What Furstenberg does

Fürstenberg (Fürstlich Fürstenbergische Brauerei GmbH & Co. KG) is a German regional brewery headquartered in Donaueschingen, Baden-Württemberg, with brewing rights tracing back to a 1283 grant from King Rudolf I. of Habsburg to Graf Heinrich I. von Fürstenberg. The current brewery site has operated continuously since 1739. Fürstenberg brews and sells a portfolio of beers including its flagship Pilsener, Helles Naturtrüb, Export, wheat beers (Hefeweizen Hell/Dunkel, Kristallweizen), Natur Radler, and an alcohol-free line (Pilsener 0.0%, Natur Radler 0.0%, Zitrus Radler 0.0%) built on a 2019 dealcoholization plant. Distribution runs through retail/Getränkefachgroßhandel, gastronomy/hospitality supply, an on-site boutique, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop, and exports to several European countries plus the US.

The company monetizes through three primary streams: wholesale beer sales to retail and on-premise accounts, branded merchandise and event tickets via shop.fuerstenberg.de, and paid experiential offerings — brewery tours (€12.50), public brewing courses (€90/person), and tap courses (€34.90/person) — anchored by the Schaubrauwerk (show brewery) opened in 2015. Customer segments are regional consumers in southern Baden-Württemberg and hospitality operators, with relationship tenures ranging from 10 to 175 years. Marketing leans heavily on long-term cultural sponsorships (ZMF Freiburg 40+ years, Schwenninger Wild Wings, Donaueschinger Musiktage, CHI Donaueschingen) and annual Fasnet carnival editions printed on 4.5M+ bottles.

Fürstenberg has operated as a subsidiary of Brau Holding International (now Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe) since 2005, giving it access to group-scale procurement, logistics, and capital while it maintains an independent regional brand. The company was the first in the German brewing industry to certify to DIN EN ISO 9001 (1993) and received environmental management certification in 1994. A 2025 visual rebrand and continued alcohol-free portfolio expansion reflect a measured offensive posture against a declining German beer market.

Name

Furstenberg

Legal name

Fürstlich Fürstenbergische Brauerei GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://fuerstenberg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1739

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fürstenberg is a German regional brewery founded in 1283, producing traditional and alcohol-free beers for retail and on-premise hospitality customers in southern Baden-Württemberg, supplemented by branded merchandise, brewery tours, and brewing courses under the Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe umbrella.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brewery / Beer Manufacturing

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

Keywords

• German brewery operations
• Beer manufacturing
• Alcohol-free beer production
• Brewery tour experiences
• Regional beer distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Donaueschingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Beer Production and Sales: Core revenue stream from brewing and selling beer products including Pilsener, Helles Naturtrüb, Export, Weizenbiere, Radler, and alcohol-free variants through retail and gastronomy channels.
2. E-commerce and Merchandise: Direct-to-consumer online shop selling merchandise including glasses, apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, jackets), accessories (grill sets, travel bags), and event tickets for brewery tours and brewing courses.
3. Gastronomy and Hospitality Supply: Supply of beer products to restaurants, bars, hotels, and hospitality establishments. The company honors long-term partnerships with gastronomy operators, with partnerships ranging from 10 to 175 years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fürstenberg is a traditional German brewery that produces and sells a portfolio of beers including Pilsener, Helles Naturtrüb, Export, wheat beers, Radler, seasonal specialties, and a 0.0% alcohol-free line. Beyond brewing, the company operates the Schaubrauwerk (show brewery) offering brewery tours, public brewing courses, and tap courses, plus a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop for branded merchandise, glasses, and apparel.

Product overview

Fürstenberg is a traditional German brewery offering a portfolio of beer products centered on its flagship Pilsener, complemented by classic lagers (Helles Naturtrüb, Export), wheat beers (Hefeweizen Hell, Dunkel, Kristallweizen), radler varieties, seasonal specials (Winterbier), and an alcohol-free line. The core products are sold through retail and hospitality partners, while an e-commerce platform (Fürstenberg Online-Shop) sells branded merchandise including glasses, apparel, and event experiences. The Brauwerk serves as a show brewery offering interactive experiences including public brewing courses, tap courses, and guided tours. The 2025 rebranding emphasizes regional identity with illustrations of Donaueschingen on labels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fürstenberg Pilsener: Flagship beer - fine herb and fresh pilsener
• Helles Naturtrüb
• Export
• Natur Radler
• Fürstenberg Frei / Alkoholfrei
• Hefeweizen Hell/Dunkel
• Weizen Kristall
• Winterbier
• Fürstenberg Brauwerk
• Fürstlich Fürstenbergische Brauerei
• Fürstenberg Premium

Products and services

• Pilsener Fürstenberg's flagship Pilsener beer, brewed with fine barley, premium hops, and exceptionally soft water from the company's own deep well; characterized as fine-herbal and fresh. Sold through retail, gastronomy, and the online shop.
• Helles Naturtrüb Unfiltered pale lager beer described as mild and drinkable; part of the classic range sold through retail, gastronomy, and the online shop.
• Export Full-bodied, malt-forward Export beer; part of the classic range distributed through retail and gastronomy.
• Natur Radler Natural radler (beer mixed with lemonade); a refreshingly genuine, naturally positioned radler sold through retail and gastronomy.
• Pilsener 0,0% Alkoholfrei Alcohol-free Pilsener positioned as 'Zero alcohol. Full enjoyment'; produced via Fürstenberg's dealcoholization plant introduced in 2019.
• Zitrus Radler 0,0% Alkoholfrei Citrus-flavored alcohol-free radler positioned as refreshingly different and alcohol-free; part of the 0.0% range.
• Hefeweizen Hell Light wheat beer described as fruity and sparkling; part of the wheat beer collection.
• Hefeweizen Dunkel Dark wheat beer characterized as malty, full-bodied, and rustic; part of the wheat beer collection.
• Weizen Kristall Crystal-clear wheat beer described as clear, sparkling, and refreshing; part of the wheat beer collection.
• Winterbier Seasonal winter specialty beer released annually; positioned as 'The Special One' within the specialty beer range.
• Fürstenberg Online-Shop (Merchandise & Tickets) E-commerce platform at shop.fuerstenberg.de selling branded merchandise including glasses, apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, polo shirts, jackets), accessories (grill sets, travel bags), and tickets for brewery experiences. Ships merchandise within Germany.
• Brauereibesichtigung (Brewery Tour) Behind-the-scenes guided tour of the brewery teaching visitors about beer production and brewery history; concludes with three selected draft beers in the Fürstenberg Bräustüble. Approximately 90 minutes.
• Braukurs (Public Brewing Course) Public brewing course at the Brauwerk where participants brew 100 liters of beer alongside a master brewer. Approximately 7 hours; includes traditional meal and self-brewed beer to take home. Min 10, max 25 participants.
• Zapfkurs (Tap Course) Seminar on beer care and draft beer serving covering cooling temperature, glass care, tap adjustments, and keg changing. Duration 3 hours, max 25 participants.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe (formerly Brau Holding International)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005In 2005, Fürstlich Fürstenbergische Brauerei was integrated into Brau Holding International (now Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe) to secure the future of the princely brewery. This is one of the largest brewing groups in Germany, providing strategic backing and resources for Fürstenberg's operations.
• Schwenninger Wild WingscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMulti-decade partnership with the ice hockey team playing in the DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga). The partnership is not tied to league standings - Fürstenberg supports the team through both successful and challenging times, demonstrating commitment to regional sports.
• Zelt-Musik-Festival (ZMF) FreiburgcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partner of the ZMF festival for over 40 years. The festival combines art events, open-air fair, and open stage of life, which aligns with the Fürstenberg brand feeling. Fürstenberg supports additional music events including I EM Music! Emmendingen and Freiburg Live.
• Donaueschinger MusiktagecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term supporter of the world-renowned Donaueschinger Musiktage (contemporary music festival), demonstrating Fürstenberg's commitment to high culture alongside popular cultural events.
• CHI DonaueschingenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the CHI Donaueschingen equestrian tournament for decades, supporting regional sporting events.
• Narrenzunft Furtwangen e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCarnival society featured on 2026 Fasnet edition labels. Founded 1926, celebrating 100th anniversary in 2026 with nearly 500 members. Represents traditional Fasnet culture in the Hochschwarzwald region.
• Gayser-Gilde Obereschach e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCarnival society featured on 2026 Fasnet edition labels. Founded 1976, celebrating 50th anniversary in 2026 with approximately 360 members. The 'Gayser' character represents historical peasant traditions.
• Gasthaus Linde, Blumberg (Family Giersig)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHonored for 175 years of partnership - the longest-standing gastronomy partner mentioned. Represents the deep-rooted relationships Fürstenberg maintains with regional hospitality businesses.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Augustiner-Bräu: Traditional Munich brewery with strong regional premium position and Helles-led portfolio. Comparable on traditional German brewing, on-premise dominance, and heritage brand equity, though operating in Bavaria rather than Baden-Württemberg.
• Krombacher Brauerei: Major German national brewer with Pils as flagship and a strong alcohol-free range. Comparable on portfolio overlap (Pilsener plus alcohol-free) and on the brewing-plus-experience diversification model.
• Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe: Parent group of Fürstenberg and one of Germany's largest brewing conglomerates. Sister brands include Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, and other regional breweries; relevant as group-level context and shared distribution/scale.
• Erdinger Weissbräu: Germany's largest wheat beer (Weissbier) producer with strong national distribution and export presence. Comparable as a German brewery with diversified portfolio and significant non-Pilsener wheat beer focus.
• Bitburger Brauerei: One of Germany's largest national brewers with Pils-focused portfolio. Comparable on broad German Pilsener category, but operates at substantially larger national scale than Fürstenberg.
• Franziskaner Weissbräu (Spaten-Löwenbräu-Gruppe / AB InBev): Well-known German wheat beer brand within the Spaten-Löwenbräu group. Comparable on traditional German brewing heritage, wheat beer portfolio, and regional-to-national distribution.
• Hofbräu München: Iconic Munich state-owned brewery with global brand recognition and traditional Bavarian brewing. Comparable as a heritage regional German brewery with strong tourism and on-premise business model.

Direct peers

• Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus: State-owned regional brewery in the Black Forest (southern Baden-Württemberg), producing Rothaus Pils and specialty beers. Most directly comparable peer: same geography, same regional premium positioning, same traditional brewery model, and direct overlap in southern Baden-Württemberg on-premise and retail channels.
• Ganter Brauerei: Freiburg-based regional brewery with similar southern Baden-Württemberg footprint and traditional brewing portfolio. Competes head-to-head with Fürstenberg in regional gastronomy and retail.

Regional players

• Waldhaus Privatbrauerei: Black Forest (Schwarzwald) regional brewery with similar craft-style and regional premium positioning. Comparable in heritage-driven regional premium narrative and southern German geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fuerstenberg.bier
• Instagraminstagram.com/fuerstenberg
• Xx.com/furstenberg_uk

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Furstenberg