Löwenbräu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Löwenbräu is a brewery in Munich that produces a traditional Munich-style beer. Like other premium German beers, it is brewed according to the Bavarian “Reinheitsgebot” (Purity Law) dating back to 1516. Löwenbräu means "lion's brew" and is properly pronounced "lervenbroy" (British pronunciation). However, in the U.S., it is pronounced "low-en-brau".

Löwenbräu has a long history dating back to 1383 when it was first brewed at "Zum Löwen" (The Lion's Inn) by an innkeeper. Löwenbräu has been served at every Oktoberfest in Munich since 1810 and is one of only six breweries permitted to serve beer at the festival. During Oktoberfest, Löwenbräu brews a special beer called "Wiesenbier" (meadow beer), a fresh, light amber lager.

The Löwenbräu brewery was bombed to rubble during an Allied air raid in 1945. It was later rebuilt.

Up until 2002, Löwenbräu beer sold in American markets was brewed under license by Miller Brewing Company, and was given an anglified pronunciation. Although it used the same "recipe" the taste was different than the Munich brewed version. After 2002, Löwenbräu began directly exporting its beer from Munich vastly improving the quality for American drinkers. To distinguish itself from the Miller version of Löwenbräu, the German version is marketed as Löwenbräu Original. Some people in America still use the anglified pronunciation for Löwenbräu Original, while others mark the distinction by using the anglified pronunciation to refer to the Miller product, while using the German pronunciation to refer to the German product.

In October 2004, the parent company of Löwenbräu was acquired by Inbev.^[1]

Löwenbräu Keller has also one of the many Biergärten in Munich, but it is unlike the others. It is the last brewery to have a major Biergarten and serve beer that is brewed onsite. The rest brew their Beer in another location and deliver it to Biergärten around the city.

Contents 1 Beers 2 Advertising 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Beers

• Löwenbräu Original – 5.2% ABV, a helles
• Pilsener – 5.4% ABV, the hoppiest of Munich's pilseners
• Triumphator – 7.6% ABV, a doppelbock
• Löwenweisse – 5.0% ABV, a wheat beer
• Urtyp – 5.4% ABV, brewed according to traditional methods

[edit] Advertising

In the 1970s and 1980s in the United States, Löwenbräu (brewed in the U.S.) was famous for its jingle, sung by Arthur Prysock:

Here's to good friends,

Tonight is kind of special.

The beer we'll pour

must say something more, somehow.

So tonight (tonight),

Tonight,

Let it be Lowenbrau (let it be Lowenbrau).

It's been so long.

Hey, I'm glad to see ya.

Raise your glass.

Here's to health and happiness.

So tonight (tonight),

Let it be all the best.

When Löwenbräu returned to the U.S. with the beer brewed in Germany, it briefly ran an ad with the same song in German.

[edit] References

1. ^ InBev closes strategic partnership with Gabriel Sedlmayr Spaten-Franziskaner Bräu KGaA ("Spaten"). Retrieved on 2006-12-10.

[edit] External links

• (German) Official website
• Commentary on beer jingles