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KÖNIG LUDWIG INTERNATIONAL GMBH & CO. KG ‒ GUARANTOR OF THE ROYAL ART OF BREWING
Centuries-old Wittelsbach brewing tradition forms the foundation for an internationally-successful licensing business with the royal Bavarian beer brands.
Beer has always been an important part of Bavarian culture and the members of the ruling family were staunch promoters of the art of brewing. The unique interrelationship between the ruling family and an interest in the product – which has spanned almost 800 years – ensured that beer became a part of the cultural heritage of Bavaria. By introducing the Bavarian Purity Law in 1516, the Wittelsbachs left behind a great legacy for the brewing world. Today, it is still considered to be a global quality standard and a benchmark for the brewing of pure, delicious beers.
The first brewery in the House of Wittelsbach was founded in Munich in 1260 by Duke Ludwig the Strict. Since then, a total of 70 Wittelsbach breweries have been created over the centuries. The home to today’s beer business, run by Luitpold Prince of Bavaria, is the König Ludwig Schloßbrauerei Kaltenberg near Munich; it is where all the Bavarian speciality beers are brewed.
König Ludwig International GmbH & Co. KG holds all of the registered trademarks for the royal brands of Kaltenberg, König Ludwig Dunkel and König Ludwig Weissbier which it commercialises by means of international licensing. The company thus assumes responsibility for global brand management.
