Köstritzer

1543 · brewery founded

The brewery is first mentioned in 1543 and later belonged to the princes of Reuss. It is one of Germany's oldest makers of Schwarzbier (black beer). In an 1823 letter, Wilhelm von Humboldt wrote that Goethe lived on beer and bread rolls, debating whether to drink dark or light Köstritzer. Bitburger has owned the brewery since 1991.