The beginnings

1878
On April 1, 1878, the brothers Gustav and Georg Uekermann conclude a partnership agreement and found the "Gebrüder Uekermann, Brauerei zum Felsenkeller, Schweicheln bei Herford". Output in the founding year: 9,474 hectolitres.

1895
On 15 September 1895, the 1.3 km long railway siding to Herford station was put into operation. The draught beer was loaded onto beer wagons in the underground loading station under the brewery yard. By 1928, the brewery had purchased 35 beer wagons.

The first truck was purchased in 1911
. Until then, up to 60 brewery horses had been used to transport the beer.

1927
Until 1927, the beer was only available in kegs. Finally, in August 1927, the beer was bottled for the first time, but initially only the malt beer variety.

1928
From March 1928, export and pilsner were also available in bottles. In the 1927/28 financial year, bottled beer accounted for 0.8% of total beer sales, amounting to 166,514 hl.
Around 200 people were employed at the brewery at the time. The fleet consisted of 15 horse-drawn carriages and 10 trucks.

The development

In 1935
The 0.5-liter swing-top bottle was introduced in 1935 and remained in the range until 1967, when it was replaced by the 0.5-liter Euro bottle. This was replaced by the NRW bottle in 1988. The 0.5-liter swing-top bottle was transported in wooden crates. These were replaced by plastic crates in 1965.

1956 to 1960
In 1956, the 0.33-liter Steinie bottle with a crown cap was introduced, which is still the brewery's main container to this day. Until 1966, it was packaged in wooden crates, then in plastic crates. One year later, the 0.33-l Vichy bottle was added.

1967
In the 1967/68 brewing year, the wooden barrels were replaced by aluminum barrels.

1985
In the 1985/86 brewing year, the aluminum barrels were replaced by KEG barrels.

The PRESENT

2003
The Felsenkeller Herford brewery celebrates its 125th anniversary. 70,000 enthusiastic guests celebrate the company's 125th anniversary on the brewery grounds with top acts such as the Prinzen & Smokie.

2006
The commitment to the "Herforder Pils" brand and the region is reflected in February with the name change to "Herforder Brauerei GmbH & Co. KG" in February.

2007
The Herforder brewery with the traditional "Herforder Pils" brand is integrated into the Warsteiner Group on July 1, 2007. It will remain a family business and not part of an anonymous brewery group. Both companies are tradition-conscious family businesses that together can look back on over 400 years of brewing history.

2017
Introduction of Herforder Landbier naturtrüb
The recipe for Herforder Landbier naturtrüb in the Steinie bottle is intended to emphasize the naturalness of the beer and, as the latest speciality of the Herforder brewery, to embody the traditional Westphalian art of brewing more strongly than ever.

2020
New Herford campaign
A spirit of optimism at the Herford brewery: in September, the traditional company from East Westphalia-Lippe launched its biggest advertising campaign for many years. "Do you want one too?" - These words could be read on one of the large billboards that have been displayed throughout the entire distribution area of the regional beer brand Herforder since September. Another read: "Here you know every bottle by name."

2021
Launch of Herforder Alster naturtrüb
In March, the Herforder brewery launched another regional specialty on the drinks shelf: Herforder Alster naturtrüb. This new product combines equal parts pilsner and lemonade to create a naturally cloudy and tangy-fruity taste experience. The product launch was accompanied by outdoor and digital advertising as well as sales promotions in stores.

CURIOUS ABOUT HERFORDER PILS?

At our premises in Hiddenhausen, you can accompany our Herforder on its journey from the brewhouse to the fermenting and storage cellars to the bottling plant.

At the final tasting session, you will then have the opportunity to get to know our entire Herford product portfolio.