ABOUT BECK'S
Immerse yourself in the fascinating journey of BECK'S – from its foundation in Bremen in 1873 to its worldwide fame. Discover how an idea developed into an international beer brand and which milestones have shaped our history. Learn more about our history!
Beck's Origins: 1873–1948
In 1873, BECK'S was founded in Bremen by Lüder Rutenberg, Heinrich Beck and Thomas May – with the vision of producing the highest quality beer according to the German Purity Law.
Despite economic challenges and the turbulence of two world wars, BECK'S maintained its commitment to quality. During this time, BECK'S evolved from a local brewery to a symbol of Hanseatic brewing art and German pioneering spirit.
1873: Founding of the Kaiser Beck & May OHG brewery
The Kaiser Beck & May o.H.G. brewery was founded on June 27 by master brewer Lüder Rutenberg from Bremen, master brewer Heinrich Beck and merchant F. G. Thomas May.
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1874: WITH IMPERIAL HONOURS
From the very beginning, the Kaiser Brewery bottled its beer in long-necked green bottles. This distinguished Kaiser Beer from other beers, which were sold exclusively in brown bottles.
At the International Agricultural Fair in Bremen, the company received a gold medal from the future Emperor Frederick III. This medal still adorns the label today.
1875: A FRESH COMBINATION
Heinrich Beck, master brewer and partner at the Kaiser Brewery in Bremen, founded in 1873, created a delicately bitter pilsner that retained its fresh flavor even after long voyages.
In its first year of production, the beer was shipped to the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia.
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1876: AND THE WINNER IS...
At the World's Fair in Philadelphia, Kaiserbier won the title of best European beer, beating established competitors from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Ireland. The BECK'S label still commemorates this event today.
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1886: NO PASSAGE WITHOUT KAISERBIER
The Kaiser Brewery is the exclusive beer supplier for all ships of the North German Lloyd shipping company. These ships carry the beer's name worldwide. Soon, it will be in demand in port cities around the world.
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1888: ALWAYS ICED, ALWAYS FRESH
A Linde ice machine makes the brewery independent of natural ice supplies. Beer production can now continue even during particularly hot summers.
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1921: REVOLUTION IN LABELING
The company signs a contract with C. H. Haake AG. At the same time, the Kaiser brewery changes its name to Export Brewery Beck & Co. From then on, the beer is produced exclusively for export. The Beck & Co. name is clearly visible on the label.
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1928: INNOVATION PROJECT
Beck & Co. is developing steel kegs to replace pitch-sealed wooden ones. This guarantees restaurateurs a top-quality draft beer with an authentic pilsner flavor.
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1931: THE STEP TO BECOMING AN INTERNATIONAL BREWERY
Breweries in Batavia and Singapore are launching licensed production: Beck & Co. is increasingly moving closer to traditionally important markets in the Far East. Corporate investments, such as in Colombia, are also contributing to international growth.
1873: FOUNDATION OF THE KAISER-BRAUEREI BECK & MAY OHG
The Kaiser-Brauerei Beck & May oHG was founded by the master brewer Lüder Rutenberg from Bremen, the master brewer Heinrich Beck and the FG merchant Thomas May on 27 June.
A New Beginning: 1948–TODAY
After a standstill during World War II, BECK'S resumed in 1948 with the first deliveries to Thailand. In 1949, the brand returned to the German market, laying the foundation for sustainable growth.
Since then, BECK'S has become a global beer brand and has constantly expanded its range – from non-alcoholic variants to creative flavours, always in the spirit of true beer art.
1948: A NEW BEGINNING
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1953: THE PLEASURE OF MOBILE BEER
Following the trend in the United States, BECK’S is offering its Pilsner in cans for the first time.
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1955: BECK'S BEER QUEENS MEN'S THIRST
The first nationwide advertisement appears in the news magazine "Der Spiegel." The new slogan is: "BECK'S beer quenches men's thirst."
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1968: BECK'SER
The six-pack of 0.33-liter bottles is a compact alternative to the large case.
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1984: The sails have been unfurled
One of the most successful advertising campaigns is launched. Even today, the sailing ship "Alexander von Humboldt" and the song "Sail Away" are an integral part of BECK's identity.
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1993: FRESH, FREE, AND POPULAR
The refreshing taste of the pilsner is achieved without alcohol thanks to the innovative combination of a special blending process and gentle vacuum distillation. German retailers consider BECK'S Alcohol-Free to be the most successful new product launch of the year.
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2002: MILD GOLD
The new BECK'S Gold, with its delicate flavor, quickly became a huge success. BECK'S Gold is the most successful new product launch in the history of the German beer market and represents the first clear glass beer bottle with UV protection.
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2005: BECK'S GREEN LEMON
The new market for beer-based cocktails is just beginning to be discovered and embraced by consumers. BECK'S Green Lemon promises a crisp, refreshing, lemony delight, all with just 2.5% ABV.
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2008: BECKS ICE
BECK'S Ice offers a completely new taste experience and an exceptionally clear appearance. This new beer drink, with its fruity and refreshing lime and mint flavor, is produced using an innovative filtration process. This process eliminates beer colorants while preserving the signature BECK'S flavor.
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2012: FOLLOW YOUR INNER COMPASS
La nuova campagna "Segui la tua bussola interiore" incoraggia il pensiero indipendente. Un momento clou è l'esclusiva BECK'S Art Labels 2012: cinque musicisti hanno dato libero sfogo alla loro creatività e hanno ideato le proprie etichette.
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2017: LEGENDARY
BECK'S ushers in a legendary summer in 2017 with the new Legendary campaign: take the road, take command, and show the world what it's capable of. Only with you will it become legendary.
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2018: GREEN LABELS
In 2018, BECK'S eliminated its signature element: the bottle label. Under the motto "Make it your BECK'S," the entire country was invited to unleash their creativity and design new, customized labels with personalized designs, text, and images. The result was over 27,000 creative ideas, from which 40 winners were selected.
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2019: BECK’S LEMON BREW
The first all-natural shandy, made with naturally fermented lemonade. 50% BECK'S, 50% fermented lemonade, and 100% natural flavor: less sweet, with fermented notes. With BECK'S Lemon Brew, BECK'S is radically redefining the all-natural shandy segment!
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2021: BECK'S UNFILTERED
Everything that makes BECK'S what it is, now in a naturally cloudy pilsner with a smooth, refreshing taste.
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2025: BECK’S BLUE LEMON 0.0
Brewed for unparalleled freshness. Our new non-alcoholic shandy. With 30% less sugar than traditional non-alcoholic shandys, Beck's Blue Lemon 0.0 delivers a refreshing citrus flavor.
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1948: NEW BEGINNING
After production had stopped completely during the Second World War, production slowly began to resume. As early as 1948, the first crates were shipped from Bremen to Thailand.
In 1949, BECK'S was sold for the first time on the domestic market, so as not to be exposed to the uncertainties of international markets.
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