Planning of the Fohrenburg Brewery and beginning of construction

Planning of the Fohrenburg Brewery by Ferdinand Gassner and beginning of construction. Acquisition of the Hinterplärsch mineral spring and the Fohrenburg restaurant and swimming baths.

Ferdinand Gassner founds the beer Brewery Fohrenburg F. Gassner & Comp

Ferdinand Gassner founds the beer Brewery Fohrenburg F. Gassner & Comp. together with 11 associates. The brewery starts with 21 employees in February. Half a year later the company expands the brewery. Beer production: 800,000 litres per year.

The first Bottles of Fohrenburger beer are filled.

The beginning of the production of bottled beer and automatic bottle filling.

Usage of Horses for pulling hopped Carts

For the first time horses were used for pulling hopped carts instead of oxen. Construction of the first beer warehouse in Innsbruck.

Extension of the Facility Site

Broad extension of the whole facility site and construction of the Fohrenburg Street which is very important for the town of Bludenz. Beer production: 5,000,000 litres per year.

The first Lorries

Acquisition of the first lorries for the transport of beer and ice.

Erection of the first Fohrenburger Warehouse in Landeck

Erection of the first Fohrenburger warehouse in Landeck.

New biggest Shareholder

The textile company Getzner Mutter and Cie. becomes the biggest shareholder of the Fohrenburg Brewery.

Purchase of Diezano

Purchase of Bad Diezlings (situated near Bregenz) including the farm as well as the hospitality business.

Purchase of Vorarlberg's most treasured lemonade brand Diezano. For the first time a variation of lemonades and fruit juices are taken into Fohrenburger's sales programme.

Plastic Cases and Metal Barrels

Changeover from wooden cases to plastic cases and from wooden barrels to metal barrels.

Expansion to Upper Italy, Liechtenstein and Eastern Switzerland

Build up of regional export markets in Upper Italy, Liechtenstein and Eastern Switzerland. Introduction of a new bottle filler with a capacity of 40,000 bottles / h.

Implementation of the "Bierkugel"

Revolutionalization of beer delivery: As the first brewery in Austria Fohrenburger implements the "Bierkugel". These are cellar tanks with a capacity of each 1,000 litres of beer and are put up in the cellar of a restaurant / pub. These tanks are filled by the Fohrenburger beer tank trucks. The advantages are that the landlord does not have to tap barrels and has unchanged beer quality.

100 Year Jubilee

100 year jubilee of the Fohrenburg Brewery. With a yearly beer output of 150,000 hectolitres Fohrenburger is the biggest brewery in Vorarlberg and the sixth-largest in Austria. The abolishment of the beer cartel leads to massive expansions of the Fohrenburg Brewery.

Enhancement of Capacity

Substantial enhancement of capacity due to the instalment of a 12 cylindroid high-level tank for a new fermenting tank system with a capacity of each 172,000 litres of beer. This investment was necessary to be able to manage the high growth rates of beer output.

Cooperation with Rauch Fruchtsäfte

Cooperation with Rauch Fruchtsäfte.

Quality Certificate and massive Expansion

Receipt of ÖQS – Quality Certificate according to ISO 9001:2000

Massive expansion of national listings at all large retail chains in whole Austria. Expansion of the export business. Founding of Fohrenburg Italia s.r.l.

Expansion of the Manufacturing Area

Expansion of the manufacturing area by almost 100%. Installation of the new fully-automatic keg filling section with a capacity of 120 kegs per hour.

Saurer Radler

A new product is born: Fohrenburger Saurer Radler, a mixture of 60% of the finest special beer and 40% of crystal clear spring water from the Alps. Already in the first year our "Saurer Radler" exceeds all expectations and is voted the TOP INNOVATION 2003 by the magazine "Cash".

More Convenience with the 6 Bottle Box

In order to meet the consumers' wishes for more convenience, the 6 bottle box is changed to an open version. The advantages are evident:

- easier to carry
- no rip open necessary
- bottles can be returned easier

International Food Standard (IFS) Standard

In the year 2005 the Fohrenburg Brewery was initially certified according to the IFS-Standard, which is of great importance for the Food & Beverage Industry. The Fohrenburg Brewery was the first Austrian brewery to comply with all the demands of the IFS standard specifications.

A fresh Beer Pleasure in between Times

Fohrenburg recognized the 0.33 l bottle trend. Not only the bottle of the so called "Stiftle" beer with its own design and label is newly created, but for the first time a completely new assortment: A fresh beer pleasure in between times (translation of the German slogan) with the sorts "STIFTLE", "WEIZEN" and "OHNE (alcohol-free), "LAGER" and "BOCK". The "Weizen" is the first wheat beer in a 0.33 l bottle.

New Yeast Cellar

In spring 2008 the new yeast cellar was put into operation and therefore the production of the Fohrenburger wheat beer was taken up at the headquarters in Bludenz – the only real Vorarlberg wheat beer.

The yeast for our beer is grown in our in-house pure culture system. We have a bottom-fermented and a top-fermented yeast strain, which give the Fohrenburger beer specialities a very special aromatic profile.

New Filter Cellar

Despite difficult economic times the Fohrenburg Brewery invested in a new filter cellar in 2010. In this department the matured Fohrenburger beer is freed from turbidity materials which gives the beer its incomparable sparkle. The exceptions are cellar and wheat beer, which maintain their natural haziness.

With the new filter cellar the Fohrenburg Brewery contributes to the considerate treatment of the environment: the installation of the latest technology leads to a considerable reduction of water consumption, a substantial reduction of detergents as well as energy.

Reconstruction of the Brew House

In jubilee year 2011 Fohrenburger has every reason to celebrate. The investment programme of the previous years is being continued with the reconstruction of the brew house – the core of every brewery. After completion of this investment focus the Fohrenburg Brewery belongs to the most state-of-the-art breweries in Austria.

More than 8 brews each 23,000 litres can be brewed in the beer house.

With Unicorn. Since 1881.

Brand quality under the sign of the unicorn is not an invention of the modern era. Ferdinand Gassner must have already been very impressed by the mythical creature. Since way back the unicorn stands for boundless energy, persistent strength, maiden purity and of course uniqueness. It was first brought into connection with Bludenz in 1260 on a face design when Bludenz was turned into a town. Back then, according to the legend, real unicorns lived in the mountain forests.

Brauerei Fohrenburg GmbH & Co KG, Fohrenburgstraße 5, 6700 Bludenz, Austria