Warsteiner Brauerei

Founded in 1753, Warsteiner Brauerei is located in the Arnsbery Forest Nature Park, just outside of Warnstein, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany.

The history of the brewing family begins in 1753, when farmer Antonius Cramer had to pay a tax of 1 thaler, 19 guilders on his beer he brewed and sold himself. His son Johannes Vitus followed in his footsteps and brought the selling of home-brewed beer into his house, in the heart of Warstein. His company benefited from its central location. However, in 1802 a devastating fire left Warstein in ruins and ashes - the business of the Cramers fell victim to the flames.

At the same time, they rebuilt their house as a guest accommodation and became through the establishment of the St. Pancras Church the centre of the town. The headquarters of the Warsteiner Brewery, the Domschänke, still stands today in the historic core of Warstein. Breweries in the Rhine valley were bombed during World War II, and the Warstein brewery sustained some damage.

Owned by the Cramer family since it was established, Warnsteiner is the largest privately owned brewery in Germany and is still run by the Cramer family today.