Falcon Brewery

Falcon Brewery, also known as Bryggeri AB Falken, was a Swedish brewing company based in Falkenberg. It was established in 1896 by John L. Skantze, who selected Falkenberg after securing financial support for the project. The brewery initially operated as a regional producer and later developed the Falcon name as its principal beer identity. Beer began to be sold under the Falcon name in 1955, marking the development of a consumer-facing brand alongside the brewery’s manufacturing business. The company expanded during the twentieth century but encountered financial difficulties after regulatory changes affecting Class IIB beer. In 1977, Falcon Brewery was acquired by Pripps. Its operations were combined with those of Sandwalls in Borås; the Sandwalls facility subsequently closed in 1981. During a later organizational restructuring in 1985, the business was divided between Falken, which handled manufacturing, and Falcon, which was responsible for marketing, distribution, and sales. The two activities were recombined in 1994 under the Falcon name. In 1989, Falcon was combined with Till breweries in Östersund, broadening the company’s organizational and production structure. The business was sold to Carlsberg in 1996. Following the acquisition, Falcon ceased to operate as an independent brewery company and became part of Carlsberg’s Swedish brewing infrastructure. The Falkenberg brewery is therefore best understood as a historic Swedish brewery and the origin of the Falcon beer brand, rather than as an independently controlled contemporary brewer. The available reference material identifies beer as the company’s core product but does not provide a complete historical catalogue of individual varieties, launch dates, packaging formats, export markets, advertising campaigns, or current brand ownership arrangements beyond Carlsberg’s ownership. Its principal historical significance lies in its long operation in Falkenberg, the creation and consolidation of the Falcon name, and its integration into the Swedish brewing businesses later controlled by Carlsberg.

Falcon Brewery, formally identified as Bryggeri AB Falken, was founded in 1896 in Falkenberg, Sweden, by John L. Skantze. Falkenberg was chosen as the site because financial support could be obtained there. The brewery developed as a regional Swedish producer and eventually built its consumer identity around the Falcon name. In 1955, it began selling beer under that name, creating the brand designation that would later outlast the brewery as an independent corporate entity. The company grew during the following decades, but its position was weakened by the prohibition of Class IIB beer. The resulting difficulties contributed to its sale to Pripps in 1977. After the acquisition, Falcon’s operations were combined with those of Sandwalls in Borås. The Sandwalls brewery closed in 1981, reflecting the rationalization and concentration taking place within the Swedish brewing sector. A further restructuring took place in 1985. The business was separated into Falken, responsible for manufacturing, and Falcon, responsible for marketing, distribution, and sales. This arrangement distinguished the production side from the commercial beer brand, although the two parts were subsequently reunited in 1994 under the Falcon name. In 1989, Falcon was also combined with Till breweries in Östersund, adding another stage of consolidation to its corporate history. Carlsberg bought Falcon in 1996. The acquisition ended Falcon’s status as an independent brewery company and placed the Falkenberg operation within Carlsberg’s wider brewing organization. The brewery is now described as one of Carlsberg’s production facilities. Accordingly, Falcon Brewery’s history has two related dimensions: the development of a long-running brewery in Falkenberg and the evolution of Falcon from a local beer name into a brand operated within a multinational brewing group. The available source does not establish a complete list of historical beer varieties, detailed ownership changes before 1977, current production volumes, or the present corporate status of any separately incorporated Falcon entity.

1. 1996Carlsberg acquires Falcon

   Carlsberg purchased Falcon, integrating the brewery into its production network.

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2. 1994The separated operations are reunited

   The Falken manufacturing business and Falcon commercial business were merged again under the Falcon name.

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3. 1989Combination with Till breweries

   Falcon was combined with Till breweries in Östersund.

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4. 1985Manufacturing and commercial functions are separated

   Falken took responsibility for manufacturing, while Falcon handled marketing, distribution, and sales.

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5. 1981Sandwalls facility closes

   The Sandwalls operation in Borås, which had been combined with Falcon after the Pripps acquisition, closed.

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6. 1977Acquisition by Pripps

   After difficulties following the ban on Class IIB beer, Falcon Brewery was acquired by Pripps.

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7. 1955Beer begins to be sold under the Falcon name

   The brewery introduced the Falcon name for its beer, establishing the principal consumer brand associated with the business.

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8. 1896Falcon Brewery is founded in Falkenberg

   John L. Skantze founded the brewery in Falkenberg after financial support was secured for the location.

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A Swedish regional brewery and beer brand rooted in Falkenberg, later incorporated into Carlsberg’s brewing operations.

• Falcon beerBeer1955

  Falcon beer was the brewery’s principal named product line and became the consumer identity associated with the business from 1955 onward. The supplied reference identifies the Falcon name but does not provide a sufficiently detailed catalogue of styles, strengths, packaging, or individual product launches.

• 1996Sale to CarlsbergM&A

  Falcon had undergone several earlier combinations and reorganizations within the Swedish brewing industry.

  What changed. Carlsberg acquired Falcon.

  Aftermath. The brewery became one of Carlsberg’s production facilities and no longer operated as an independent brewery company.

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• 1985Separation of production and commercial functionsStrategy

  The business was reorganized after its integration into the Pripps-related brewing structure.

  What changed. Manufacturing was assigned to Falken, while Falcon managed marketing, distribution, and sales.

  Aftermath. The two activities were reunited under Falcon in 1994.

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• 1977Sale to PrippsM&A

  The brewery encountered difficulties after the ban on Class IIB beer.

  What changed. Pripps acquired Falcon Brewery and combined its operations with Sandwalls in Borås.

  Aftermath. The Sandwalls facility later closed in 1981, while Falcon continued through further organizational restructuring.

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• 1996Falcon business is sold to Carlsberg

  Carlsberg acquired Falcon, after which the brewery became part of Carlsberg’s production network rather than remaining an independent brewer.

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• 1989Falcon is combined with Till breweries

  Falcon was combined with Till breweries in Östersund as part of the continuing consolidation of the Swedish brewing business.

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• 1985Falcon business is reorganized into manufacturing and commercial operations

  The business was divided into Falken for manufacturing and Falcon for marketing, distribution, and sales.

  Other
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• 1977Falcon Brewery is acquired by Pripps

  Falcon Brewery was bought by Pripps after experiencing difficulties associated with regulatory changes affecting Class IIB beer.

  M&ARegulation
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1. Falcon Brewery