Hausbrauerei Altstadthof

What Hausbrauerei Altstadthof does

Hausbrauerei Altstadthof GmbH is a family-owned craft brewery and distillery established in 1984 in Nuremberg's Altstadt at the historic site of the former Rotes Brauhaus, at the foot of the Kaiserburg. The company was Germany's first brewery to brew exclusively with organic raw materials and today operates as an integrated producer of organic beer specialties, single malt whisky and gin, beer brandies, and ancillary food and merchandise products, complemented by on-site gastronomy, a brewery store, a ProBier Boutique tasting room, and a private cask programme. It sells directly to German consumers and to seven additional European markets (Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, France, Sweden, Finland, Denmark) via its own e-commerce platform, and indirectly through a 'Für Händler' retail channel. The customer base is entirely B2C, segmented into craft beer enthusiasts, whisky and spirit collectors, and visitors to Nuremberg's old town.

The product portfolio is anchored by Original Nürnberger Rotbier, brewed with an in-house roasted red specialty malt that also serves as the base for the AYRER's whisky line. Whisky production uses triple distillation and aging in historic rock cellars (Historische Felsengänge) at 10-15°C to approximate Scottish maturation conditions. The AYRER's brand includes multiple cask-finished expressions (PX Sherry, Ruby Port, Martinique Rum, Peated Islay AYLA, Alligator Char 4, TOWER Char 3, MASTERCUT at 75% ABV), seasonal and blended limited editions including the Burns Supper series co-developed with Glasgow Distillery 1770, and organic single malt gins (SPRING NBG DRY, WINTER NBG DRY). DE-ÖKO-001 organic certification covers the full product range, with raw materials sourced from regional Franconian suppliers (Hersbruck/Eckental barley and hops). The company holds no disclosed patents but maintains proprietary processes around its red specialty malt and the integration of brewing and distilling under one roof.

Revenue is generated across six streams: craft beer sales, AYRER's whisky, gin, and beer brandy sales (including the private cask programme at approximately €1,650-2,000 per 30-litre cask yielding ~50 bottles), on-site gastronomy across four venues (Rotbierstüberl, Restaurant, Sommergarten, Schmelztiegel) with capacities of 35-90 guests, tours and tasting events (e.g., Rotbier Tasting at €39/person), branded merchandise, and gift vouchers (€10-€150). Pricing spans from €7.50/litre for standard beers to €390/litre for limited-release whiskies. Distribution is direct-to-consumer primary, with retail and wholesale partnerships via the 'Für Händler' channel as a secondary motion. The company employs approximately 22 staff and operates with no disclosed external funding, revenue figures, or institutional investors.

Name

Hausbrauerei Altstadthof

Legal name

Hausbrauerei Altstadthof GmbH

Website

https://hausbrauerei-altstadthof.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Family-owned German craft brewery and distillery founded 1984 in Nuremberg producing organic beer, AYRER's single malt whisky, gin, and beer brandies; operates on-site gastronomy, retail, and a private cask program serving German and EU consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer and Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Breweries (31212), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft brewery
• Organic beer
• Single malt whisky
• Beer brandies
• Brewery gastronomy

Headquarters

HQ city

Nuremberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Craft Beer Sales: Sale of specialty beers including Original Nürnberger Rotbier, Nürnberger SommerBier, Nürnberger Kellerbier, Roter Bock, Maibock, and seasonal offerings. Sold via on-site gastronomy, online shop, and retail.
2. Whisky and Spirits Sales: Sale of AYRER's organic single malt whiskies, gin variants (SPRING, WINTER), beer brandies (Bierbrände), and malt liqueur. Premium pricing with cask-strength and limited-edition products commanding higher prices.
3. Gastronomy: On-site food and beverage sales through the Rotbierstüberl, Restaurant, Sommergarten, and Schmelztiegel music cellar. Table reservations available. Catering and group bookings for events.
4. Private Cask (My Whisky): 30-litre private whisky cask program with pricing of approximately €1,650–2,000 including cask, aging, and certificate. Customers choose barrel type, aging location, and duration. Yields approximately 50 bottles of 0.5L.
5. Merchandise and Ancillary Products: Sale of branded merchandise including glasses, tankards, whisky nosing glasses, gift boxes, snack malt products, RotbierSenf (beer mustard), and malt liqueur candies.
6. Tours and Tasting Events: Revenue from beer tasting events, Rotbier Tasting (5 beers, max 12 people, 90 minutes, €39), and combined tours of Historische Felsengänge with brewery and distillery components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hausbrauerei Altstadthof is a craft brewery and distillery producing organic beer specialties, organic single malt whisky and gin (AYRER's brand), and beer brandies, all from regionally sourced Franconian raw materials. It sells these products directly to consumers through its own online shop, on-site brewery store, tasting boutique, and four gastronomy venues, while also operating a private cask ownership program (My Whisky), brewery tours of the historic rock cellars, and wholesale supply to third-party retailers.

Product overview

Hausbrauerei Altstadthof is a traditional craft brewery and distillery based in Nuremberg, Germany, founded in 1984 as Germany's first organic brewery. Its product portfolio is organized around three interconnected pillars: (1) Beer Specialties — including the flagship Original Nürnberger RotBier, seasonal offerings (SommerBier, Maibock, Roter Bock, Nürnberger Kellerbier, Oak Aged PX Sherry Cask Bockbier, WinterWärmer, Ostergold, Grüner Hersbrucker), and beer distillates (RotBierBrand, SchwarzBierBrand, BockBierBrand, WeissBierBrand, MaiBockBrand, RotBierBrand Barrique, Malzlikör); (2) AYRER's Spirits — the organic single malt whisky brand featuring expressions aged in various casks (TOWER No.1 Char 3, RED Medium Toasted, PX Sherry Cask, ALLIGATOR Char 4, AYLA Peated Cask, RUBY Port Cask, MARTINIQUE Rum Cask, MASTERCUT, MOONSHINE NewMake), blended editions (Burns Supper 2025/2026), and organic single malt gins (SPRING NBG DRY, WINTER NBG DRY); and (3) Complementary products — gift boxes, gift vouchers, tasting experiences (RotBier Tasting, Private Cask program), food products (RotBierSenf, Malzbonbons, Knabbermalz), accessories (glasses, tankards), and on-site gastronomy (Rotbierstüberl, Restaurant Bühne, Sommergarten). All products share the common thread of organic, regional Franconian ingredients, handcrafted production, and the use of the distinctive red specialty malt also used in Nürnberger Rotbier.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AYRER's: Organic Single Malt Whisky and Gin brand of Hausbrauerei Altstadthof
• ProBier Boutique
• My Whisky

Products and services

• Original Nürnberger RotBier
• Nürnberger SommerBier
• Maibock Seasonal spring specialty beer with multi-layered hop aromas from regional organic aroma hop varieties, cold-hopped with Cascade, Eureka and Akoya, delivering fruity-floral nuances and balanced bitterness.
• Roter Bock Deep-red strong specialty beer brewed with the brewery's special red malt, featuring intense malt aromatic character, pleasant sweetness, and subtly tuned hop notes.
• Nürnberger Kellerbier
• Oak Aged – PX Sherry Cask (Whisky-Fassgereiftes Bockbier)
• Nürnberger WinterWärmer
• Nürnberger Ostergold
• Grüner Hersbrucker
• AYRER's TOWER No.1 – Char 3
• AYRER's RED – Medium Toasted
• AYRER's PX – Sherry Cask
• AYRER's ALLIGATOR – Char 4
• AYRER's AYLA – Peated Cask
• AYRER's RUBY – Port Cask
• AYRER's MARTINIQUE – Rum Cask
• AYRER's MASTERCUT
• AYRER's MOONSHINE – NewMake
• Burns Supper Special Edition 2025
• Burns Supper Special Edition 2026
• AYRER's SPRING NBG DRY (Organic Single Malt Gin)
• AYRER's WINTER NBG DRY (Organic Single Malt Gin)
• RotBierBrand
• BockBierBrand
• WeissBierBrand
• MaiBockBrand
• SchwarzBierBrand
• RotBierBrand Barrique
• Malzlikör
• Altstadthof BierBrand Box
• AYRER's Whisky Box
• Gutschein Altstadthof (Gift Voucher)
• RotBier Tasting
• My Whisky (Private Cask Program)
• RotBierSenf (Beer Mustard)
• Malzbonbons (Malt Candies)
• Knabbermalz (Roasted Malt Snack)
• On-site Gastronomy (Rotbierstüberl, Restaurant, Sommergarten, Schmelztiegel)

Quantifiable outcome

• Awarded 1st place falstaff Whisky Trophy with 98 points (AYRER's PX Sherry Cask)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Amt für Internationale Beziehungen (City of Nuremberg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2026Partnership with the City of Nuremberg's International Relations Office for the annual Burns Supper event celebrating the Glasgow-Nuremberg city twinning (40 years in 2025/2026). The partnership produces special blended whisky editions combining AYRER's Nürnberg whisky with Glasgow Distillery 1770 whisky.
• Nürnberger Highland Circle / Bernd SchäfercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2026Collaboration with Bernd Schäfer of the Nürnberger Highland Circle (local whisky enthusiast group) in the annual Burns Supper event and special blended whisky editions. Bernd Schäfer co-develops the Burns Supper Special Edition whisky blends.
• Glasgow Distillery 1770coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2025Partnership with Glasgow Distillery 1770 for the Burns Supper Special Edition blended whisky, combining Nürnberg AYRER's organic single malt with Glasgow Distillery 1770 whisky. The 2025 edition blended AYRER's (5 years, Ex-Sherry Peated) with Glasgow 1770 (5 years, Virgin American Oak Peated) at a 1:3 ratio.
• Historische Felsengänge NürnbergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operation connecting the Hausbrauerei Altstadthof with the historic rock tunnel system (Historische Felsengänge). The Felsengänge were originally used for cool-aging beer and are now used for whisky aging and as a tourist attraction. Combined tours are offered with tickets purchased via the Felsengänge website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Riedenburger Brauhaus: Award-winning Bavarian organic craft brewery with a wide specialty range and on-site gastronomy. Closely comparable to Altstadthof's certified-organic, region-anchored craft positioning and product breadth.
• St. Kilian Distillers: Germany's largest single malt whisky distillery, based in Radevormwald. Comparable to Altstadthof as a German craft single malt producer with a broad cask-finished range, international award recognition and growing DTC and export presence.
• Brauerei Schlenkerla: Historic Bamberg specialty brewery famous for Rauchbier (smoked beer). Comparable as a Franconian heritage craft brewery with regional style leadership, on-site gastronomy and strong tourism-linked DTC demand.
• Slyrs Bavarian Whisky: Bavarian single malt whisky distillery (Schliersee) with on-site distillery tours, gastronomy and DTC retail — a direct structural analogue to Altstadthof's integrated brewery-distillery-visit model in a different German region.
• Neumarkter Lammsbräu: One of Germany's oldest organic breweries (Neumarkt, Bavaria). Closely comparable to Altstadthof's 1984 organic-first positioning, regional Franconian/Bavarian identity, and organic-certified specialty portfolio.
• Mackmyra Svensk Whisky: Swedish craft single malt distillery with experimental cask finishes, on-site visitor center and DTC sales. Comparable to Altstadthof as a Northern European craft single malt challenger building an international brand from a non-Scotch base.

Regional players

• Brauerei Hofmühl: Independent Bavarian brewery (Straubing) with regional specialties and on-site gastronomy. Comparable in size and product mix to Altstadthof as a Southern German family-owned craft brewer with regional tourism appeal.
• Tucher Bräu: Major Nürnberg-based traditional brewery (Tucher Pils brand). Same city as Altstadthof and the opposing party in the Rotbierstreit trademark dispute — provides direct regional competitive context for Altstadthof's Rotbier positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Glenmorangie: Established Scottish Highland single malt producer (LVMH-owned) with extensive cask-finishing range (Sherry, Port, etc.). Provides a broad-incumbent benchmark for cask-finished single malt pricing, distribution scale and category dynamics that Altstadthof competes against in trade and on-trade listings.

Emerging players

• Spitzmill Distillers: Small German craft distillery producing single malt whisky and specialty spirits. Comparable as an emerging German craft distiller competing for the same niche-award and DTC customer base as AYRER's.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HausbrauereiAltstadthof
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hausbrauerei-altstadthof

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Hausbrauerei Altstadthof