Lowenbrau Beer: Available In The United States?

Löwenbräu is a popular beer that has been brewed in Munich, Germany, since 1383. It is one of the six breweries that have served beer at every Oktoberfest in Munich since 1810. While Löwenbräu was previously available in the United States, it appears that it is no longer distributed there. However, some sources indicate that it may still be possible to find Löwenbräu in certain regions or specialty stores.

Lowenbrau was purchased by Miller Brewing Co

Löwenbräu (Lion's Brew) is a German beer that was first brewed in Munich in 1383. In 1975, Miller Brewing acquired the North American rights to Löwenbräu, with the intention of competing with Anheuser-Busch's Michelob brand. Miller initially imported Löwenbräu from Munich, but after two years, it began brewing Löwenbräu domestically with an Americanised recipe.

Miller's acquisition of Löwenbräu was not without controversy. In 1977, Anheuser-Busch, the largest brewer in the US, asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Miller for false advertising. Anheuser-Busch alleged that Miller was misleading consumers by marketing Löwenbräu as an imported beer from Germany, when it was, in fact, brewed in the US. Miller had been spending at least $1.5 million per year to promote and develop the name Löwenbräu in the US, cultivating an imported image for the brand. The Löwenbräu brewed in the US was also made with different ingredients and by a significantly different process, resulting in an inferior product compared to the German original.

As a result of the investigation, Miller was forced to change its advertising for Löwenbräu. However, sales of the brand dropped, and it became clear that Löwenbräu would not be able to compete with Michelob for the premium-beer segment. In 1999, the North American rights to Löwenbräu were acquired by the Labatt Brewing Company, which began brewing the beer in Canada for the US and Canadian markets using the original German recipe.

Miller began brewing Lowenbrau domestically with an Americanised recipe

Löwenbräu, or "Lion's Brew", is a popular beer that has been brewed in Munich, Germany, since 1383. It is one of only six beers that are permitted to be sold at Oktoberfest, as only beers brewed in Munich are allowed. Löwenbräu was the largest brewery in Germany around the turn of the century but was heavily impacted by World War I. In 1975, Miller Brewing acquired the North American rights to Löwenbräu and began brewing it domestically with an Americanised recipe.

The original Löwenbräu is brewed according to the German Reinheitsgebot, the Bavarian beer purity regulation of 1516. However, the Americanised recipe introduced artificial ingredients that would not have been allowed under these purity laws. Anheuser-Busch, whose Michelob brand Miller intended to compete with Löwenbräu, called attention to these changes. While no regulatory action was taken, sales of Löwenbräu dropped significantly, and it never seriously competed with Michelob for the premium-beer segment.

In 1999, the North American rights to Löwenbräu were acquired by the Labatt Brewing Company, which began brewing the beer in Canada for the US and Canadian markets using the original German recipe. However, this production ended in 2002, and exports of Munich Löwenbräu to North America resumed, albeit on a much smaller scale. In 2014, Labatt once again acquired the Canadian rights to Löwenbräu and began brewing it at their London, Ontario brewery.

Exports of Munich Lowenbrau to North America ceased

The export business of Munich Löwenbräu to North America has a long and complex history. Löwenbräu, which translates to "Lion's Brew" in German, is a Munich-based brewery that claims to have been founded around 1383. Over the centuries, it grew to become the largest brewery in Germany, with a significant dependence on exports.

However, the export business faced disruptions during World War I, and Löwenbräu's London Depot had to be closed down, resulting in job losses. The brewery resumed its export business in 1948, starting with Switzerland. In 1975, Miller Brewing acquired the North American rights to Löwenbräu, and two years later, they began brewing it domestically with an Americanized recipe. This marked the cessation of exports of Munich Löwenbräu to North America.

Miller's version of Löwenbräu introduced changes to the original recipe, including the use of artificial ingredients, which would have been prohibited under the German Reinheitsgebot, or purity law, of 1516. Despite Miller's advertising claims of compliance with this law, the deviations from the original recipe drew criticism and negative attention. As a result, sales of Löwenbräu suffered, and it failed to compete successfully with other premium beers in the North American market.

In 1999, the North American rights to Löwenbräu were transferred to the Labatt Brewing Company, which began brewing it in Canada for both the Canadian and US markets, using the original German recipe. However, this arrangement ended in 2002, and exports of Munich Löwenbräu to North America resumed but on a much smaller scale compared to the Miller deal.

Today, Löwenbräu continues to be produced in Munich and is shipped to the United States, with Labatt USA overseeing the brand in the US market. The beer remains popular, especially during Oktoberfest, as it is one of only six beers served at the festival and has been a part of this tradition since 1810.

The North American rights to Lowenbrau passed to Labatt Brewing Company in 1999

Löwenbräu is a German beer that has been brewed in Munich, Bavaria, since the 14th century. It is one of the six breweries represented at Oktoberfest, as only beers brewed in Munich can be sold at the event.

In 1975, Miller Brewing acquired the North American rights to Löwenbräu and began brewing it domestically with an Americanised recipe. However, in 1999, the North American rights to Löwenbräu passed to the Labatt Brewing Company, which began brewing Löwenbräu in Canada for both the Canadian and US markets. This ensured that North American beer lovers could enjoy the authentic taste of Löwenbräu, brewed according to the traditional German recipe.

Labatt's production of Löwenbräu lasted from 1999 to 2002, after which exports of Munich Löwenbräu to North America resumed, albeit on a much smaller scale. In 2014, Labatt regained the Canadian rights to Löwenbräu and began brewing it at their London, Ontario brewery, producing a smaller 473ml can and a 341ml bottle.

Today, Löwenbräu is part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev portfolio, a leading global beer company. It continues to be a popular brand in Germany and around the world, known for its excellent taste and adherence to traditional brewing techniques.

Labatt's production of Lowenbrau ended in 2002

Labatt Brewing Company's production of Löwenbräu ended in 2002, but the story of Löwenbräu in North America is a long and complicated one.

Löwenbräu is a German beer that has been brewed in Munich, Bavaria, since around 1383. It was the largest brewery in Munich by 1863, producing a quarter of the city's beer output. Löwenbräu became the largest brewery in Germany around 1900 but was affected by World War I, which disrupted its export business.

In 1975, Miller Brewing acquired the North American rights to Löwenbräu and began brewing it domestically with an Americanised recipe. This version of Löwenbräu was not a success, and sales dropped.

In 1999, the North American rights to Löwenbräu passed to the Labatt Brewing Company, which began brewing Löwenbräu in Canada for the North American market using the same recipe as the German version. However, this arrangement was short-lived, and Labatt's production of Löwenbräu ended in 2002. Exports of the original Munich Löwenbräu to North America resumed but on a much smaller scale.

In 2014, Labatt regained the Canadian rights to Löwenbräu and began brewing it at their London, Ontario, brewery. This new Canadian version of Löwenbräu was not well-received, with some drinkers calling for a boycott due to its inferior taste compared to the original Munich brew.

Today, Löwenbräu is hard to find in the United States, and when it is available, it is the Canadian-brewed version, not the original from Germany.

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