Christian Moerlein Brewing
Christian Moerlein Brewing Company is a privately held Cincinnati craft brewery producing German-style beers per the Reinheitsgebot — Lager, Pitch Pilsner, and seasonal Radler — distributed regionally in cans and on draft, plus a taproom at CVG airport.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1853
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Christian Moerlein Brewing does
Christian Moerlein Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, operating as a brand under Cincinnati Beverage Company (which acquired it in 2004). The company brews German-style beers in adherence to the Reinheitsgebot (German Beer Purity Law), using malted barley, noble hops, and pure water. Its product portfolio consists of two year-round SKUs — Christian Moerlein Lager and Pitch Pilsner — and a seasonal Radler (Pilsner blended with blood orange). Products are packaged in 6-pack 12 oz cans and distributed via regional retail, on-premise draft accounts, and the company's direct-to-consumer Malt House Taproom at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), with branded merchandise also sold through an online store.
The company serves craft beer enthusiasts seeking authentic German-style beers with a heritage pedigree, secondarily courting FC Cincinnati fans and Cincinnati heritage/history enthusiasts. Its go-to-market is primarily a direct-to-consumer / regional retail motion, supported by a Beer Finder tool on its website and a co-branded sports partnership with FC Cincinnati (Pitch Pilsner). Revenue mechanics are simple: transactional beer sales through distributors and retailers, on-premise taproom transactions, and ancillary merchandise sales.
Founded by Bavarian immigrant Christian Moerlein (who arrived in Cincinnati in 1841 and began brewing by the 1853 mark), the brand grew into the largest brewery in Ohio and fifth-largest in the U.S. by 1890, when Cincinnati was dubbed the "Beer Capital of the World." The original brewery ceased during Prohibition; the brand was revived in 1981 with Select Lager and re-anchored in Cincinnati in 2004 under Cincinnati Beverage Company. In 2023, the company pivoted its lineup to exclusively German-style beers and refreshed its visual identity to emphasize Bavarian heritage. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, employees, or financial metrics in the source data.
Christian Moerlein Brewing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Christian Moerlein Brewing
- Legal name
- Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.
- Website
- https://christianmoerlein.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1853
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Christian Moerlein Brewing Company is a privately held Cincinnati craft brewery producing German-style beers per the Reinheitsgebot — Lager, Pitch Pilsner, and seasonal Radler — distributed regionally in cans and on draft, plus a taproom at CVG airport.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Christian Moerlein Brewing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Brewing
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)
Keywords
Where Christian Moerlein Brewing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Christian Moerlein Brewing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Beer Sales: Sale of brewed beer products through retail distribution in 6-pack 12 oz cans and on draft/tap. Primary revenue stream from physical beer products sold through distributors and retailers.
- Taproom Sales: Direct sales of beer through the Malt House Taproom location at CVG airport
- Merchandise Sales: Online merchandise store selling branded merchandise and apparel through shop.cincinnatibeverageco.com
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Christian Moerlein Brewing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Christian Moerlein Brewing Company is a craft brewery that produces and sells German-style beers brewed in adherence to the German Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law) using malted barley, noble hops, and pure water. Its beer lineup includes year-round offerings (Lager, Pitch Pilsner) and seasonal offerings (Radler), sold in 6-pack 12 oz cans, on draft at on-premise accounts, and served at the company's Malt House Taproom at CVG airport, with branded merchandise sold online.
Product overview
Christian Moerlein Brewing Company is a craft brewery producing German-style beers brewed true to the German Reinheitsgebot standard. The product portfolio consists of year-round core beers (Lager and Pitch Pilsner) and seasonal offerings (Radler). Beers are available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft. The company operates a taproom at CVG airport (Malt House Taproom) and products can be found through their Beer Finder tool and online shop.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Christian Moerlein Lager Year-round traditional malted lager brewed with malted barley, noble hops, and pure water in the spirit of the German Reinheitsgebot. Marketed as crisp, clean, and legendary. Packaged in 6-pack 12 oz cans and available on draft; sold to adult consumers through retail and on-premise accounts in the Cincinnati market.
- Pitch Pilsner Year-round Pilsner with bright golden color, hop-forward taste, and lighter body. Brewed with pride for the Orange and Blue and positioned as the official craft beer of FC Cincinnati. Packaged in cans and available on draft for retail and on-premise consumers.
- Radler Seasonal craft beer blending Pilsner with real blood orange juice and puree, delivering a refreshing citrusy profile with subtle sweetness balanced by tartness. Packaged in 6-pack 12 oz cans and served on draft for adult consumers during its seasonal window.
- Malt House Taproom Taproom location at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG) Airport where Christian Moerlein beers are poured and sold directly to travelers. Functions as the brand's flagship direct-to-consumer venue.
Companies that use Christian Moerlein Brewing
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Christian Moerlein Brewing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Christian Moerlein Brewing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- FC CincinnaticoreChristian Moerlein Brewing is the Official Craft Beer Partner of FC Cincinnati (FC Cincy). The partnership includes beer sales at games and promotional events, with the Pitch Pilsner specifically brewed for the Orange and Blue team colors.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Christian Moerlein Brewing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths2 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Christian Moerlein Brewing social profiles
Digital presenceChristian Moerlein Brewing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Christian Moerlein Brewing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Christian Moerlein Brewing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Christian Moerlein Brewing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Christian Moerlein Brewing
What does Christian Moerlein Brewing do?
Christian Moerlein Brewing Company is a craft brewery that produces and sells German-style beers brewed in adherence to the German Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law) using malted barley, noble hops, and pure water. Its beer lineup includes year-round offerings (Lager, Pitch Pilsner) and seasonal offerings (Radler), sold in 6-pack 12 oz cans, on draft at on-premise accounts, and served at the company's Malt House Taproom at CVG airport, with branded merchandise sold online.
Is Christian Moerlein Brewing a public or private company?
Christian Moerlein Brewing is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Christian Moerlein Brewing founded?
Christian Moerlein Brewing was founded in 1853. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Christian Moerlein Brewing based?
Christian Moerlein Brewing is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does Christian Moerlein Brewing make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Beer Sales are the primary driver. The others are taproom Sales and merchandise Sales.
Does Christian Moerlein Brewing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Christian Moerlein Brewing.
What industry is Christian Moerlein Brewing in?
Christian Moerlein Brewing's product category is Craft Brewing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAA, Beer Brewing & Brands, with a secondary code of THAFALAA, Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service). Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 2082.