Ever wondered where Dortmund’s brewing story began. The ehem. Bergmann-Brauerei is a significant part of that tale. Let’s journey back to where it all started.
The original Bergmann Brauerei was founded in 1796 by Wilhelm Dietrich Johann Bergmann. It was located in Dortmund’s Rahm district. By 1966, it had grown to employ 109 people. The brewery produced 96.000 hectoliters of beer.
In 1971, the Dortmunder Ritter Brauerei took over. A year later, in 1972, the Bergmann Brauerei shut its doors at Rahmer Straße 262. Today, a supermarket stands where the brewery once stood. Inside, photos offer a glimpse into its history. The former brewing cellar still exists beneath the supermarket but it is not accessible to the public. The brand rights remained with the legal successors until 2003.
Fast forward to 2005. Thomas Raphael, a Dortmund microbiologist, stumbled upon something interesting. He found that the Bergmann brand rights were available. They had stood for the former brewery in Dortmund-Rahm but were no longer assigned. For just 300 euros, he acquired the rights to Dortmunder Bergmann Bier.
Raphael reactivated the brand to secure the rights. At a party in 2007, he distributed the first bottles of Export beer. A journalist from Ruhr Nachrichten was present. This led to a prominent article in the newspaper. Overwhelmed by the positive response, Raphael decided to expand brewing operations. Initially, Export, Spezialbier, Pils, and Schwarzbier varieties were brewed at the Bosch brewery.
Since then, he has run the new business with his partner Herbert Prigge. Expansion was initially financed through 30 profit participation certificates. These totaled 210.000 euros. By the end of 2008, they acquired their own brewery in Dortmund harbor. Craft beer specialties were brewed there starting in April 2010. Since 2017, a new brewery has operated in the Phoenix West industrial area in Dortmund-Hörde. This facility has a capacity of 5.000 hectoliters. All beer varieties are produced here.
The Bergmann Brauerei’s slogan. It is “Harte Arbeit. Ehrlicher Lohn.” or “Hard work. Honest wage.”
Bergmann beer is sold locally. The distribution radius is within 30 kilometers of Dortmund. They also operate a “Trinkhalle”. It is located at a former bus stop from the 1950s. You can find it on Hohen Wall in Dortmund’s city center. A brewery taproom has been open since late 2021. It is located directly on the pier at Phoenix Lake. Some restaurants in the region also offer Bergmann beers.
Attached to the brewery, since 2017, is a Stehbierhalle. Here, you can sample and purchase the brewery’s beers. Seasonal specialties are also offered.
In 2010, Bergmann Brauerei produced 1.000 hectoliters of beer for the first time. By 2011, this number doubled to 2.000 hectoliters. Output reached 3.000 hectoliters in 2015. It then increased to 4.000 hectoliters in 2016. By the summer of 2018, output was already 80 percent higher than the previous year.
Besides traditional beers like Pils, Export, Schwarz, and Spezial, they offer craft beers in 0.75-liter swing-top bottles. These include Adambier. It is a top-fermented strong beer with historical roots from the Middle Ages to the 1960s. Also popular is ADAM Eichenbock. It is a strong, malty dark bock beer. The 1972 is a light, yeasty bock beer. Its name commemorates the closure of the original Bergmann Brauerei. Hopfensünde is a double-hopped beer made with aroma hops. Schlanke Mathilde is a light, malty-fruity bock beer. Lastly, there is the IPA. It is a light, strong, hop-forward beer. Special brews are often available on tap. You can find them at the kiosk and Stehbierhalle.
So, as you explore Dortmund, remember the ehem. Bergmann-Brauerei. Its story reflects Dortmund’s brewing heritage. It also shows the dedication to bringing back tradition.