Since 1988: Göttinger Brauhaus AG (100%)
The Göttingen brewery looks back on a long tradition of brewing in the old university city. In as early as 1330, the citizens of Göttingen obtained the right to brew and sell beer.
With the help of a ban mile around the city in 1400, a monopoly for Göttingen´s barley juice was secured.
However, due to the constant increase in production, the brewery rethought its policies, and since 1555, the Göttinger beer has been exported - much to the delight of citizens residing beyond the city's walls. They have been enjoying the quality beer from Göttingen ever since!
Although the production of Göttinger beer was handed over from private brewers to municipal breweries in 1737, the quality of the beer did not suffer. This is substantiated by the enthusiastic remarks from former students Heinrich Heine and Otto von Bismarck about the specialty from Göttingen. After the municipal breweries had served their purpose, the Göttinger Brewery took over the good ol' Göttingen tradition of beer brewing in 1889.
Shortly before its 100th anniversary, the Göttinger Brauhaus AG was taken over by Einbecker Brauhaus AG.
The knowledge and experience resulting from several centuries of beer brewing in Göttingen combined with the most modern brewing technology guarantee the high quality and excellent taste of the premium specialty Göttinger Pilsener and the exquisite Göttinger Premium Pilsener.
Since October 1997: Martini Brauerei GmbH Kassel (100%)
A recipe from the country of his forefathers was the secret of Adolf Andreas Christian's (called Adolf Kropf) success in Kassel in the year 1849. In Bavaria, Berchtesgadener Land, the Krops farmed on their own land for centuries.
However, they had to leave their farm in the 17th century because of their religious beliefs: After that, they had to travel along the trade routes in southern and central Germany with their large carriages. We even find their name in old books left over from the early unhitching inns in Hesse. Adolf Kropf, who was originally devoted to the field of civil engineering, finally settled down in Kassel.
He acquired a house located in the Mittelgasse 56 for 19,500 "shiny thalers". The enterprising man established a brewery with a tavern in this house. It quickly became a very popular address in the city because the beer brewed here was like no other beer served up to this point in Kassel, although there were already 19 breweries in operation at the time.
In the name of the towers of St.Martin, which are still part of the company seal today, a dark, bottom-fermented beer with high wort content was born. This beer was brewed according to the special and unique Bavarian style of beer-brewing. It became an overnight success in the city.
Much of Kassel's beer and "Stammtisch" history was written in the house at Martinsplatz, with its coachman's parlor, brew room, and the Kropf-Martini-Bräu. Because the atmosphere was that of a Bavarian beer hall, it was a popular gathering place during town events. The artist and writer's "Stammtisch" known as "Pvunzel" met here, Hessian mugs and plates stood on long ledges, and the hammer used for ringing the Martin Church bell every quarter of an hour was kept here and served as a visible connection to the church.
Adolf Kropf was a man with a vision. He acquired a rocky piece of land located in the Kölnischen Straße in 1895 where a new brewery was later built. Both World Wars hit the company hard. It was difficult for the family to rebuild the brewery after each war.
In 1992, the Kropf family decided to sell their company to Henninger Bräu AG, Frankfurt. In October 1997, the Martini Brauerei was taken over by Einbecker Brauhaus AG.
A great deal has happened in Kassel since the change in ownership took place. In the short-term, DM 6 million were invested in new technology. The goals of these investments were improvement in quality and quality assurance, saving energy, as well as the optimization of productivity as a result of the modernization of the brewing technology. Based on these goals and as a result of meeting them, we were able to bring new top-quality beer specialties on the market.
Shortly after the take-over ‘Martini Weissbier’ (wheat beer) was already successfully introduced, and along with it the further beer specialities ‘Martini Winterbier’ (winter beer), ‘Martini Naturtrüb’ (naturally cloudy), and ‘Martini Radler’ (beer mixed with soda), the introduction of which has strengthened the brewing competence of the Kassel Martini brewery.
In the year 2000 ‘Kasseler Premium Pils’ was introduced. ‘Kasseler Premium Pils’ represents the attitude of a region well aware of tradition with a critical view on quality, an open view for culture and a self-confident view into the future. Therefore the slogan: There is a lot to explore.
‘Martini Edel-Pils’ and ‘Martini-Meister Pils’ complete the regional brewery’s beer assortment under the trade mark of Martini.
The main sales area for the Martini Brauerei is the northern Hesse region.