Here, nestled in the Plauenschen Grund, stands the historic Eiskeller. This is no ordinary cellar. It whispers tales of brewing empires and mythical creatures. Around 1900, the Dresdner Felsenkeller was one of Germany’s largest breweries.
The name “Felsenkeller” translates to “rock cellar”. It comes from the Eiskeller itself. In 1857, a 66-meter tunnel was carved into the nearby rock face. Locals called it the “Eiswurmlager” or “ice worm storage”. Legend says an Eiswurm, or ice worm, lived within.
The Brauerei zum Felsenkeller AG was founded in 1856. They started with 300,000 talers. The Eiskeller was crucial for keeping beer cold. The brewery initially drew water from a spring. Later, they used two wells near Kleinnaundorf.
Dresden’s brewing guild protested the new brewery. They feared losing business. Despite the opposition, the brewery opened in 1859. At first, they brewed Bavarian lager. In 1880, they switched to Pilsner.
The Felsenkeller AG grew by acquiring other breweries. In 1905, they added the Malzfabrik Pirna vorm. J. Ph. Lipps & Co. They had stakes in other breweries, like Schloß-Brauerei Chemnitz AG.
During World War II, bombs damaged some brewery buildings. In 1946, the government seized the AG. In 1949, it joined the association of state-owned breweries. By 1952, it was known as VEB Dresdner Felsenkellerbrauerei.
In the 1960s, Dresden breweries merged. The Felsenkellerbrauerei became Werk West in 1964. In 1973, the brewery produced about 500,000 hl annually. In 1978, further centralization created Getraenkekombinat Dresden. The Eiswurm became its logo.
Bottled beer production moved to the new Coschuetz brewery in 1981. The Felsenkellerbrauerei made 606,000 hl of cask and tank beer. In 1991, the Sächsische Brau Union AG Felsenkellerbrauerei was founded. The brewery closed in 1991.
Today, the brewery is an industrial landmark. The buildings house over 210 businesses. The former ice storage is now a lab. The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and TU Dresden use it. It houses Germany’s first underground particle accelerator.
The Felsenkeller produced many beers. These included Bock, Dunkel, and Pilsner. VEB Dresdner Felsenkeller also made Exportbier and Porter.
But there is also the legend of the Eiswurm. In 1862, a banker joked that the Eiswurm would lick the ice. The ice kept the beer cold. A tailor took it seriously. He demanded his shares back. The story became famous. The brewery adopted the Eiswurm as its mascot.
The Felsenkeller’s history is rich. It involves beer, legends, and science. Its legacy lives on in the Feldschloesschen-Brauhaus. There, they still brew Felsenkeller Pilsner. This blend of history and myth creates a unique Dresden landmark.