as Brauerei Gebr. Bergt.

• 1895

  Gustav Oswald Bergt takes over after Hofmann's bankruptcy.

• 1874

  Brewery built by Karl-Friedrich Hofmann.

Traditional, handcrafted regional brewery with a focus on open fermentation and untreated beers.

• Reichenbrander Edel Pils

• Heller Bock

• Kellerbier

• Weizen Bockbier

• Red Ale

• Classic Pilsner

• Dunkel

• Helles

• Festbier

• Helles Radler

• Fassbrause

1. 1Brauerei Reichenbrand official websitereichenbrander.de
2. 2Brauerei Reichenbrand - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Brauerei Reichenbrand - Wikidatawikidata.org