Tradition & History

1865

Johann Karl Silbernagel lays the foundation
for our success and founds the brewery in Bellheim,
which will become the Brauerei Karl Silbernagel AG.

1870/71

After the war there was a strong economic upswing - the clientele grew. Beer was even delivered to Germersheim. Later, customers were also acquired in Bergzabern, Kapsweyer, Knittelsheim, Bobenthal, Weißenburg and Landau.

1884

A large storage cellar was built on the brewery site. The old cellar at Gollenberg was only used for storing raw ice.

1889

After Linde invented the refrigerating machine, the brewery acquired the first ice machine - a progressive investment. The brewing process was no longer seasonal and was now no longer dependent on natural ice.

1890

The brewery achieved an annual output of 30,000 hectolitres. Electric lighting was installed throughout the whole brewery. A new 90 HP steam engine was used to generate energy (this technology was used until 1958).

1900

An above-ground pivoting and filling hall was installed. At the turn of the century the brewery was already an important business in the Palatinate.

1909

Brewery founder Johann Karl Silbernagel appointed his sons Karl, Hermann and Otto to the management of the Brauerei Karl Silbernagel OHG.

1914

Karl Silbernagel took over the management of the brewery, while the brothers had to do their military service.

20. September 1923

The municipality of Bellheim emitted emergency money totalling 150 million marks. The total amount was already used up after 2 days, and so the companies were forced to help themselves. The brewery issued its own emergency money worth 86 million marks.

16. Januar 1924

Johann Karl Silbernagel, the founder of the brewery, dies.

1928

In 1928 the Karl Silbernagel OHG in converted into a stock corporation.

1930

The French leave the Palatinate. In Ludwigshafen a branch could be opened and the brewery could gain a foothold in Mannheim.

1932

Franz Hage is appointed to the Management Board.

1933

The own malthouse produces 4/5 of the required malt. About 2,000 tons of malting barley are sourced annually, mainly from the Southern Palatinate.

1934

A new malt silo was constructed and the vehicle fleet was expanded. The operating facilities, the malthouse and the barley storehouse were extended and improved with intensive ventilation.

1936

A new brewhouse was constructed and the company's
own workshops were expanded.

1938

The storage cellar was extended.

1939

Au début de la guerre, les matières premières et la nourriture étaient rationnées.
L'époque de la « Bière de table » et des « Boissons similaire à la bière » commence.

1940

The 75th anniversary of the brewery is celebrated in a modest setting. Many of the employees were on the front line. The number of employees was 150. The company's own premises amounted to 13,000 square meters of built-up area; the vehicle fleet had 30 modern motor vehicles with trailers and 10 horses with equipment.

1942

Karl Silbernagel retires from business at the age of 74.

Sommer 1945

To secure food supplies after the end of the war on 8 may 1945, an absolute ban on brewing beer was imposed. During the war, 21 employees of our brewery died in battle and six more were listed as missing.

1946

The absolute ban of brewing was lifted.

Oktober 1948

Erich Schonheim joins the management board.

1950

The company employs 130 people. For the first time “Märzenbier” and “Bellheimer Bock” are produced again. The share of bottles in the total output is only 8.5 percent. The brewing ban in the French zone is lifted.

1955

Bellheimer “Champagnerweizen”, a filtered wheat beer, was introduced.

1967

Bellheimer Lord-Pils came on the market
in the 0.33 l bottle.

1973

Dr. Gerhard Hage and Dr. Klaus Schneider were
appointed to the Management Board.

1974

The production of soft drinks began.
The production plant was continuously expanded.
The company premises now covered
50,000 square metres.

1977

The brewery took over the Löwenbrauerei
Philippsburg.

9. Juli 1985

Director Franz Hage retires from the company after 56 years on the board.

9. August 1989

Franz Hage dies.

1992

The new fermentation and storage cellar of the
Bellheimer brewery is put into operation.

21. Juni 1993

The brewery receives the approval and permission to extract mineral water from the well “Bellaris”.

5. Dezember 1995

The Park & Bellheimer AG is created, through the merger of the companies Parkbrauerei AG and Bellheimer Privatbrauerei K. Silbernagel AG and Bellheimer Mineralquellen GmbH.

Januar 2000

Theo de Groen takes over the majority of shares in Park & Bellheimer AG and manages the company as a member of the Management Board.

2001

The first Bellheimer Lord is presented to the public.

2003

The renovated bottling hall in Bellheim is officially put into operation.

2004

The ACTRIS AG takes over the majority of shares.

2010

The Bellheimer Brewery regains its independence through the takeover of the majority of shares by Mr Roald Pauli. The brewery is consistently led into the future with a regional focus. Large investments contribute to its modernisation.

2015

The brewery celebrates its 150th anniversary. Amazing events inspired thousands of visitors. In addition, there were attractive antique glasses, as well as the Bellheimer Silber Pils with the traditional label and the new beer Lager hell.

2016

The new combined heat and power unit was officially put into operation, a forward-looking investment.

Two new fermentation and storage tanks were installed. The new tanks with a volume of 4,800 hl increased the capacity to 12,800 hl.