From excursion venue to Dresden brewery
The history of the Feldschlößchen Brewery dates back to the 19th century. In 1838, the Meisl brothers purchased the site at the old Feldschlößchen, which had been established in the mid-17th century next to a farm with beer and wine service. Twenty years later, in 1858, they founded the “Aktienbrauerei zum Feldschlößchen” – marking the beginning of a brewing tradition in Dresden that continues to this day.
The brewery quickly became an important part of Dresden’s beer culture. In 1909, it was even awarded the Medal of Merit by the Royal Capital and Residence City of Dresden.
War years and a new beginning
World War II left its mark. During the bombings between 1939 and 1945, large parts of the brewery were destroyed. However, reconstruction began shortly after the war ended, and beer production resumed as early as 1945.
In the 1960s, the Dresden breweries Feldschlößchen, Felsenkeller, and Waldschlößchen were merged into the state-owned enterprise “VEB Dresdner Brauereien,” creating a central brewing network for Dresden and the surrounding region.
With increasing demand for beer from Dresden, a new production site was eventually built. In 1973, the foundation stone was laid for the modern Feldschlößchen Brewery in Dresden-Coschütz. In 1981, the first beer was brewed there. To this day, Coschütz remains the heart of production.
Feldschlößchen after reunification
Following the political changes of 1990, the brewery structure was reorganized. The Saxon Brewery Union (SBU) was established, and in 1991 production of Feldschlößchen Pilsner began there, while operations at the Budapester Straße site were discontinued. In 1992, Holsten Brewery AG acquired the SBU in full. Three years later, in 1995, it was renamed Feldschlößchen AG Dresden.
After German reunification, the brewery continued to grow and invest in new projects. In 1998, the “Feldschlößchen Stammhaus” restaurant opened in the restored engine house of the former brewery on Budapester Straße in Dresden.
In 2004, Carlsberg A/S of Copenhagen acquired the majority stake in Holsten Brewery AG, making Feldschlößchen part of the Carlsberg Group Germany.
A toast to the Pichmännel
In 2006, the legendary Pichmännel returned to the brand logo and all Feldschlößchen beer labels.
According to legend, the name comes from workers who once sealed wooden beer barrels with pitch (“pichen”). As a reward for their hard work, they were treated to a drink (“picheln”). Today, the Pichmännel symbolizes original Dresden brewing craftsmanship and invites people to enjoy beer together.
150 years of brewing history
In 2008, Feldschlößchen Brewery Dresden celebrated its 150th anniversary, looking back on a long Saxon brewing tradition.
Since 2011, the brewery has once again been in East German ownership. The Carlsberg Group sold Feldschlößchen on January 1, 2011, to a mid-sized brewing group that already included Frankfurter Brauhaus and the French brewery Brasserie Champigneulles.
Since 2016, the Gilde Brewery GmbH from Hanover has also been part of this brewing group.
