Krönleins
Swedish brewery founded 1836, pioneer of Munich beer and Three Hearts Export.
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Krönleins Brewery, officially Appeltofftska Bryggeri AB, is a Swedish brewery located in Halmstad. It was founded on February 15, 1836, when grocer Anders Julius Appeltofft purchased an old half-timbered hospital building at Stora Torg and turned it into an office and bar, with beer brewed next door. For the first decade, the brewery produced Svensköl, a traditional sweet, low-alcohol Swedish beer, all by manual methods.
In 1849, Appeltofft bought new land a few hundred meters away, which included a 17th-century bastion called "Wester Katt," built to defend the town from western attacks. An ice cellar and a malting facility were constructed on this property. Below the bastion lay a well with high-quality spring water, which many Halmstad residents used and which Krönleins has drawn from since its founding.
Munich beer
Munich beer arrived in Sweden in 1843, introduced by Frederik Rosenquist at his Stockholm brewery, "The German Brewery." Its success was boosted by modern marketing and the Swedish Royal Court becoming a major customer; the Queen's mother, of German heritage, had previously imported her beer from Germany. Within ten years, Munich beer was Sweden's most popular beer, breaking the brewers' long-standing preference for profitable aquavit over quality beer. The exact year Appeltofft began brewing Munich beer is uncertain—some sources suggest from the start, others the 1850s, but the late 1840s is most likely, given that Munich beer requires longer storage and the ice cellar was built in 1849, probably for that purpose. Krönleins was ahead of many Swedish breweries in this regard; local competitor Östra Bryggeriet did not start until 1863.
The Brewery into Ltd Co
Founder Anders Julius Appeltofft died of pneumonia in 1851 after a cold night at a local restaurant. His widow managed the business until 1855, when their eldest son, Per Gustav Appeltofft, took over.
Needing capital, the brewery became a joint stock company in 1861—a date still visible on the brewhouse facade. That year, the staff included one brewer, one bookkeeper, one cellar maid, nine brewers, two stable boys, and two janitorial boys. In 1867, the board decided to reduce water transport costs by building a pipeline from the well to the brewery, which became Halmstad's first permanent pipeline, serving many subscribers.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1836
- Founder
- Anders Julius Appeltofft
- Location
- Halmstad, Sweden
- Key beer
- Three Hearts Export
- Current owners
- Krönlein family (since the 1920s)
- Notable product
- Crocodile Export Lager (won first prize in Brewing Industry International Awards 1990)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Krönleins Brewery was founded on February 15, 1836, when grocery businessman Anders Julius Appeltofft bought an old half-timbered hospital at Stora Torg in Halmstad and converted it into an office and a bar. For the first ten years, the brewery produced Svensköl, a traditional sweet low-alcohol Swedish beer. In 1849, a new ground was purchased with an old bastion from the early 17th century, named Wester Katt, where an ice cellar and malting were built. Below the bastion was a well with high-quality spring water, which the brewery has used since its start.
Munich beer was first introduced in Sweden in 1843 by Frederik Rosenquist. There are conflicting sources as to when Appeltofft started brewing Munich beer—one source suggests from the start, another says the 1850s, but it was likely in the late 1840s.
The ice cellar built in 1849 was probably intended for storing Munich beer, which requires longer storage. Krönleins was ahead of many Swedish breweries in this regard; its local competitor did not start brewing Munich beer until 1863. When pilsner beer arrived in Sweden in the 1870s, it filled a gap in the market with its lighter color and hop-bitterness.
After Anders Julius Appeltofft died in 1851, his widow ran the business until 1855, when their son Per Gustav Appeltofft took over. The brewery became a joint stock company in 1861. In 1897, the business moved to its present premises on Wester Katt, where a new brewhouse was built.
In 1920, Anders Krönlein took over the stock majority, and the Krönlein family has had total ownership since the 1920s. During the 1930s and 1940s, only 2.8% ABV pilsner was brewed. In the early 1950s, Krönleins produced the first high-grade strong beer, Three Hearts Export, for export only, as such beer was prohibited in Sweden at the time.
Reader's Guide
Krönleins Brewery holds a significant place in Swedish brewing history as an early adopter of Munich beer and a pioneer in strong beer production. Its introduction of Three Hearts Export in the early 1950s, initially for export to the United States and Africa, marked a turning point when strong beer was still illegal in Sweden. The beer's bottle caps became sought-after lucky buttons in Côte d'Ivoire, where locals sewed them onto clothing for protection from evil spirits. After strong beer was allowed in Sweden in 1955, Three Hearts Export became one of the most sold strong beer brands.
The brewery also succeeded with Crocodile Export Lager, which won first prize in the Brewing Industry International Awards 1990. Krönleins adapted to market changes by buying its competitor Östra Bryggeriet in 1979 and stopping its own malt production the same year. The company's legacy includes its continuous family ownership since the 1920s and its role in establishing Halmstad's first permanent water pipeline in 1870, which served both the brewery and the city. Today, Krönleins produces a wide range of beers, ciders, spirits, and soft drinks, exporting to many countries including Germany.
More in Breweries of Scandinavia and the Low Countries
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: Krönleins (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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