Christianssands Bryggeri

Lore & Background

CB was founded in 1856 by consul Ole Jacob Mørch. Due to financial difficulties following the Crimean War, Mørch sold the brewery in 1859 to consul Jørgen Christiansen, who completed construction and began production that autumn.

Kristiansand then had about 11,000 inhabitants, and the brewery became a successful business. The Christiansen family ran the brewery for five generations until 1964, when shares were sold to Tou Brewery in Stavanger. Subsequent owners included the investor group Sørlandvekst and the Swedish brewery Spendrups, until Hansa Borg Bryggerier AS acquired it in 1999.

All CB products are brewed with artesian water from the source of Christian IV. According to the brewery, this source was discovered in 1932 during an extraordinarily dry summer when the company's plumber used a divining rod. At a depth of 32 meters, he found crystal-clear, 100% pure water that maintains a stable temperature of 9–10 degrees Celsius year-round. The brewery also produces a julebrus (Christmas soda) with a golden brown colour and a taste reminiscent of Champagne.

Reader's Guide

Christianssands Bryggeri holds a notable place in Norwegian brewing history as one of the three breweries that formed Hansa Borg Bryggerier AS, the second largest brewery group in Norway. Its closure in 2022 and the relocation of production to Sarpsborg marked the end of a 166-year brewing tradition in Kristiansand. The brewery's water source, discovered by a plumber using a divining rod in 1932, became a defining characteristic of its beers. The water, drawn from 32 meters deep, is described as crystal-clear, 100% pure, and stable at 9–10 degrees Celsius.

CB also developed a dedicated following through its fan club, 'CB-ølets venner' (friends of the CB beer), which claims more than 10,000 life-term members. Additionally, the brewery's julebrus, a Christmas soda with a golden brown colour and Champagne-like taste, became a seasonal tradition. The brewery's legacy is tied to its long family ownership by the Christiansen family for five generations, followed by a series of corporate owners before becoming part of the Hansa Borg group.