- Sternburg Export
Sternburg (an east German beer) belongs to a group of beer brands from Leipzig called the "
Radeberger Group" but in everyday language it's known as "Sterni." As the most popular beer in former East Germany, it leads the beer market with 9.5% of beer sales without any advertising.History
The history of Sternburg goes all the way back to 1278 in the brewery in Rittergut, which lies between Elster and Mühlteich. Rittergut and brewery were purchased by Wilhelm von Mechfritz in 1405, and then in 1822 it fell under the ownership of Maximillian Spech, who bought the property as grazing grounds for his sheep. When Speck entered the gentry he asked to add the name of "Sternburg" to his title. However, he was not allowed to sell the beer at its current location in Leipzig and so he moved production to the cellar of a castle in Leipzig, and in April 1823 he received a permit from the Leipzig city council. From that point onward he sold an average of 300,000 liters of beer per year.
In 1948 the ownership of the brewery was made public as was common under the government of the newly formed state of East Germany (GDR), and in 1968 it was absorbed into the state-run VEB drink management organization in Leipzig. After re-unification in 1990, it once again became an independent venture, "Sternburg Brauerei GmbH," in cooperation with the "Stuttgarter Hofbräu." Demand for exportation fell to 600,000 liters per year, and so Sachsenbräu AG bought the business and closed the brewery at Lützschena, continuing production instead at the Reudnitzer Brewery.
In 1992 the brands "Sternburg Export" and "Sternburg Pilsner" became discount brands. In 1997 "Sternburg Schwarzbier" and "Sternburg Export" received the seal of approval from the quality-management bureau "CMA-Gütesiegel," and one year later "Sternburg Pilsner" also received this designation, followed by "Sternburg Schwarzbier" in 1999. In 2002 Sternburg Export was 48% of Germany's beer exports and the variety "Sternburg Radler" was introduced. "Sternburg Diesel" followed in 2003 and "Sternburg Doppelkaramel" in 2004. The last addition was in 2005 with the introduction of "Sternburg Hefeweizen."
Magazine
The brand Sternburg has its own fan magazine. "Sterni" is published as a PDF-document regularly online at the homepage of the brewery. Inside are stories from fans from the brand, and bands that have written songs about the beer. Interactive features play a large role; readers can express opinions about music or their favorite types of beer.
Sternburg in Popular Culture
Sternburg Export is known in Berlin as "the beer of the people."Available for purchase in most 24-hour "Imbisses" and corner stores for the price of .65 European cents per 1/2 liter, it has been popularized in the capital by alternative cultures (punks, homeless persons) for its low price and its connection to East German history. It could be considered a symbol of East German culture resilience and longevity of East German culture in the face of constant external influences from the West and the capitalist world.
Varieties and Years of Introduction
* 1992 Sternburg Export
* 1992 Sternburg Pilsener
* 1997 Sternburg Schwarzbier
* 2002 Sternburg Radler
* 2004 Sternburg Doppelkaramel
* 2005 Sternburg HefeweizenVarious Names of Brand in Chronological Order
* 1883: Alexander Freiherr Speck von Sternburg'sche Dampfbrauerei
* 1912: Freiherrlich von Sternburg'sche Brauerei
* 1948: Brauerei Sternburg GmbH
* 1949: VVB Venag, VEB Brauerei Sternburg
* 1952: VVB d. Brau- und Malzindustrie, VEB Brauerei Sternburg
* 1958: VEB Brauerei Sternburg Lützschena
* 1964: VEB (K) Brau- und Malzkombinat Sternburg Lützschena, Werk I
* 1969: VEB Brau- und Malzkombinat Sternburg Lützschena, Werk I
* 1990: VEB Exportbierbrauerei Sternburg im VEB Getränkekombinat Leipzig
* 1991: Sternburg Brauerei Lützschena GmbHExternal links
* [http://www.sternburg-bier.de/ Official Website]
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