Private Traditionsbrauerei Meyer

Private Traditionsbrauerei Meyer, commonly known as Brauerei Rechenberg, is a German brewery based in Rechenberg-Bienenmühle in the Osterzgebirge region of Saxony. It traces its origins to 1558, when the first brewery was established as a Rittergutsbrauerei after Rechenberg received brewing rights from Caspar IV von Schönberg, making it one of the oldest continuously producing breweries in Saxony. The brewery burned down in 1586 but was rebuilt, and over the following centuries it passed through various owners, including the Electoral Chamber in Dresden from 1647 and the Kingdom of Saxony, which sold it to the community of Nassau in 1834. In 1842 the community sold the brewery to Gottlob Friedrich Bretschneider, who leased it to master brewer Karl August Meyer; his son Reinhard Meyer purchased the buildings in 1872 and carried out extensive renovations, giving the brewery its enduring association with the Meyer family. The brewery operated through the early 20th century under the name Brauerei und Malzfabrik Rechenberg-Bienenmühle, Reinhard Meyer und Sohn, producing Munich-style and Pilsner beers. Brewing was halted in 1940 during World War II and resumed in 1947 under family management. In 1958 a limited partnership brought the first state participation, and in 1972 the brewery was fully expropriated and nationalized, becoming Works II of the Olbernhau city brewery within the VEB Getränkekombinat Karl-Marx-Stadt. After German reunification, the brewery was reprivatized in 1990 and returned to the Meyer family, with Andreas and Thomas Meyer as owners. A comprehensive modernization in the first half of the 1990s included a complete new brewery building for an annual capacity of 30,000 hectoliters, which went into operation in 1995. The old brewery buildings were restored between 1995 and 2002 and now house the Saxon Brewery Museum Rechenberg, a technical monument documenting brewing history and traditional beer production with still-functional brewing equipment. Today the brewery is a private limited partnership (GmbH & Co. KG) that sells its beer primarily as draft beer in 5-liter party kegs and 20-, 30-, and 50-liter kegs. Its core range includes Rechenberger Pilsner, Rechenberger Dunkel, the seasonal Rechenberger Bockbier, Rechenberger Primus 1558, and Rechenberger Kellerbier. Historically it also produced Bockbier, Pilsner, Malzbier, Münchner Art, Kulmbacher Art, Lagerbier, Hopfenperle, Einfachbier, and Hell. The brand combines a long regional brewing tradition with a museum and heritage-tourism dimension, positioning itself as a guardian of Saxon brewing culture.

The brewery's history begins in 1558, when Rechenberg received brewing rights from Caspar IV von Schönberg and the Nassauer Erbrichter established a Rittergutsbrauerei (manor brewery). This makes it one of the oldest producing breweries in Saxony. In 1586 the brewery buildings burned down but were rebuilt. From 1647 the former manor brewery belonged to the Electoral Chamber in Dresden. In 1834 the Kingdom of Saxony sold the Rechenberg brewery to the community of Nassau. In 1842 the community sold it for 18,200 Taler to Gottlob Friedrich Bretschneider, who leased it to master brewer Karl August Meyer. In 1872 Meyer's son Reinhard Meyer bought the buildings for 22,550 Goldmark and carried out extensive renovations; from then on the brewery operated as Brauerei und Malzfabrik Rechenberg-Bienenmühle, Reinhard Meyer und Sohn. Further rebuilding took place in 1912, and in 1926 Martin Meyer took over, with Georg Meyer serving as master brewer. By 1939 the production included Munich-style and Pilsner beers. The 50,000-square-meter property contained a brewhouse with direct firing, a bottle-washing facility, a steam engine, and its own malthouse. Ten workers and employees produced 2,000 hectoliters of beer per year in 1939. Due to World War II, brewing had to be stopped in 1940. Beer was brewed again from 1947, but the malthouse was not restarted. The brewery was again run by the Meyer family. In 1958, with the founding of a limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft), the first state participation occurred; in 1972 the brewery was fully expropriated and nationalized. Bottled beer production was discontinued, and the brewery was attached as Works II of the Olbernhau city brewery within the VEB Getränkekombinat Karl-Marx-Stadt. In 1990 the brewery was reprivatized and returned to the Meyer family, with Andreas and Thomas Meyer as owners. In the first half of the 1990s the brewery was comprehensively modernized, including a complete new brewery building for an annual production of 30,000 hectoliters next to the old brewery buildings. The new brewery went into operation in 1995. The old brewery was subsequently restored from 1995 to 2002 and today houses the Sächsisches Brauereimuseum Rechenberg (Saxon Brewery Museum), which is among the technical monuments of Saxony. The museum documents the brewery's history and demonstrates traditional beer production with still fully functional brewing technology.

• 2002

  Old brewery restoration completed; it now houses the Saxon Brewery Museum Rechenberg.

• 1995

  New brewery building with 30,000 hectoliter annual capacity went into operation.

• 1995

  Restoration of the old brewery began, lasting until 2002.

• 1990

  Brewery reprivatized and returned to the Meyer family, owned by Andreas and Thomas Meyer.

• 1972

  Brewery fully expropriated and nationalized; became Works II of the Olbernhau city brewery in VEB Getränkekombinat Karl-Marx-Stadt.

• 1958

  Founding of a limited partnership brought the first state participation.

• 1947

  Brewing resumed under the Meyer family; the malthouse was not restarted.

• 1940

  Brewing stopped due to World War II.

• 1939

  Production included Munich-style and Pilsner beers; ten workers produced 2,000 hectoliters annually.

• 1926

  Martin Meyer took over the brewery, with Georg Meyer as master brewer.

• 1912

  Further rebuilding of the brewery.

• 1872

  Reinhard Meyer bought the buildings and carried out extensive renovations; the brewery became Brauerei und Malzfabrik Rechenberg-Bienenmühle, Reinhard Meyer und Sohn.

• 1842

  Community sold the brewery to Gottlob Friedrich Bretschneider, who leased it to master brewer Karl August Meyer.

• 1834

  The Kingdom of Saxony sold the brewery to the community of Nassau.

• 1647

  The manor brewery came under the Electoral Chamber in Dresden.

• 1586

  Brewery buildings burned down and were rebuilt.

• 1558

  First brewery established as a Rittergutsbrauerei after Rechenberg received brewing rights from Caspar IV von Schönberg.

Traditional Saxon regional brewery and heritage site, emphasizing its 1558 origins, family ownership, and the attached Saxon Brewery Museum.

• Rechenberger Pilsner

• Rechenberger Dunkel

• Rechenberger Bockbier (seasonal)

• Rechenberger Primus 1558

• Rechenberger Kellerbier

• Historic beers: Bockbier, Pilsner, Malzbier, Münchner Art, Kulmbacher Art, Lagerbier, Hopfenperle, Einfachbier, Hell

1. 1Brauerei Rechenberg – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Private Traditionsbrauerei Meyer – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Rechenberger Brauerei websiterechenberger.com