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Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
from Wikipedia

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu GmbH is a brewery in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It produces Spaten and Franziskaner beers.

Key Information

History

[edit]
Beer carriage at the Oktoberfest folk costume procession in 2006
A glass of Franziskaner Weissbier

In 1397, the Welser Prew was alluded to for the first time in Munich. The ownership changed often until 1854, when the brewery moved to the location it still uses today. In 1867, it became the largest brewery in town.

In 1872, the Franziskaner Leist brewery, served beer at the Oktoberfest for the first time, the Spaten Oktoberfestbier Ur-Märzen, especially brewed by Josef Sedlmayr.[1][2] In 1909 began to deliver beer to North America.

In 1922, the Spaten-Brauerei and Franziskaner-Leist-Bräu united to form a joint stock company. Both breweries were owned by the Sedlmayr family (Gabriel Sedlmayr was a former royal court beer brewer).[2] In 1924, the advertising slogan "Lass Dir raten, trinke Spaten" (literally "Let yourself be advised, drink Spaten") was invented. It is still in use today.

The Franziskaner beer was created in 1935, and its label (the Franziskaner monk) was designed by Ludwig Hohlwein. In 1964, the brewery produced its first wheat beer, and ten years later, all the Franziskaner brewed became wheat-based. In 1984, the brewery started a national distribution of its beers. By 1998, it ranked among the top 10 breweries of Germany.[2]

The brewery reached a production of 1 million hectolitres (850,000 US bbl) in 1992.

In 1997, the brewery combined with the Löwenbräu AG to form the Spaten-Löwenbräu-Gruppe.

The Spaten-Löwenbräu-Gruppe was sold in 2003 to Interbrew for 530 million euros. During the 2002/2003 brewing year, the Franziskaner beer alone reached one million hectoliters produced.[2]

The brewhouse in the Marsstraße in Munich was closed due to a lack of workload in 2006 and is now the museum of the company.

In 2011, the brewery launched the Franziskaner Royal (wheat beer).[2] In 2017, AB InBev launched the distribution of alcohol-free Franziskaner in the UK.[3] In 2021, AB InBev began considering selling the Franziskaner and Spaten brands in a move to offload some of its German beer assets.[4]

Description

[edit]

In 2010, the brewery employed 500 workers and had an annual production volume of approximately 2.4 million hectolitres (2,000,000 US bbl),[5] making it one of the largest breweries in Bavaria.

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu is one of the six brewers in Munich to brew beer for the Oktoberfest.[6]

Products

[edit]
A bottle of Spaten

"Spaten" means spade in German, and the symbol of the brand is a malt shovel. "Franziskaner" means Franciscan in German, and the picture on the label is of a Franciscan friar.

  • In 1841, the company introduced Märzenbier.[7]
  • In 1894, the Münchner Hell (German pale lager) was produced by the company for the first time. The wort is >11.7° Plato. This product has 5.2% of alcohol by volume.
  • The Pils was the first to be produced in Munich and has >11.7° Plato wort and 5.0% of alcohol by volume.
  • The Oktoberfestbier is produced in spring to be sold in autumn for the Oktoberfest. It has >13.7° Plato wort and 5.9% of alcohol by volume.
  • The lighter beer is the Diät-Pils, which may also be consumed by diabetics; [citation needed] (100 ml contains about 134 kJ, 32 kcal). It has 4.9% of alcohol by volume.
  • Non-alcoholic beer has a wort of >7.3° Plato.
  • Franziskaner Weissbier has 11.8° Plato wort and 5.0% of alcohol by volume. The brewery claims it brews the Franziskaner following the tradition of the German Purity Law of 1516.[8]
  • Doppelbock Optimator has 7.6% of alcohol by volume.

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu is a historic headquartered in , , , renowned for producing premium beers adhering to the 1516 Bavarian Purity Law, including the flagship Spaten and Franziskaner brands. The Spaten originated in 1397 as the Welser Prew, one of 's earliest documented breweries, and was renamed Spaten in 1622 after acquisition by the Spatt family, whose name evokes a used in . In 1807, Gabriel Sedlmayr the Elder, a brewmaster, purchased it and transformed it into 's largest by 1867 through innovations like steam-powered brewing in 1844. Meanwhile, the Franziskaner brewery traces its roots to 1363, when brewing rights were first mentioned near a in , evolving into a key producer of wheat beers after relocating to Lilienberg in 1841. The two entities merged in 1922 to form Spaten-Franziskaner-Leistbräu AG, later expanding through a 1997 merger with Löwenbräu to form the Spaten-Löwenbräu-Gruppe, which was acquired by in 2003. merged with in 2004 to form , which acquired in 2008 to create Anheuser-Busch InBev, the current parent company (as of 2025). Notable contributions to brewing include Spaten's introduction of Märzenbier in 1841 for the inaugural Oktoberfest and the world's first Münchner Hell pale lager in 1894, alongside Franziskaner's pioneering Hefe-Weissbier in 1964 and its monk-inspired branding since 1909. Today, the brewery's portfolio features standout products like Spaten Oktoberfestbier, a malty amber lager served at the annual festival; Spaten Münchner Hell, a crisp pale lager; and Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier, a cloudy wheat beer with banana and clove notes, alongside non-alcoholic and seasonal variants.

History

Origins of Spaten Brewery

The Spaten Brewery traces its origins to 1397, when it was established in by Hans Welser, a local brewer who operated the establishment known as the "Welser Prew" on Neuhauser Gasse, as documented in contemporary tax records. This early operation functioned primarily as a brewpub, reflecting the guild-based traditions of medieval where production was localized and regulated by patrician families. Ownership changed hands multiple times over the centuries amid economic shifts and inheritance disputes, but the brewery maintained its reputation for quality ales within 's growing beer culture. In 1622, the brewery was acquired by the Spatt (or Späth) family, who renamed it Spaten after their coat of arms featuring a spade—spaten in German—symbolizing their heraldic emblem and agricultural roots. This marked a pivotal rebranding that endured, distinguishing it from earlier iterations and aligning it with the Spatt lineage's influence until 1704. The brewery remained under various private owners until 1807, when Gabriel Sedlmayr the Elder, a royal master brewer, purchased it and began modernizing operations, introducing scientific approaches to malting and fermentation that elevated its status among Munich's producers. Under the leadership of Sedlmayr's sons, Gabriel Sedlmayr II and Josef, following their father's death in 1839, the brewery pioneered the Märzenbier style in 1841—a robust, amber brewed with malt for extended storage in cool cellars, designed to withstand summer heat without spoilage. This innovation, developed in collaboration with Vienna's Anton Dreher, represented a breakthrough in and became a cornerstone of Bavarian beer styles. Seeking further growth amid rising demand, Gabriel Sedlmayr II oversaw the brewery's relocation to its current site on Marsstraße in 1854, acquiring the former Silberbauerkeller and expanding facilities to accommodate steam-powered equipment and larger-scale production. By the late , these advancements propelled Spaten to become Munich's largest in , a position it held through the , with annual output surpassing 500,000 hectolitres by 1898—demonstrating its dominance in an era of industrialization and export growth. This milestone underscored Sedlmayr II's role in transforming Spaten from a traditional brewpub into a technological leader, though it remained focused on core varieties before later consolidations.

Origins of Franziskaner Brewery

The Franziskaner Brewery traces its origins to 1363 in , , when the brewer Seidel Vaterstetter is first documented as the owner of the "Bräustatt bey den Franziskanern," a facility located adjacent to the Franciscan from which the brewery derived its name. This establishment reflected the deep ties to monastic traditions in Bavarian brewing, where religious orders often supported or influenced local beer production through their communities and charitable activities. The brewery reflected deep ties to monastic traditions in Bavarian brewing. It later evolved into a specialist in wheat beers using top-fermentation methods, distinguishing it from Munich's dominant lagers. In 1841, the brewery relocated to Lilienberg, enhancing its capacity for production under Joseph Sedlmayr's ownership. In the , the brewery underwent significant commercialization when Joseph Sedlmayr, a prominent Bavarian brewer, acquired the Leist Brauerei in 1842 and integrated it with the Franziskaner operations, leading to the renaming as Franziskaner-Leist-Bräu. Under Sedlmayr's leadership, the facility saw initial expansions to accommodate growing demand for wheat beers, emphasizing unfiltered, top-fermented varieties that contrasted with Munich's dominant bottom-fermented lagers. Sedlmayr's innovations helped position the brewery as a specialist in Weissbier styles, preserving its heritage while adapting to industrial-scale production. In 1935, the distinctive label featuring a was designed by . The brewery later pioneered , introducing its first Hefe-Weissbier in 1974. By the early 20th century, production had expanded substantially, reaching approximately 200,000 hectolitres annually, supported by further facility upgrades that solidified its role in Munich's wheat beer tradition. This growth culminated in the brewery's merger with Spaten in 1922, preserving its independent operations until integration.

Mergers and Group Formation

In 1922, the Spaten-Brauerei and Franziskaner-Leist-Bräu merged to form Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu , a under the ownership of the Sedlmayr family. This consolidation combined Spaten's established expertise in brewing with Franziskaner's specialization in wheat beers, enabling production synergies and a broader portfolio of traditional Bavarian styles. By 1992, the integrated operations had scaled to an annual production of 1 million hectolitres, reflecting the efficiencies gained from the merger. The group's expansion continued in 1997 with a full merger between Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu and Löwenbräu AG, establishing the Spaten-Löwenbräu-Gruppe and increasing overall output to over 2 million hectolitres annually. This partnership fostered post-merger innovations, including joint production efforts for seasonal beers such as those served at , which began integrating resources across the brands in the late 1990s to streamline brewing and distribution. By 2010, production had further grown to 2.4 million hectolitres, underscoring the operational scale achieved through these consolidations. In 2006, the traditional brewhouse on Marsstraße in was closed due to declining workload from centralized production and repurposed as a company museum to preserve the site's historical significance. This transition marked the end of an era for on-site brewing at the original facility while supporting the group's modernized infrastructure. In 2003, the Spaten-Löwenbräu-Gruppe shifted to external ownership under .

Ownership Changes

In 2003, the Spaten-Löwenbräu-Gruppe, which encompassed Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, was acquired by the Belgian brewer in a deal initially valued at €477 million, with additional performance-based payments of up to €56 million, bringing the total potential value to approximately €533 million. This acquisition integrated the Munich-based brewery into 's expanding European portfolio, following earlier domestic consolidations in . In 2004, merged with Brazil's to form , incorporating Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu into a multinational entity focused on global scale and efficiency. The merger positioned the group as part of 's strategy to combine regional strengths with international distribution networks. In 2008, acquired in a $52 billion transaction, creating (AB InBev) and establishing it as the world's largest brewer by volume, with Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu remaining under its ownership as of 2025. This global consolidation further embedded the brands within AB InBev's operations spanning over 500 labels across multiple continents. In 2021, explored divesting parts of its German portfolio, including the Spaten and Franziskaner brands, as part of a debt-reduction strategy, with the assets potentially valued at around €1 billion, though no sale ultimately occurred. The decision to retain ownership preserved the brands' position within 's holdings amid ongoing market reviews. Under , Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu has maintained a degree of operational autonomy, with production continuing at its historic facilities to uphold Bavarian brewing standards, while , sales, and global distribution are managed through the parent company's centralized framework. This structure allows local expertise in production while leveraging 's international resources for brand promotion and export.

Company Profile

Location and Facilities

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu's primary production facility is situated at Marsstraße 46-48 in the Maxvorstadt district of , . This site, established in 1854 following the relocation and expansion of the original Spaten operations, serves as the central hub for the company's activities. The modern complex encompasses extensive infrastructure dedicated to production, including large-scale halls, automated lines, and storage areas for raw materials and finished products. These facilities support efficient operations, with guided tours highlighting the integration of traditional and contemporary elements. In 2006, the historic brewhouse at the Marsstraße location was decommissioned due to reduced operational needs and subsequently repurposed as the Spaten Brewery Museum, which houses preserved historic equipment and offers insights into the brewery's legacy. The museum forms a key component of visitor experiences at the site. The facility's distribution network, centered in , supplies regional markets across while enabling exports to international destinations.

Operations and Workforce

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, operating as part of the Spaten-Löwenbräu group since the merger, has an annual production capacity of approximately 2.4 million hectolitres as of 2010. The brewery employs approximately 200 staff members as of 2025, a that includes specialized brewmasters trained in longstanding Bavarian traditions to preserve the artisanal quality of its beers. These employees oversee daily operations from and to , ensuring efficient production cycles in line with the company's heritage. Central to the brewery's operations is its strict adherence to the , the German beer purity law dating back to 1516, which mandates the use of only , barley malt, , and —no additives or preservatives—in all brewing processes. This commitment not only upholds traditional standards but also differentiates Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu in a global market, with the purity law applied across all production stages to maintain flavor integrity and consumer trust. Quality control forms a cornerstone of daily activities, featuring comprehensive laboratory testing for each batch to verify parameters such as alcohol content, pH levels, and microbial safety before release. Samples from freshly brewed batches are stored in temperature-controlled systems within the quality management laboratory to facilitate ongoing analysis and compliance monitoring. The brewery holds ISO 50001 certification for energy management, implemented since 2012, which supports sustainable practices by optimizing resource use in brewing and facility operations, including a 1.8 MW battery storage system installed in 2024 to manage peak loads. Economically, Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu plays a key role in Munich's sector by supplying premium products that bolster local and supply chains, reinforcing Bavaria's position as a hub for traditional and contributing to regional revenue through wholesale and retail distribution.

Products

Spaten Brand Portfolio

The Spaten brand portfolio features a selection of bottom-fermented lagers rooted in Bavarian brewing traditions, emphasizing clarity, balance, and adherence to the purity law. These beers showcase diverse styles, from crisp everyday options to stronger seasonal specialties, all brewed with high-quality malt, noble hops, and water from sources. Spaten Premium Lager, also known as Münchner Hell, is the brewery's flagship light , introduced in 1894 as the first of its type in . With an (ABV) of 5.2%, it presents a golden color, full-bodied maltiness, and subtle noble hop bitterness for a refreshing finish. Spaten Oktoberfestbier, originating in 1872, is an amber-hued fest at 6.0% ABV, designed for seasonal enjoyment with its malty sweetness, caramel undertones, and mild hop balance. Spaten Pils offers a crisp pilsner-style at 4.9% ABV, characterized by its bright golden hue, pronounced hop bitterness, and clean, dry aftertaste derived from . For stronger options, Spaten Optimator is a doppelbock at 7.6% ABV, featuring a deep dark color, robust roasted flavors, and hints of chocolate and dried fruit in a full-bodied profile. The portfolio also includes non-alcoholic variants such as Spaten 0.0%, a 0% ABV that retains the malty refreshment of its alcoholic counterparts through a dealcoholization process, alongside seasonal releases like Maibock, a pale strong bock at 7.2% ABV, noted for its honeyed and floral hop notes. All Spaten beers are produced in the shared facilities of Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu in .

Franziskaner Brand Portfolio

The Franziskaner brand specializes in top-fermented beers, known for their hazy appearance, fruity esters, and adherence to Bavarian traditions. The core lineup emphasizes varieties brewed with a high proportion of , resulting in distinctive flavors derived from proprietary strains that produce notes of , , and . Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier, introduced in 1974, is an unfiltered with 5.0% ABV, featuring a cloudy golden hue and a lively, persistent . Its aroma and taste highlight and characteristics from the , balanced by subtle sweetness and a refreshing . Complementing this flagship, Franziskaner is a light at 5.0% ABV, presented in a filtered, clearer form to appeal to a wider audience while retaining essence. It offers a golden-orange color with softer and notes on the nose, evolving into hints on the palate for a crisp, approachable profile. For darker expressions, Franziskaner Dunkel is a 5.0% ABV dark with nutty and undertones, achieved through roasted malts that add depth without overpowering the classic yeast flavors. Its hazy appearance and full-bodied make it a robust yet aromatic option in the range. Addressing modern preferences, Franziskaner Alkoholfrei, a non-alcoholic with 0.5% ABV, was launched in the UK in 2017. This hazy, straw-colored variant preserves the fruity and spicy profile in an alcohol-reduced format, suitable for low-alcohol occasions. Special editions expand the portfolio, such as Franziskaner Royal, a stronger dunkelweizen variant at 6.0% ABV with intensified , , and dark berry notes for a more complex experience. Post-2020, the brand has broadened into mixed drinks production, incorporating Franziskaner wheat bases into blended beverages via enhanced in-line systems. Within the Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu group, these wheat-focused offerings integrate alongside Spaten's styles to provide a diverse selection.

Cultural and Industry Significance

Brewing Innovations

Spaten emerged as a leader in development during the 19th century, notably through its pioneering use of bottom-fermentation techniques. Collaborating with fellow brewers like Gabriel Sedlmayr II, the brewery refined bottom-fermenting yeast strains starting in the early 1800s, producing cleaner and more stable s suitable for extended storage. This advancement shifted Bavarian brewing from top-fermented ales to s, setting enduring standards for 's beer quality and influencing regional practices across . A landmark innovation came in 1841 when Spaten developed Märzenbier, the first amber-colored on the European continent. Brewed exclusively with Munich malt and employing bottom-fermentation, this style created a robust yet balanced designed for March brewing and safe summer consumption without spoilage. The Märzen's malty profile and stability not only addressed practical storage challenges but also established a template for festival-strength lagers. In 1894, Spaten further innovated by introducing Münchner Hell, the inaugural pale bottom-fermented lager in . Created as a lighter alternative to darker traditional lagers and in competition with Bohemian Pilsners, this crisp, golden beer emphasized hop balance and refreshment, defining the style that remains a cornerstone of Bavarian session . The Franziskaner arm of the brewery advanced production with its Hefe-Weissbier, launched in 1964 alongside an iconic monk label designed by artist in 1935. This unfiltered, top-fermented style revived traditional Bavarian Weissbier techniques, blending banana and clove esters from proprietary yeast for a hazy, flavorful profile that popularized modern Hefeweizen. Following its acquisition by in 2004, Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu introduced sustainable practices, including optimized hopping methods to reduce water usage and support eco-friendly sourcing. These efforts align with broader corporate goals for carbon reduction in , while products like the low-carb Diät-Pils—featuring reduced calories at 32 kcal per 100 ml—cater to health-conscious consumers through specialized processes.

Role in Oktoberfest and Bavarian Culture

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu holds a central role as one of the six official breweries authorized to supply to the in , a distinction rooted in the festival's origins in 1810 when only breweries operating within the city's historic limits were permitted to participate. This status was formally affirmed by a 1990 Munich Regional Court decision, ensuring that only brewed in under strict specifications—such as a minimum original gravity of 13.7° Plato and 5.9% —can be served at the event. The brewery's Oktoberfestbier, a traditional style, is a cornerstone of the festival, embodying Bavarian brewing heritage and drawing millions of visitors annually to celebrate this cultural institution. The brewery supplies its beer to several iconic tents, including the Festhalle Schottenhamel—the largest and oldest tent, where the performs the ceremonial first —along with the Marstall and Ochsenbraterei tents, as well as smaller venues like the Glöckle Wirt and Goldener Hahn. These contributions enable the serving of over six million liters of beer during the 16- to 18-day festival each year, fostering communal gatherings that highlight Bavarian traditions of music, food, and festivity. Beyond , Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu supports the global dissemination of these customs through its involvement in international events, from local celebrations in to adaptations in places like , where its beers anchor similar festive experiences. The brewery's cultural significance is amplified by its distinctive branding, which reinforces Bavarian identity in advertising and packaging. Spaten's logo features a malt shovel (Spaten meaning "spade" in German), introduced in 1884 by designer Otto Hupp as a symbol of the hands-on craftsmanship in malting and brewing, accompanied by the enduring slogan "Lass Dir raten—trinke Spaten" (Let yourself be advised—drink Spaten). Complementing this, the Franziskaner brand employs imagery of a Franciscan monk on its labels, evoking the beer's origins near a monastery in 1363 and emphasizing monastic ties to purity and tradition in wheat beer production. To preserve and educate on these customs, Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu transformed its historic Marsstraße brewhouse—relocated there in the —into a following its closure in due to modernization. The site now offers tours and exhibits detailing over 600 years of brewing history, from adherence to the 1516 (Purity Law) to innovations in styles, allowing visitors to explore artifacts and processes that underpin Bavarian beer culture. This effort underscores the brewery's commitment to safeguarding intangible heritage amid evolving industry practices.

References

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