WARSTEINER 0.0% PILSENER FRESH BEER

Large brewery in North Rhine-Westphalia, 83km from Dortmund, which, still in the hands of the Cramer family, produces both for the domestic market and for export.

The Cramers, originally from Bohemia, began their migration to the West in 1260. Three centuries later they settled in Warstein, in a hilly, wooded area of ​​the Sauerland, full of lakes and rivers with crystal clear waters.

The first testimony is the city's tax register, which documents in the year 1753 the payment of 1 Reichstaler and 19 florins in taxes by the farmer Antonius Cramer, for having exceeded the maximum volume allowed for personal consumption and starting to sell the beer produced. His son, Johannes Vitus, took over the house brewery, which did not take long to emerge, also thanks to its location in the city centre. In 1802 Warstein was largely devastated by a fire that did not even spare Cramer's house. The following year the brewery was rebuilt in the same location, and a pub was also added where the house beers were served and which today houses « Domschänke » brewery. In 1804 the business passed into the hands of Johannes' first-born son, Casper. Thanks to the connection of Warstein with the railway in 1884, Warsteiner began to spread on the German market. It then took on an industrial character with the installation, in 1895, of the first steam engine and with the registration, three years later, in the business register. At the time, annual production was 3,000 hectolitres. At the end of the century, under the administration of the brothers Albert and August Cramer, in particular Albert (the first brewmaster of the family), Warsteiner, at the forefront of technology, was one of the most important brewing companies in the area. In 1920 the brewery transformed into a modern company. In addition to Pilsner and Bock, he also produced lemonade and bottled water. In 1960, 100,000  hectoliters of beer were reached. At the end of the decade, one of Germany's most recognised artists, Hermann Hoffmann, was commissioned to design and create the typical "Warsteiner Tulpe" glass, which, shortly afterwards, was immortalised by Andy Warhol in one of his famous acrylic-digital prints and became an immediately recognisable element of the brand. In 1927 Albert Cramer discovered the Kaiserquelle spring (Emperor's spring) near the Arnsberg forest. With water with a hardness of only 1 or 2 degrees, therefore capable of characterizing the taste of beer, the following year Warsteiner concentrated on the production of Pilsner. And Premium Pils, with continuously growing market demand, led, after two years of work, to the inauguration in 1976, on the southern outskirts of Warstein, of Forest Park, the most modern and largest brewery in Europe. In 1978, the Warsteiner brewery produced more than one million hectolitres for the first time. The Cramer family remains true to its motto: innovation and investment by tradition. In 1984 Albert Cramer took the helm of the brewery and managed the family business in the 8th generation. With him, teamwork and service orientation receive top priority. Together with his employees, he leads the brewery to its greatest successes in its history. 1990 - The Paderborner brewery becomes part of the Warsteiner Group. 2001 - The Warsteiner brewery acquires a shareholding in König Ludwig Schlossbrauerei Kaltenberg. In 2005, the railway line connecting the Warstein production unit to the European rail transport network was put into operation. A winning strategic choice that not only guarantees stable prices for customers, but also allows for leaner deliveries with an extremely low environmental impact, even over long distances. In 2006, Catharina Cramer (28 years old and the ninth generation of the Cramer family), the youngest daughter of brewery owner Albert Cramer, joined the executive management of the Warsteiner Group - as the first woman in the company's history to gradually replace her father. In the same year, the "Warsteiner World" visitor centre opens its doors. In 2007, the Herforder brewery becomes part of the Warsteiner Group. 2009 - The brewery opens its own block heating plant in the Waldpark brewery. 2010 - Argentine subsidiary C.A.S.A. Isenbeck is sold to SAB Miller, the second largest brewing group in the world. Warsteiner and SAB Miller sign a long-term licensing agreement for the Argentinian market. 2011 - In March, the Warsteiner brewery opens the Brew Academy for Research and Development - another milestone in Warsteiner's sustainability concept. Since the end of 2011, the grounds of the Paderborner brewery have been home to a wind turbine, which is able to supply approximately 40 per cent of the brewery's 1 million kWh annual energy requirement. In 2012, Albert Cramer died at the age of 69. In 2013, the total beverage production of the Warsteiner Group remained at the previous year's level of 456 million hectolitres. 2014 - The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) audits the first sustainability report of the Warsteiner brewery. It is the first time that a German brewery meets this internationally recognised reporting standard.

The Warsteiner brand belongs to Haus Cramer Management GmbH, along with other brands. The management, consisting of managing partner Catharina Cramer and Peter Himmelsbach, managing director of technology, expanded on 1 January 2015. As the company's new managing director, Martin Hötzel assumed overall responsibility for sales and marketing of the Warsteiner Group in Germany and abroad.

Overall, the brewery exports the Warsteiner brand to more than 60 countries worldwide. It has branches in the Netherlands, Spain, France, England, Austria, Switzerland, Canada and the USA. In Italy, it operates through Warsteiner Italia, established in 1998 in San Giovanni Lupatoto, in the province of Verona.

As of 31 December 2020, the Barth-Haas Group listed Warsteiner Group as 39th among the 40 largest brewery groups in the world.

Despite the futuristic appearance of the factory, the exasperated process of technological innovation and the enormous production volume, which give an incontrovertibly industrial image, Warsteiner has maintained a great craftsmanship. It uses fresh water from the Kaiserquelle, a proprietary spring (called Emperor’s spring); malt from the best French, Danish and German malthouses; fine, delicate and aromatic varieties of Hallertau hops; home-grown yeast; as well as the steam heating and cooking system for the must. Above all, the meticulous care in the maturation phase is the result of the exceptional softness of the body and the finesse in the perception of the very particular taste: characteristics that represent a singular evolution of the Pils type, adding qualities of great drinkability to the Warsteiner beer and broadening the enjoyment by consumers.

A successful beer therefore. A success which is also, notoriously, thanks to the sponsorships of the most important cultural and sporting events (from skiing to football, from horse riding to hot air ballooning; music and parties are also protagonists in the Warsteiner panorama); of the close collaboration with gastronomy which has increased consumption opportunities; of effective marketing support which ensures widespread awareness of the products among the various consumer groups, through advertising communication interventions, promotions and gifts. Eine Königin unter den Bieren (“A queen among beers”), so says the elegant label with the writing that stands out in relief and a clear reference to the crown drawn in the symbol of the beer.

TRADITION AND INNOVATION

The international strategy of the last 40 years has made the Warsteiner brewery a benchmark in the production of Pilsner, in demand all over the world and appreciated for its consistently high quality. The history and evolution of the brand and the company are the result of a path of tradition and innovation: values that continue to characterise the Warsteiner brewery even more than 260 years later.

Purity Law

From its beginning, in other words for over 260 years, the Warsteiner Brewery has placed great importance on adherence to the German Purity Law, which originated in Bavaria and is in existence since 1516.
After all, it is one of the oldest and most famous food laws and is responsible for the excellent reputation of German beer worldwide. For centuries now, we are proud, together with the other German brewers, to be able to brew a pure and great tasting beer without the use of chemical additives. Therefore, the purity law is by no means a PR myth, but an integral part of a cherished brewer’s practice and tradition in Germany.
The beer purity law only allows the use of water, barley malt and hops, including their chemically non-altered ingredients such as hops extract and hop pellets. Additionally, the use of top- and bottom-fermented yeast is permitted, even though yeast as not specifically mentioned in the original version of 1516, mainly because no one was aware of its existence. However, as part of the ambient air, yeast has always been the cause for fermentation, leading to the transformation of malt sugars into CO2 and alcohol.
The quality standards of the Warsteiner Brewery actually go far beyond the German Purity Law. For instance, it is goes without saying that all the raw ingredients – from brewing water to barley malt and hops – are continuously tested for their impeccable quality in one of the world’s most modern brewery laboratories.

Certifications

• Food Safety Management DIN EN ISO2000:2005
• FSSC 22000:2010
• Energy Management DIN EN ISO 50001:2011
• Work and Health Management
• Q&S Charta and GMP for Animal Feed Safety Risk Management
• Risk Management
• Concept for the Prevention of Hazardous Incidents
• Management of our Social and Ecological Support Contributions
• Quality management DIN EN ISO 9001:2008

2018

• Gold Award for "Pilsner” category > Canadian International Beer Awards, Calgary, Alberta (CAN)
• Bronze Award for “Best of International” category > Canadian International Beer Awards, Calgary, Alberta (CAN)

2017 - Country Winner for Germany in the category of non-alcoholic lager beer > World Beer Awards (WBA), London, UK

2016

• Silver Medal > International Beer Challenge (IBC), London, UK
• Perfect Pour Champion Crowned in Las Vegas, USA
• Warsteiner Awarded SEVEN GOLD MEDALS > Prestigious German Agricultural Society (DLG - Deutsche Landwirtschaftsgesellschaft) Quality Test, Goldener Preis, Frankfurt (DE)

* 8 Editions of the Annual  BLOOOM Award by Warsteiner for Open International Art Competition, in Cologne (DE)

2012
* Innovation Prize for the certification of energy management system according to DIN EN ISO 50001:2011 > Economic Network "Sauerland Initiative"

* Family Friendly Enterprise for the Warsteiner Brewery > Economic Development for Soest County

* Hit-Award in the segment "Best New Products" for Warsteiner Radler Alkoholfrei (non-alcoholic)

2011
* Top shop award for the development for brand in the convenience store and gas station segment > LPV Media GmBH in Neuwied (DE), Lebensmittel Praxis

* Product of the year for Warsteiner Radler Zitrone > Food Trade Jury LPV Media GmBH in Neuwied (DE), Lebensmittel Praxis

* Hit-Award for Warsteiner Radler Zitrone > LPV Media GmBH in Neuwied (DE), Lebensmittel Praxis

2010
* Family Friendly Enterprise for the Warsteiner Brewery > Economic Development for Soest County

* Energy Master Award for our project "Integration of a Block Power Plant"

2009
* Top Job - One of the best 100 employers among the German Medium-Sized Companies for the Warsteiner Brewery > Institute for Leadership and HR Management at the University of St.Gallen (CH)

* Overall score very good for Warsteiner Premium Verum > Magazine Öko-Test (DE)

Awards 2008 - Product of the year for Warsteiner Alkoholfrei (non-alcoholic) > Trade Magazine Lebensmittel Praxis in Neuwied (DE)