Bitburger Brewery

{{Short description|German brewery founded in 1817}} {{ref improve|date=March 2013}} {{Infobox brewery | name = Bitburger Brewery | logo = Bitburger logo.svg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = File:ICE 100 Karlsruhe - Frankfurt Main Flughafen (29860500127).jpg

| image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | type = | location = | location_place = | location_city = [[Bitburg]] | location_state = | location_country = [[Germany]] | coordinates = {{coord|49|58|28|N|6|31|18|E|display=inline,title|region:DE-RP_type:landmark_source:dewiki}} | mapframe-zoom = 5 | opened = {{start date and age|1817}} | closed = | key_people = | production = {{convert|3.84|e6hl|usbeerbbl|lk=on}} in 2015<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aktiongutesbier.de/statistik-bier-und-brauereien/ |title=Biermarken in Deutschland |author= |date=n.d. |website=Aktion Gutes Bier |language=de |access-date=2016-10-12}}</ref> | other_products = September| revenue = | operating_income = | intl = | net_income = | assets = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | distribution = | tasting = | url = | active_beers = | seasonal_beers = | other_beers = | inactive_beers = }}

'''Bitburger Brewery''' (Bitburger Brauerei Th. Simon GmbH) is a large [[Beer in Germany|German brewery]] in [[Bitburg]], [[Rhineland-Palatinate]]. Founded in 1817 by Johann Wallenborn, its [[Pilsner]] is the [[Beer in Germany#Breweries|third best-selling]] in Germany, and the nation's top-selling [[draught beer]].<ref>[https://www.inside.beer/news/detail/germany-the-most-successful-german-beer-brands-in-2020/ "Germany: The most successful German beer brands in 2020", Inside Beer]</ref>

Johann Peter Wallenborn (1784–1839) founded the brewery in [[Bitburg]] in 1817 at the age of 33. His father owned a brewery in [[Kyllburg]]. Three years after Wallenborn's death in 1839, Ludwig Bertrand Simon (1813–1869) married Wallenborn's daughter Elisabeth (1819–1891) and became owner of the brewery, naming it Simonbräu. Their son, Theobald Simon (1847–1924), took over the brewery in 1876 at the age of 29.<ref name="Glaser">{{cite news |last1=Glaser |first1=Gregg |title=Bitte, ein bit: Bitburger sells more draft than any other German brewer |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bitte%2c+ein+bit%3a+Bitburger+sells+more+draft+than+any+other+German...-a0113897958 |work=Modern Brewery Age |date=26 January 2004 |via=[[The Free Library]]}}</ref>

==Product range== Bitburger is a 4.8% [[Alcohol by volume|abv]] [[Pilsner]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Premium Pils |url=https://www.bitburger.com/beers/premium-classics/premium-pils |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=www.bitburger.com}}</ref> with annual sales of {{convert|1.2|e6hl|e6USbeerbbl|abbr=off}}.{{Citation needed|date=February 2016}} It is a popular beer throughout western Germany, and is favored in many areas of [[North Rhine Westphalia]] even over [[Altbier|Alt]] beer or [[Kölsch (beer)|Kölsch]], which are popular in [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Cologne]], respectively.

In Germany, there are also variations of the original beer, mostly beermixes, available. "Bit Sun" (a light beer), "Cola Libre" (beer and cola and rum-lemon-flavour), "Bit Copa" (beer and [[Lime (fruit)|lime]] and [[cachaça]]) and "Bit Passion" (beer and [[pomegranate]]). There is also a [[malzbier]] called "Kandimalz" and "Bitburger Alkoholfrei" (sold as Bitburger 'Drive' in [[English language|English]]-speaking countries), a non-alcoholic version of the normal "Bitburger."<ref>{{cite web |title=Product data: Bitburger Drive 0,0% alkoholfreies Pils |url=http://www2.bitburger-international.com/index.php?id=36493&no_cache=1&L=0&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1[national]=0&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1[brand]=1&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1[product]=27&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1[media]=-1&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1[lang]=ALL&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1[focus]=63 |publisher=Bitburger Braugruppe |date=n.d. |accessdate=15 August 2019 |archive-date=15 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815092036/https://www2.bitburger-international.com/index.php?id=36493&no_cache=1&L=0&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1%255Bnational%255D=0&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1%255Bbrand%255D=1&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1%255Bproduct%255D=27&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1%255Bmedia%255D=-1&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1%255Blang%255D=ALL&tx_wmdbproducts_pi1%255Bfocus%255D=63 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

It is exported throughout the world. It is also available in [[mini keg]]s in some countries, such as Australia. In the US, it's available in 500 mL (16.9 US fl oz) cans, 330 mL (11.2 US fl oz) bottles, the {{convert|5|L|USoz|abbr=on|adj=on}} mini keg, and on tap in select locations.

==Advertising== The company [[slogan]] is, "Bitte ein Bit."<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Bitburger: Germany's favorite brewery |url=https://europe.stripes.com/travel/bitburger-germany's-favorite-brewery.html |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Stripes Europe |language=en}}</ref> This is literally, "Please, a Bit," or "A Bit, please." In the 1970s, a second slogan was introduced, "Abends Bit, morgens fit" ("Bit in the evening, fit in the morning") implying that the consumption would not lead to a hangover. During that time either of the slogans could be found on Bitburger glasses.

The brand sponsored the [[German Football Association]] from 1992 until 2018. It also sponsored [[Benetton Formula|Benetton Formula One]] in 1994 and 1995, where German driver [[Michael Schumacher]] won the [[Formula One]] championship both seasons. {{commonscat|Bitburger Brauerei}}

==See also== * [[List of brewing companies in Germany]] * {{portal-inline|Beer}} * {{portal-inline|Companies}} * {{portal-inline|Germany}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.bitburger.com/ Official site] (English)

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bitburger Brewery}} [[Category:German companies established in 1817]] [[Category:Breweries in Germany]] [[Category:Beer brands of Germany]] [[Category:Companies based in Rhineland-Palatinate]]