Christian Moerlein Brewing

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.

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

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

• Craft beer brewing
• German-style lager
• Brewery manufacturing
• Craft beer distribution
• Taproom operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Taproom Sales: Direct sales of beer through the Malt House Taproom location at CVG airport
3. 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

Core 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.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FC CincinnaticoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChristian 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

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/moerleinbeers
• Facebookfacebook.com/christianmoerlein

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Christian Moerlein Brewing