Braugold
Braugold is a historic beer brand and brewery originating in Erfurt, Thuringia, with roots in several nineteenth-century breweries.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Braugold is a historic German beer brand associated with a brewery in Erfurt, Thuringia. Its institutional history reaches back to several small, privately operated breweries established or acquired in the nineteenth century. Two important strands of that history began when Volkmar Döppleb acquired farm breweries on Große Arche in central Erfurt in 1822 and 1827. These breweries later came under the Baumann family, which expanded the business through the acquisition of the Schedel brewery in 1848. A separate line was established by Christian Buchner, who acquired the Lauenburg brewery in 1823. That operation moved in 1888 to a new site in Löbervorstadt, close to Erfurt’s city parks. The businesses were consolidated during the industrial expansion of the German brewing sector. In 1920 the brewery acquired Baumann Buchner AG and merged with Leipzig Riebeck Brauerei AG, an enterprise founded by Carl Adolf Riebeck. The reorganized business reported production of approximately 2.5 million gallons of beer in 1921, illustrating the scale it had achieved by the early twentieth century. Following the Second World War, the brewery was transferred into public ownership in 1948. The Braugold trademark was introduced in 1956, and the brewery adopted the Braugold name. Under the planned economy of the German Democratic Republic, the Erfurt operation became increasingly important within the regional beverage industry. In 1967 it began producing Pilsner Spezial Gold, which became its best-selling beer. In 1969, nine breweries in the Erfurt district were combined into VEB Getränkekombinat Erfurt. Braugold served as the combine’s parent operation and administrative center. German reunification brought a major change in ownership and organization. After the dissolution of the beverage combine, the brewery was privatized in 1990 through acquisition by the Lich private brewery. In 1996 it passed to the successor organization of the former Riebeck owners, the Riebeck group, whose holdings at that time included breweries in Eisenach and Wernesgrün. The Braugold business later became part of Getränkegruppe Waldhoff on 1 January 2011. The Erfurt production site faced serious economic and physical limitations. In autumn 2010, brewing and packaging in Erfurt were stopped for all seven of the brewery’s beer varieties because the aging buildings no longer permitted economical production. Brewing and bottling were subsequently carried out at a brewery in Braunschweig. Braugold therefore represents both a regional beer identity rooted in Erfurt and a production brand whose manufacturing base has changed over time. Its strongest historical association is with Thuringia, especially the Erfurt market, rather than with an international mass-market position.
History
Braugold’s origins lie in the network of small breweries that served Erfurt before modern industrial brewing. One early strand consisted of two farm breweries on Große Arche in central Erfurt, acquired by Volkmar Döppleb in 1822 and 1827. These were middle-class agricultural properties with brewing rights. The combined enterprise later came under the Baumann family, which expanded its holdings by acquiring the Schedel brewery in 1848. A second strand began in 1823 when Christian Buchner purchased the Lauenburg brewery. Buchner’s business moved in 1888 to a purpose-built location in Löbervorstadt near Erfurt’s city parks. The two historical lines became part of a larger corporate structure in the twentieth century. In 1920 the brewery acquired Baumann Buchner AG and merged with Leipzig Riebeck Brauerei AG, founded by Carl Adolf Riebeck. Production by the reorganized company reached about 2.5 million gallons in 1921. The political and economic consequences of the Second World War reshaped the company. In 1948 the brewery was placed into public ownership. The Braugold trademark was introduced in 1956, and the brewery subsequently operated under that name. During the German Democratic Republic period, the Erfurt business became a central component of regional brewing. In 1967 it launched Pilsner Spezial Gold, which became its leading-selling beer. Two years later, nine breweries in the Erfurt district were merged into VEB Getränkekombinat Erfurt, with Braugold acting as the combine’s parent operation and headquarters. Reunification ended the state beverage combine and initiated a sequence of private ownership changes. The brewery was acquired by the Lich private brewery in 1990. In 1996 it moved to the successor of the former Riebeck owners, the Riebeck group, which also included the Eisenach and Wernesgrün breweries at that time. On 1 January 2011, the business was taken over by Getränkegruppe Waldhoff. The production model changed substantially around the same period. In autumn 2010, all seven beer varieties ceased to be brewed and packaged at Erfurt because the deteriorating brewery buildings made local production uneconomic. Manufacturing was transferred to a brewery in Braunschweig. Braugold consequently continued as a regional brand linked to Erfurt and Thuringia, while its physical production base moved away from the historic brewery site.
- 2011
Transfer to Getränkegruppe Waldhoff
[1]Getränkegruppe Waldhoff took over the Braugold brewery business on 1 January.
- 2010
Erfurt brewing operations cease
[1]Production at the historic Erfurt site stopped because the deteriorated facilities could not support economical brewing and packaging.
- 1996
Acquisition by the Riebeck successor group
[1]The business was acquired by the successor to the former Riebeck owners, a group that also included the Eisenach and Wernesgrün breweries.
- 1990
Privatization after German reunification
[1]Following the end of the beverage combine, the Braugold brewery was acquired by the Lich private brewery.
- 1969
Formation of VEB Getränkekombinat Erfurt
[1]Nine breweries in the Erfurt district were merged into a state beverage combine, with Braugold as the parent operation and headquarters.
- 1967
Pilsner Spezial Gold introduced
[1]Production began for Pilsner Spezial Gold, which later became the brewery’s best-selling beer.
- 1956
Braugold name adopted
[1]The brewery adopted the Braugold name after the introduction of the Braugold trademark.
- 1948
Transfer to public ownership
[1]The brewery was transferred into public ownership after the Second World War.
- 1921
Production reaches approximately 2.5 million gallons
[1]The reorganized brewery reported production of approximately 2.5 million gallons of beer.
- 1920
Corporate consolidation with Leipzig Riebeck
[1]The brewery acquired Baumann Buchner AG and merged with Leipzig Riebeck Brauerei AG.
Products and positioning
A traditional Thuringian beer brand with deep Erfurt roots, historically positioned as a regional brewery and market leader in Thuringia.
Pilsner beer · 1967
Pilsner Spezial Gold
Introduced in 1967, Pilsner Spezial Gold became Braugold’s best-selling beer. It is the clearest flagship product identified in the available historical material and represents the brand’s association with German pilsner-style brewing.
Beer
Braugold beer range
The brewery historically produced seven beer varieties. The available reference material does not identify each variety by name, but describes the range as a regional portfolio serving the Erfurt and wider Thuringian markets.
Brand decisions
2010
Relocation of production from ErfurtStrategyBackground
The historic Erfurt brewery buildings had deteriorated and no longer allowed economical production.
Action taken
Brewing and bottling of the beer range were stopped at Erfurt and transferred to a brewery in Braunschweig.
Aftermath
Braugold retained its regional brand identity while production moved away from its historic home city.
1967
Launch of Pilsner Spezial GoldProduct launchBackground
Braugold expanded its beer portfolio during the East German state-owned period.
Action taken
The brewery began producing Pilsner Spezial Gold.
Aftermath
The beer became the brewery’s best-selling product.
Sources1 sources
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