Privatbrauerei Schwerter Meißen
Saxony's oldest private brewery, brewing Meißner Schwerter beers in Meißen since 1460.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
Privatbrauerei Schwerter Meißen GmbH is a German brewery based in Meißen, Saxony, and is regarded as the oldest private brewery in Saxony. Its origins trace back to a brewhouse first mentioned in a document in 1460, located at the Frauenkirche in Meißen. The brewery's long history includes ownership by the Bahrmann family from 1868, the construction of a new brewery in Cölln in 1897, and operation as Schwerter Brauerei AG in the early 20th century. After being taken over by Wilhelm Wohlers in 1953 and nationalized in 1972, it was reprivatized in 1990. In 1997 a new brewery was built in the Zaschendorf district of Meißen. Since 2009 the brewery has been owned by Eric Schäffer, who also owns Oppacher Mineralquellen, and it continues as a family business. The brewery produces a range of beers under the Meißner Schwerter brand, including Pils, Schwarzbier, Hell, Bockbier, and Radler. It is a member of Brauring, a cooperative of private breweries from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The company also operates a historic Schankhaus (tavern) at Markt 6 in Meißen, a Renaissance-era building with Baroque modifications. Its beers have won numerous awards, including gold medals at the Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG) competitions and the Bundesehrenpreis, most recently in 2024. The brewery employs around 79 people (as of 2021) and produces an estimated 30,000–35,000 hectoliters of beer annually (as of 2018).
History
The history of Privatbrauerei Schwerter Meißen begins in 1460, when a brewhouse at the Frauenkirche in Meißen was first mentioned in a document; the Meißner Brau-Urbar records the butcher Jurge Grauwert as its owner. In 1568, Steffan Pingker, a merchant and estate owner, acquired the brewhouse and had it rebuilt, with a Renaissance façade erected in 1571. In 1816, the city council decreed that hereditary brewing rights could be leased, leading the two largest Meissen brewhouses—the Felsenkeller and the Brauhaus am Tuchmachertor—to form brewing cooperatives. On 16 December 1868, Christian Eduard Bahrmann, an experienced master brewer, purchased the house for 14,200 Taler and modernized the neglected brewing facilities, expanding into the neighboring area. In 1888, Eduard Bahrmann transferred the house and business to his sons Franz, a merchant, and Georg, a brewer. In 1897, the Bahrmann brothers opened a spacious, modern, and productive brewery on Brauhausstraße in Cölln. By the early 20th century, the operation was known as Schwerter Brauerei AG. In 1953, Wilhelm Wohlers took over the company, which then operated as Schwerter Brauerei Wohlers KG until its nationalization in 1972. From 1972, it was part of the VEB Getränkekombinat Dresden as VEB Felsenkeller Brauerei Meißen – Betriebsteil Schwerterbrauerei. After reprivatization in 1990, a new brewery was built in the Zaschendorf district of Meißen in 1997. In 2009, Eric Schäffer, owner of Oppacher Mineralquellen, purchased the Meissen Schwerter brewery and continues to run it as a family business. Two years later, investment was made in a new filter cellar in Zaschendorf, followed by an expansion of the fermentation and storage tank hall and the reconstruction of the malt mill. In 2015, a special stamp was issued by PostModern for the brewery's 555th anniversary. In 2016, a legal dispute with Meissener Porzellan over the "Meissen" trademark was settled, allowing both sides to coexist fairly. During the COVID-19 pandemic, sales declined, and growth in bottled beer could not offset the drop in draught beer. Over time, however, the positive development of bottled beers led the brewery to expand its fermentation and storage capacity in October 2024. The company files under the rules for small corporations and publishes its annual financial statements in the Bundesanzeiger without specific revenue and profit figures. The average number of employees in 2021 was 79, slightly above the previous year's 78.
- 2024
Receives Bundesehrenpreis for the fourth time; expands fermentation and storage capacity in October.
- 2021
Bennator wins gold at International Craft-Beer-Award; average employees 79.
- 2019
Three beers win gold medals at DLG; St. Afra wins silver.
- 2018
Annual output estimated at 30,000–35,000 hectoliters.
- 2016
Legal dispute with Meissener Porzellan over the "Meissen" trademark settled.
- 2015
Special stamp issued by PostModern for the brewery's 555th anniversary.
- 2011
Investment in a new filter cellar in Zaschendorf.
- 2009
Eric Schäffer purchases the brewery and continues it as a family business.
- 1997
New brewery built in the Zaschendorf district of Meißen.
- 1990
Reprivatization.
Products and positioning
Traditional, family-owned private brewery emphasizing its status as Saxony's oldest private brewery and its long heritage since 1460.
Meißner Schwerter Privat-Pils
A pilsner beer, awarded gold at DLG 2019.
Meißner Schwerter Rubin Lager
A lager beer available in 0.33-liter Steinie bottles.
Bennator Bock
A bock beer with notes of caramel, honey, and dried fruits; won gold at International Craft-Beer-Award 2021.
St. Afra Dunkel
A dark beer, awarded silver at DLG 2019.
Meißner Schwerter Kellerbier
A cellar beer, awarded gold at DLG 2019.
Mein Natur-Radler
A radler (beer mixed with lemonade).
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