Brauerei Fohrenburg

Brauerei Fohrenburg is a brewery based in Bludenz, in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. Founded in 1881 by Ferdinand Gassner, it takes its name from the Badgasthof Fohrenburg inn that stood next to the brewery site when the business was established. The brewery developed as a regional producer serving Vorarlberg and surrounding beverage markets, with its identity closely associated with Bludenz and the surrounding Alpine region. The business has operated at a substantial scale for much of its history. The original site was reported to have capacity for approximately 800,000 litres of Fohrenburger beer in 1881. By 1981, annual production had reached 150,000 hectolitres, equivalent to 15 million litres, and production was reported at 193,000 hectolitres, or 19.3 million litres, in 2011. These figures illustrate the transition from a locally founded nineteenth-century brewery into a major regional beverage operation. Fohrenburg broadened its commercial relationships in the late twentieth century. In 1998 it entered a cooperation with Rauch Fruchtsäfte, the Austrian family-owned fruit-juice producer. Rauch acquired the brewery in 2000. The relationship connected Fohrenburg with a wider beverage group while preserving the brewery's regional production identity. In 2017, Fohrenburg and the beverage dealer s'Fäscht Wolfgang Sila GmbH officially merged, adding a distribution and beverage-trade dimension to the business. The combined operation has sites at the principal brewery in Bludenz, s'Fäscht's original headquarters in Mäder, and a distribution warehouse in Schnann, Tyrol, established in 2012. In 2019, Brau Union Österreich, an Austrian subsidiary of Heineken N.V., reached agreements to increase its existing interest in Fohrenburg Beteiligungs-AG from 11% to 74%. This transaction placed majority ownership with Austria's leading brewing group while leaving Fohrenburg as a distinct regional brewery and brand. Current product information describes a portfolio of nearly two dozen beverages, including beer varieties, beer-mixed drinks, lemonades, soft drinks and water. The Bludenz facility produces 13 beer specialties and four kinds of lemonade. Fohrenburg's visual identity is built around a white rising unicorn on a red shield. The unicorn is also associated with the coat of arms of Bludenz, where it has appeared since 1929, and is used by the brewery as a symbol of strength, endurance and purity. The logo and associated lettering were designed by the artist and heraldist Konrad Honold. The brewery also maintains a historical and visitor dimension through the Brewery Museum Fohrenburg. Housed in a former carpentry building dating from 1881, the museum was renovated in 2014 and includes a brewery shop and the Stuba Brewery tasting area. Exhibits cover the brewery's development, brewing in Bludenz, historical packaging and advertising, brewing equipment, and the history of local gastronomy since 1920.

Brauerei Fohrenburg was established in 1881 by Ferdinand Gassner in Bludenz, Vorarlberg. Its name came from the neighbouring Badgasthof Fohrenburg inn, linking the new brewery to a local place name from its beginning. The brewery's original site could produce about 800,000 litres of beer in 1881, indicating that it was already organized as a meaningful commercial operation rather than only a small household producer. During the twentieth century, Fohrenburg expanded its output and regional importance. In 1981, reported production reached 150,000 hectolitres, or 15 million litres. Production had risen to 193,000 hectolitres, equivalent to 19.3 million litres, by 2011. The brewery remained associated with Bludenz while developing the scale necessary to supply a broader beverage market. A significant strategic change occurred in 1998, when Fohrenburg entered a cooperation with Rauch Fruchtsäfte. Rauch, an Austrian family-owned producer of fruit juices with international activities, acquired Fohrenburg in 2000. The relationship placed the brewery within a broader beverage context while retaining the Fohrenburg name and its local brewing role. Distribution became more integrated with the brewery's operations over time. A warehouse in Schnann, Tyrol, had been operating since 2012. On 1 May 2017, Fohrenburg and s'Fäscht Wolfgang Sila GmbH, a beverage dealer whose original headquarters were in Mäder, officially merged. The resulting structure operated from three locations: the brewery in Bludenz, the former s'Fäscht headquarters in Mäder, and the Schnann distribution warehouse. In 2019, Brau Union Österreich entered agreements to increase its stake in Fohrenburg Beteiligungs-AG from 11% to 74%. Brau Union Österreich is an Austrian company within the Heineken group. The transaction changed the brewery's ownership structure and connected the regional Fohrenburg operation to a major international brewing group. Fohrenburg's product range includes almost two dozen beverages. The Bludenz facility produces 13 beer specialties and four lemonade varieties, while the broader range also includes beer mixes, soft drinks and water. The brand's identity is reinforced by a white unicorn rising on a red shield. The motif relates to the coat of arms of Bludenz, where the unicorn has been used since 1929. It represents strength, endurance and purity in the brewery's visual language; the logo and lettering were designed by Konrad Honold, an artist and heraldist. The brewery also preserves its industrial and local history through the Brewery Museum Fohrenburg. The museum occupies the brewery's oldest building, a former carpentry workshop and later warehouse dating from 1881. Renovated in 2014, it includes a museum, brewery shop and beer-tasting space known as the Stuba Brewery. Its displays cover the history of Fohrenburg, brewing in Bludenz, historic photographs, bottles, labels, advertising materials and production equipment, as well as local gastronomy since 1920.

1. 2019Brau Union becomes majority stakeholder

   Brau Union Österreich agreed to increase its interest in Fohrenburg Beteiligungs-AG from 11% to 74%.

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2. 2017Merger with s'Fäscht

   Brauerei Fohrenburg and s'Fäscht Wolfgang Sila GmbH officially merged on 1 May.

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3. 2014Brewery museum building renovated

   The brewery's 1881 former carpentry building was renovated and converted into the Brewery Museum Fohrenburg, shop and tasting venue.

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4. 2012Distribution warehouse established in Schnann

   Fohrenburg's operating footprint included a distribution warehouse in Schnann, Tyrol.

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5. 2000Acquisition by Rauch

   Rauch Fruchtsäfte acquired Brauerei Fohrenburg.

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6. 1998Cooperation with Rauch Fruchtsäfte

   Fohrenburg began a cooperation with Rauch Fruchtsäfte, an Austrian family-owned fruit-juice producer.

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7. 1981Reported production reaches 150,000 hectolitres

   The brewery's reported annual beer production reached 150,000 hectolitres, or 15 million litres.

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8. 1881Brewery founded in Bludenz

   Ferdinand Gassner established Brauerei Fohrenburg in Bludenz, Vorarlberg. The original site was associated with the neighbouring Badgasthof Fohrenburg and could produce approximately 800,000 litres of beer.

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A regional Austrian brewery rooted in Bludenz and Vorarlberg, combining long local brewing heritage with a broad beverage portfolio and the distribution capabilities of a larger brewing group.

• Fohrenburger beer specialtiesBeer

  The core portfolio consists of Fohrenburger beers produced at the Bludenz brewery. Reference material describes 13 beer specialties, but does not provide the individual product names or detailed style specifications. The range represents the brewery's principal link to its Vorarlberg brewing heritage and regional market identity.

• Fohrenburger beer mixesBeer-mixed drinks

  Fohrenburg's broader beverage range includes beer-mixed drinks. The available reference material confirms the category but does not identify individual recipes, launch dates or packaging formats.

• Fohrenburger lemonadeSoft drinks

  The Bludenz facility produces four types of lemonade. These non-alcoholic beverages extend the brewery's offer beyond beer and form part of its regional beverage portfolio.

• Fohrenburger water and soft drinksNon-alcoholic beverages

  The product range also includes water and other soft drinks. Specific brands, sources and product specifications are not identified in the available reference material.

• 2019Brau Union increases its ownership interestM&A

  Brau Union Österreich already held an 11% interest in Fohrenburg Beteiligungs-AG.

  What changed. Under agreements, Brau Union increased its interest to 74%.

  Aftermath. Fohrenburg became majority-owned by Brau Union Österreich, an Austrian subsidiary of Heineken N.V.

  Ownership interest. 11% → 74% (2019)

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• 2017Merger with s'Fäscht Wolfgang Sila GmbHM&A

  Fohrenburg combined its brewery operation with the beverage dealer s'Fäscht Wolfgang Sila GmbH.

  What changed. The companies officially merged on 1 May 2017.

  Aftermath. The combined operating footprint included the Bludenz brewery, the former s'Fäscht headquarters in Mäder and a distribution warehouse in Schnann, Tyrol.

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• 2000Rauch acquires FohrenburgM&A

  The acquisition followed a cooperation between Fohrenburg and Rauch Fruchtsäfte that began in 1998.

  What changed. Rauch Fruchtsäfte acquired the brewery.

  Aftermath. Fohrenburg continued operating as a brewery and regional beverage business within Rauch's ownership.

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• 2019Brau Union increases stake in Fohrenburg Beteiligungs-AG

  Brau Union Österreich agreed to raise its existing interest in Fohrenburg Beteiligungs-AG from 11% to 74%, bringing the brewery under majority ownership associated with Heineken's Austrian brewing operations.

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• 2017Fohrenburg and s'Fäscht complete merger

  Brauerei Fohrenburg and beverage dealer s'Fäscht Wolfgang Sila GmbH officially merged on 1 May 2017.

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• 2000Rauch acquires Brauerei Fohrenburg

  Rauch Fruchtsäfte acquired the brewery after the two companies had cooperated since 1998.

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• 1998Fohrenburg enters cooperation with Rauch Fruchtsäfte

  Brauerei Fohrenburg began a cooperation with Rauch Fruchtsäfte, an Austrian family-owned fruit-juice producer with international operations.

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1. Brauerei Fohrenburg