Brauerei Westheim GmbH

History

• 1840: Count Joseph zu Stolberg-Stolberg acquires the Westheim estate, where beer is already brewed for personal use.

• 1862: Beer production is intensified; Westheim Brewery continues to operate. Master brewer Mergel takes over in 1865.

• 1876: Hermann Count zu Stolberg-Stolberg, great-great-grandfather of the current owner, takes over leadership and modernizes the brewery.

• 1882: First bottom-fermented dark beer brewed; the Westheimer Graf Stolberg Dunkel is stocked in the range for about a century.

• 1925: The designation 'Westheimer Hirschbräu' is protected; the stag as coat of arms becomes the brand emblem.

• 1941: Marie-Antonia, Countess zu Stolberg-Stolberg, inherits the Westheim estate and the brewery; from 1951 her husband Klemens Freiherr von Twickel runs the company.

• 1978: Josef Freiherr von Twickel joins the brewery and leads the family business from 1980 in the fifth generation.

• 2000s: Looking to the future; in 2008 the brand visuals were revised and new products were added to the lineup.

• 2012: A major milestone – the brewery's 150th anniversary.

• 2014: Moritz Freiherr von Twickel takes over as master brewer/sommelier, heading the operation in the sixth generation.

• Overall, the company has been run as a family-owned private brewery near Marsberg for more than 160 years.

Production

• Craft-brewed beer specialties as core business; emphasis on regional brewing craftsmanship.

• Three of its own wells provide spring-fresh brewing water.

• The brewery places emphasis on the Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law), select ingredients, and artisanal care.

• Investments in production technology: a new bottle cleaning system (put into operation in early October 2018), fully insulated, around 50% reduction in energy consumption for heating, about 50% water savings, reduced use of cleaning agents; automatic shut-off signaling during high-pressure cleaning increases thoroughness and hygiene.

• Energetic and ecological aspects: forward-looking energy concepts, responsibility for the environment and the region, focus on environmental technology and hygiene; short transport distances with regional raw materials and partners.

• Long-standing staff and a family-like working atmosphere are highlighted as the core of the production culture.

Events and News

• Tours of the Westheimer Brauerei with various stations explaining the brewing process and a tasting in Braustübchen (about a 1-hour tour; about 3 hours of convivial tasting). Price about €24.50 per person.

• Sommelier tastings & Genussabende: specialty tastings of various beer types and accompanying dishes by arrangement; price from about €25 per person, depending on the event.

• Offers of Westheimer beer specialties and lemonade through local delivery and shared experiences (Brauerei-Erlebnis) and themed events.

• The company continually highlights awards and gold prizes for many products, and communicates yearly about initiatives and updates through their events and visits.

The company's philosophy and values

• Family-owned company with more than 160 years of tradition; focus on quality, craftsmanship, and passion for artisanal brewing.

• Commitment to regional craft and shorter transport routes as part of the sustainability strategy.

• Reliability and continuity through long-tenured staff and intergenerational succession.

• High emphasis on raw material quality, environmental considerations, and hygiene as central production principles.

• Increasing focus on experience-based customer contact through tours, sommelier activities, and events to convey Westheim's lore and craft.