Brauerei Fohrenburg
Austrian brewery with a unicorn logo since 1881.
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Brauerei Fohrenburg is a brewery located in Bludenz, Vorarlberg, Austria. Established in 1881 by Ferdinand Gassner, it has grown from an initial production capacity of 800,000 litres to become a notable regional brewer. The brewery is distinguished by its unicorn logo, derived from the coat of arms of Bludenz, and its long history of brewing in the Alpine region.
Lore & Background
The Brauerei Fohrenburg was founded in 1881 by Ferdinand Gassner in Bludenz. Its name derives from the neighboring 'Badgasthof Fohrenburg', an inn that existed at the time of the brewery's founding. The brewery's logo, a white rising unicorn on a red shield, was designed by artist and heraldist Konrad Honold (1918–2007). The unicorn has appeared in the coat of arms of the city of Bludenz since 1929 and is described as an ancient symbol of unrestrained strength, enduring strength, and virgin purity.
In 1998, the brewery entered a cooperation with Rauch Fruchtsäfte, a family-owned Austrian fruit juice producer, and was acquired by Rauch in 2000. On 1 May 2017, the brewery merged with the beverage dealer s'Fäscht Wolfgang Sila GmbH. In 2019, Brau Union, an Austrian subcompany of Heineken N.V., increased its stake in Fohrenburg Beteiligungs-AG from 11% to 74%. The brewery currently operates three sites: the main site in Bludenz, the original headquarters of s'Fäscht in Mäder, and a distribution warehouse in Schnann (Tyrol) established in 2012.
Reader's Guide
Brauerei Fohrenburg's significance lies in its long-standing presence in Vorarlberg and its evolution from a local brewery to a multi-site operation under changing ownership. The brewery's history reflects broader trends in the Austrian brewing industry, including consolidation and partnership with larger beverage groups. Its product range includes nearly two dozen types of beer, beer-mixes, soft drinks, and water, with 13 beer specialties and 4 lemonade types produced at the Bludenz location.
The Brewery Museum Fohrenburg, housed in the oldest building on the site (dating to 1881), preserves the brewery's history and the broader story of beer brewing in Bludenz, featuring historical photographs, bottles, labels, advertising motifs, and equipment. The museum also covers the history of gastronomy in Bludenz since 1920. The brewery's legacy is tied to its unicorn emblem, which connects it to the city's heraldic identity, and its ability to adapt through mergers and acquisitions while maintaining production at its original site.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Brauerei Fohrenburg (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Currency conversion: European Central Bank euro reference rates, rates of 1 October 2026.
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