of our brewery
Our entrepreneurial owners
As a family-owned and managed brewery, we at Karlsberg make our decisions entirely based on our taste. Only those who are free to make decisions can act courageously and think creatively. As an independent brewery, we create an environment that makes excellent taste possible in the first place, and we hold this conviction together with our owner family, Weber. From the very beginning, tradition and innovation have characterized the history of the brewery, founded by Christian Weber in 1878. Having a keen eye for trends, the company has evolved over the past years to offer an innovative array of brands.
1878 – Founder Christian Weber, great-great-grandfather of the current owner.
Originally a successful grocer, he ultimately mustered the courage to re-establish a bankrupt brewery and introduce innovations such as automation via lorries and railway carriages.
1920 – Richard Weber, son of founder Christian Weber and great-grandfather of the current owner. He expedited the growth of the brewery in the golden 20s and perfected the fine art of delegation, which focuses on responsibility for meaningful work.
1946 – Dr. Paul Weber, grandfather of the current owner.
He was responsible for restarting and rebuilding the business after the war. To do so, he had the revolutionary idea at the time of filling the bottles with beer. Furthermore, he was the one who founded the Bockanstich event and introduced the UrPils to market. As an owner, he rejected an autocratic management style in favour of an employee-managed enterprise that focuses on people.
1983 – Dr. Richard Weber, father of the current owner
He demonstrated extraordinary courage by bringing the first mixed beer drinks to market and focusing on the export business. Furthermore, he involved employees in the strategy process and developed the Karlsberg mission statement and code of values.
2010 – Present day – Christian Weber, Owner.
He identified individual responsibility as an exceptionally important criterion for success and turned the Karlsberg brewery into a vibrant company that has never been more passionate about its six values.