BrauManufaktur Härke

BrauManufaktur Härke is a German brewery based in Peine, Lower Saxony, with roots in the town's brewing tradition that reach back centuries. The modern company traces its direct origin to 1890, when Ernst Härke, from Anderten near Hanover, purchased the Rauls'sche brewery and its associated tavern on the site of today's BrauManufaktur. The brewery grew through the twentieth century under the Härke family, survived the upheavals of two world wars, and became one of the best-known beer producers in the Peine region. The brewery describes itself as combining craftsmanship with industrial scale: its output is large enough to look industrial, yet its concept preserves the values of traditional brewing craft even when modern technology is used. This positioning is summed up in its own history page, which states that the brewery has maintained this approach for over 120 years. Its product range has included Härke Pils, Härke Hell, Härke Weizen, Härke Rotbier, Härke Landbier, Härke Radler and Härke Alkoholfrei, covering classic German beer styles as well as non-alcoholic and mixed beer drinks. In September 2011 the brewery announced a cooperation agreement with Einbecker Brauhaus, after which its beverages were bottled in Einbeck. The company filed for insolvency on 16 November 2012 and was taken over by Einbecker Brauhaus in January 2013. At that time the Peine brewery was producing around 70,000 hectolitres per year with 34 employees. In February 2013 the newly founded BrauManufaktur Härke began operations, taking on 16 of the 34 former employees. Today BrauManufaktur Härke presents itself as a craft brewery and visitor destination in Peine, offering brewery tours and events such as the Härke Hoffest, and it continues to operate the Härke Braustübchen tavern. The brand combines a long regional brewing heritage with a modern craft-brewery identity under the ownership of Einbecker Brauhaus.

Brewing in Peine has a long documented history. According to the brewery's own history, beer was demonstrably brewed in Peine house breweries as early as 1356, and Peine beers were served at the ducal table in Celle Castle in 1381. The city issued its first brewing ordinance in 1706, and by 1798 larger breweries were emerging in and around Peine. One of the most successful was the brewery and tavern of the Düvel family, located on the site of today's BrauManufaktur Härke. In 1832 the Rauls brewing family bought the business, and by 1848 four breweries were still known in Peine. In 1890 Ernst Härke, from Anderten near Hanover, purchased the Rauls'sche brewery together with its associated beer tavern on the Gröpern, later well known as the Härke Brauerei Ausschank. Annual output at the time was around 3,000 hectolitres. The new owner renovated and modernised the brewery several times; quality improved and by the outbreak of the First World War around 11,000 hectolitres were being sold. In 1907 the business took the name Brauerei E. Härke. After the death of her husband, Elise Härke took over the management in 1914. In 1927, after her death, her son Heinrich Härke inherited the brewery and took the helm. Together with the Peine master builder and architect A. van Norden he developed a modern and exemplary equipped brewery; construction work continued until 1935. The brewery building from this period is now a listed monument. When Heinrich Härke died in a road accident in 1945, his widow Änny Härke took over the management. Härke Bier-Vertriebs GmbH was founded in 1949, and a year later Willy Schneider took over the commercial management of the company. In 1971 the business was transformed into Härke Brauerei KG, with Hans-Peter Härke as managing director. In 1982 the company was renamed Privatbrauerei Härke KG and Rainer Schneider became technical director. In 1997 Matthias Härke took over finance and controlling, and Martin Härke has been head brewmaster since 2002. In 2007 Privatbrauerei Härke KG was converted into Privatbrauerei Härke GmbH & Co. KG, with Matthias and Martin Härke admitted as limited partners. In September 2011 the management announced a cooperation agreement with Einbecker Brauhaus; from then on the beverages were bottled in Einbeck. The company filed for insolvency on 16 November 2012 and was taken over by Einbecker Brauhaus in January 2013. At that point the Peine brewery was producing around 70,000 hectolitres per year with 34 employees. In February 2013 the newly founded BrauManufaktur Härke began operations, taking on 16 of the 34 former employees. Under this new structure the brewery has continued to brew Härke beers in Peine while being part of the Einbecker Brauhaus group, and it presents itself as a craft brewery and event venue, hosting activities such as the Härke Hoffest and operating the Härke Braustübchen tavern.

• 2023

  Härke Hoffest is held on 9 September in the brewery courtyard.

• 2013

  Einbecker Brauhaus takes over the brewery in January; the newly founded BrauManufaktur Härke begins operations in February, taking on 16 of 34 former employees.

• 2012

  The company files for insolvency on 16 November.

• 2011

  A cooperation agreement with Einbecker Brauhaus is announced; beverages are bottled in Einbeck.

• 2007

  Privatbrauerei Härke KG is converted into Privatbrauerei Härke GmbH & Co. KG; Matthias and Martin Härke are admitted as limited partners.

• 2002

  Martin Härke becomes head brewmaster.

• 1997

  Matthias Härke takes over finance and controlling.

• 1982

  The company is renamed Privatbrauerei Härke KG and Rainer Schneider becomes technical director.

• 1971

  The company is transformed into Härke Brauerei KG, with Hans-Peter Härke as managing director.

• 1950

  Willy Schneider takes over the commercial management of the company.

• 1949

  Härke Bier-Vertriebs GmbH is founded.

• 1945

  After Heinrich Härke dies in a road accident, his widow Änny Härke takes over the management.

• 1935

  Construction work on the brewery building is completed.

• 1927

  Heinrich Härke inherits the brewery and takes over its leadership; construction of a modern brewery building begins with architect A. van Norden.

• 1914

  After her husband's death, Elise Härke takes over the management.

• 1907

  The business is renamed Brauerei E. Härke.

• 1900

  The new owner renovates and modernises the brewery several times; sales reach around 11,000 hectolitres by the outbreak of the First World War.

• 1890

  Ernst Härke purchases the Rauls'sche brewery and its beer tavern; annual output is around 3,000 hectolitres.

• 1848

  Four breweries are still known in Peine.

• 1832

  The Rauls brewing family buys the business.

• 1798

  Larger breweries emerge in and around Peine, including the Düvel family brewery and tavern on the site of today's BrauManufaktur Härke.

• 1706

  The first brewing ordinance of the city of Peine is issued.

• Beer is demonstrably brewed in Peine house breweries for the first time.

• Peine beers are served at the ducal table in Celle Castle.

Craft brewery combining traditional brewing craftsmanship with industrial-scale production, rooted in over 120 years of Peine brewing history.

• Härke Pils

  A classic German Pilsner beer.

• Härke Hell

  A pale lager in the Bavarian Hell style.

• Härke Weizen

  A German wheat beer.

• Härke Rotbier

  A red beer.

• Härke Landbier

  A traditional country-style beer.

• Härke Radler

  A beer mixed with lemonade.

• Härke Alkoholfrei

  A non-alcoholic beer.

1. 1BrauManufaktur Härke – Homebraumanufaktur-haerke.de
2. 2Geschichte – BrauManufaktur Härkebraumanufaktur-haerke.de
3. 3Braumanufaktur Härke – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4BrauManufaktur Härke – Wikipédia (FR)fr.wikipedia.org