Beer in Copenhagen
Beer history, breweries and beer culture in Copenhagen (Denmark).
The Elephant Gate of the Carlsberg brewery, built in 1901, rests on four granite elephants. Pure yeast (1883) and the pH scale (1909), which homebrewers use today to measure mash pH, were developed here.
Breweries in Copenhagen
Carlsberg
J. C. Jacobsen founded the brewery and named it after his son Carl. Pure yeast and the pH scale were developed in its own laboratory. Today Carlsberg is one of the largest brewing groups in the world; it also owns Feldschlösschen in Switzerland and Kronenbourg in France.
Known for: Carlsberg Pilsner, Elephant
Mikkeller
Mikkel Borg Bjergsø founded Mikkeller together with Kristian Klarup Keller; the name combines their two names. Its unusual recipes made Mikkeller world-famous.
Known for: Beer Geek Breakfast
To Øl
Two former students of Mikkel Borg Bjergsø founded the brewery, which also became known internationally.
Beer history of Copenhagen
- 1845
J. C. Jacobsen brings yeast back from Munich – in a hatbox that he keeps moist with cold water on the way.
- 1847
Jacobsen founds Carlsberg and names the brewery after his son Carl.
- 1876
J. C. Jacobsen sets up the Carlsberg Foundation, which uses the brewery’s profits to support science and the arts.
- 1883
Emil Christian Hansen produces the first pure yeast culture at the Carlsberg Laboratory. Carlsberg gives it away free to breweries all over the world.
- 1901
Carlsberg’s Elephant Gate is built: four granite elephants carry it.
- 1909
Søren Sørensen develops the pH scale at the Carlsberg Laboratory – the scale homebrewers use to measure mash pH today.
- 1913
The Little Mermaid, a gift from the brewer Carl Jacobsen, is placed on the Langelinie.
- 2006
Mikkel Borg Bjergsø and Kristian Klarup Keller found Mikkeller and brew as guests in breweries all over the world.