Location Bitburg, Germany Founded 1817 | Opened 1817 Headquarters Bitburg, Germany | |
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Annual production volume 3.84 million hectolitres (3,270,000 US bbl) in 2015 Profiles | ||
A tour of the bitburger brewery jul 88
Bitburger brewery (Bitburger Brauerei Th. Simon GmbH) is a large German brewery founded in 1817 by Johann Wallenborn. Bitburger is headquartered in Bitburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
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Bitburger ranks No. 3 among Germany's best selling breweries with annual sales of 3.8 million hectolitres in 2015 and once again remains "Germany's Draft Beer no.1" (Deutschlands Fassbiermarke Nr. 1), which is advertised on most products.
History
Johann Peter Wallenborn (1784-1839) founded the brewery in Bitburg in 1817 at the age of 33. His father owned a brewery in Kyllburg. Three years after Wallenborn's death in 1839, Ludwig Bertrand Simon (1813-1869) married Wallenborn's daughter Elisabeth (1819-1891) and became owner of the brewery, naming it Simonbräu. Their son, Theobald Simon (1847-1924), took over the brewery in 1876 at the age of 29.
Advertising
The company slogan is, "Bitte ein Bit." This is literally, "Please, a Bit," or "A Bit, please." In the 1970s, a second slogan was introduced, "Abends Bit, morgens fit" ("Bit in the evening, fit in the morning") implying that the consumption wouldn't lead to a hangover. During that time either of the slogans could be found on Bitburger glasses.
The brand sponsors the German Football Association from 1992 until 2018. Also it sponsored Benetton Formula in 1994 and 1995, where German driver Michael Schumacher winning the Formula One championship both seasons.
Product range
Bitburger is a 4.8% abv Pilsner with annual sales of 1.2 million hectolitres. The popularity of Bitburger extends beyond the local area of Bitburg. Although Germans generally prefer local breweries, it is a popular beer throughout western Germany, and is favored in many areas of North Rhine Westphalia even over Alt beer or Kölsch, which are popular in Düsseldorf and Köln.
In Germany, there are also variations of the original beer, mostly beermixes, available. "Bit Sun" (a light beer), "Cola Libre" (beer and cola and rum-lemon-flavour), "Bit Copa" (beer and lime and cachaça) and "Bit Passion" (beer and pomegranate). There is also a malzbier called "Kandimalz" and "Bitburger Alkoholfrei" (sold as Bitburger 'Drive' in English-speaking countries), a non-alcoholic version of the normal "Bitburger" where the alcohol is removed after the fermentation process rather than before.
It is exported throughout the world. It is also available in Mini Kegs in some countries such as Australia. In the US, it's available in 16.9oz cans, 11.2oz (0.33 l) bottles, the 5L Mini Keg, and on tap in select locations.
It was featured in the movie X-men: First Class.