Faxe Brewery
Danish brewery and beverage brand known for lager, strong export beers, and soft drinks.
Last updated October 16, 2026
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Overview
Faxe Brewery is a Danish brewing and beverage operation based in the town of Faxe on Zealand. Established in 1901 by Nikoline and Conrad Nielsen as Fakse Dampbryggeri, it developed from a local brewery serving southern Zealand and nearby Danish regions into an export-oriented producer associated with lager, strong beer, draught-style products, and carbonated soft drinks. The business adopted the name Faxe Bryggeri after Conrad Nielsen's death in 1914, when Nikoline continued to run the brewery. Her leadership is an important part of the company's early history: the brewery expanded its sales successfully despite the loss of its original co-founder and became a significant supplier to Zealand, Lolland-Falster, and the Copenhagen area by the end of the 1920s. Faxe's growth created a practical production problem in the 1930s, when the brewery faced a shortage of suitable water. A well was drilled to a depth of approximately 80 metres, reaching limestone-filtered water that became central to the brewery's production. The water supported both beer and mineral-water-related beverage production and helped Faxe establish a stronger reputation for lager and stronger beers. The brewery's portfolio subsequently broadened beyond traditional beer, including carbonated soft drinks. After Nikoline retired in 1945, the company was reorganized as a partnership run by her three sons. It became a limited company in 1956. The following years brought further expansion, but the deaths of all three brothers within a three-year period led to another transition. In 1960, Nikoline's grandson Bent Bryde-Nielsen became head of the brewery. Under his leadership, Faxe entered a period of renewed expansion, product development, and changes to marketing and distribution. The 1970s were a particularly important period. Faxe introduced Faxe Fad in packaged formats, including cans and bottles, helping translate a draught-beer concept into a broader retail offering. The company also offered shares to the public, reinforcing its profile as a prominent Danish brewery. During the 1980s, it invested heavily in sales, marketing, and production capacity, while building demand in international markets. Germany and Sweden became especially important destinations for its beer. The brand's large-format and high-strength cans became distinctive in export markets: five-percent, one-litre cans became associated with Germany, while eight- and ten-percent, 500-millilitre cans became known in North America. In Denmark, Faxe beer has also been associated with consumption in Norway and Greenland. Faxe expanded its non-alcoholic beverage presence as well. Faxe Kondi, developed in 1971 with sports physician and footballer Knud Lundberg, became one of Denmark's leading soft-drink brands. The wider beverage operation has also been associated with products such as Nikoline, Ceres Red Soda, Thor Passion, Albani Tonic Water, and licensed Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7 Up, and Mirinda products. In 1989, Faxe Bryggeri merged with Jyske Bryggerier, creating Denmark's second-largest brewery company. That organization later developed into Royal Unibrew, which owns and operates the Faxe business today. Further modernization followed the merger. Between 1997 and 1998, the Faxe site received a new basement tank building with capacity of up to 600,000 litres and a canning line capable of filling up to 90,000 cans per hour. In 1999, the company invested DKK 115 million in a highly automated, multistory warehouse with capacity for 18,500 pallets. Faxe therefore combines a historic local brewing identity with the manufacturing, distribution, and portfolio resources of Royal Unibrew. Its present identity rests primarily on Danish production, strong export beers, mainstream lager, and a broader soft-drink portfolio.
History
Faxe Brewery was established in 1901 in Faxe, Denmark, by Nikoline and Conrad Nielsen. Its original name was Fakse Dampbryggeri. After Conrad Nielsen died in 1914, Nikoline continued the business and renamed it Faxe Bryggeri. Her management helped the young brewery survive and expand, and by the late 1920s it supplied beer and carbonated soft drinks across much of Zealand, Lolland-Falster, and the Copenhagen area. Expansion eventually exposed a shortage of suitable water. During the 1930s, the brewery drilled a well approximately 80 metres deep and reached limestone-filtered water. This source became an important foundation for Faxe's subsequent brewing and beverage production. The brewery increasingly built its reputation around lager and strong beers, while retaining a soft-drink business. Nikoline retired in 1945, after which the brewery became a partnership managed by her three sons. In 1956 it was converted into a limited company. All three brothers died within a three-year period, and in 1960 Nikoline's grandson Bent Bryde-Nielsen took over leadership. His tenure was followed by expansion, new products, and revised sales and distribution practices. The 1970s marked a period of strong growth. Faxe Fad, a draught-style beer, was introduced in cans and bottles, extending the product beyond the bar and restaurant channel. Faxe also offered shares to the public. In 1971, the company developed Faxe Kondi with Knud Lundberg, a sports physician and prominent footballer. The soft drink later became one of Denmark's leading brands in its category. During the 1980s, Faxe invested in production, marketing, and international distribution. Its beer gained recognition particularly in Germany and Sweden. The brand became known in export markets for strong beer in large cans, including five-percent one-litre cans in Germany and eight- and ten-percent 500-millilitre cans in North America. In Denmark, the beer was produced and consumed domestically, with a notable presence connected to Norway and Greenland. The nickname “the Great Dane” became associated with Faxe in Sweden and Germany. In 1989, Faxe Bryggeri merged with Jyske Bryggerier. The combined organization became Denmark's second-largest brewery company and later developed into Royal Unibrew. Faxe consequently moved from being an independent Danish brewery to being a brand and production operation within a larger brewing group. The Faxe site continued to receive substantial technical investment. In 1997–98, a new basement building with tanks capable of holding up to 600,000 litres was added, together with a canning line able to fill up to 90,000 cans per hour. In 1999, the brewery invested DKK 115 million in a fully automated multistory warehouse with capacity for 18,500 pallets. These projects strengthened the site's ability to support both domestic distribution and export-oriented production. Today, Faxe is associated with Royal Unibrew and remains rooted in Faxe. Its range includes beer, strong beer, and soft drinks. Alongside Faxe-branded products such as Faxe Pilsner, Faxe Fad, Faxe Extra Strong, and Faxe Kondi, the broader operation has produced or distributed other beverage brands and licensed products. The brand's historical distinction lies in combining a Danish brewing tradition, limestone-filtered water, packaged draught-style beer, and strong export formats.
- 1999
Automated warehouse opens
[1]Faxe invests DKK 115 million in an automated warehouse with space for 18,500 pallets.
- 1997
Production facilities are expanded
[1]Construction begins on a new tank basement and related production expansion at the Faxe site.
- 1989
Merger with Jyske Bryggerier
[1]Faxe Bryggeri merges with Jyske Bryggerier, forming the brewery group that later develops into Royal Unibrew.
- 1971
Faxe Kondi is developed
[1]Faxe creates the Faxe Kondi soft drink in collaboration with Knud Lundberg.
- 1960
Bent Bryde-Nielsen takes leadership
[1]Nikoline's grandson becomes head of the brewery and oversees a subsequent period of expansion and product development.
- 1956
Faxe becomes a limited company
[1]The brewery is reorganized from a partnership into a limited company.
- 1945
The brewery becomes a family partnership
[1]Nikoline retires and her three sons take responsibility for the company as partners.
- 1930
Limestone-filtered water source is reached
[1]A well drilled to approximately 80 metres resolves the brewery's water shortage and supplies limestone-filtered water for production.
- 1914
Nikoline Nielsen continues the brewery under the Faxe name
[1]After Conrad Nielsen's death, Nikoline takes over the operation and renames it Faxe Bryggeri.
- 1901
Fakse Dampbryggeri is founded
[1]Nikoline and Conrad Nielsen establish the brewery in Faxe, Denmark.
Products and positioning
A mainstream Danish beer and beverage brand combining traditional lager credentials with strong, export-oriented beers and a broad soft-drink portfolio.
Beer
Faxe Pilsner
Faxe's mainstream lager and pilsner-style offering, representing the brewery's core Danish beer identity. It is associated with the brand's domestic production and broader European distribution.
Draught-style beer
Faxe Fad
A draught-style Faxe beer that was extended into packaged formats during the 1970s, including cans and bottles. Its packaging helped make a product inspired by draught service available through retail channels and contributed to Faxe's export identity.
Strong beer
Faxe Extra Strong
A high-strength beer associated with Faxe's export-oriented portfolio. Strong beer is central to the brand's international reputation, particularly in large-format cans sold in markets such as Germany and North America.
Soft drink · 1971
Faxe Kondi
A carbonated soft drink developed by Faxe in 1971 with sports physician and footballer Knud Lundberg. It became one of Denmark's leading soft-drink brands and broadened Faxe's identity beyond brewing.
Soft drink
Nikoline
A soft-drink brand associated with Faxe's broader carbonated beverage portfolio. Its inclusion reflects the brewery's long-standing role as a producer of non-alcoholic beverages as well as beer.
Licensed soft drinks
Licensed Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7 Up and Mirinda products
Faxe has produced soft drinks under license for international beverage brands including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7 Up, and Mirinda. These products illustrate the breadth of the site's beverage-manufacturing activities beyond its own beer and soft-drink names.
Brand decisions
1999
Build a highly automated distribution warehouseStrategyBackground
Faxe required greater storage and logistics capacity to support its expanding production and distribution network.
Action taken
The company invested DKK 115 million in a fully automated multistory warehouse with room for 18,500 pallets.
Aftermath
The warehouse strengthened production logistics and supported the brewery's domestic and export operations.
Warehouse investment. DKK 115 million (1999)
1998
Expand tank and canning infrastructureStrategyBackground
Growing domestic and international beverage demand required additional storage and filling capacity.
Action taken
Faxe added a tank basement with capacity of up to 600,000 litres and a can line capable of filling up to 90,000 cans per hour.
Aftermath
The investment increased the site's ability to manufacture and package beer and other beverages at industrial scale.
1989
Merge with Jyske BryggerierM&ABackground
Faxe had expanded its brewing, beverage, and export activities and was operating in an increasingly consolidated Danish brewery sector.
Action taken
Faxe Bryggeri merged with Jyske Bryggerier to form a larger brewery company that later became associated with Royal Unibrew.
Aftermath
The transaction ended Faxe's period as an independent brewery and placed it within the corporate lineage of Royal Unibrew.
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