Janssen and Bechly Brewery
Corporate brand
UnclaimedJanssen and Bechly Brewery was a Neubrandenburg brewery that operated from 1912 until its nationalization in East Germany and eventual closure in 1995.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Janssen and Bechly Brewery was a historic German beer producer based in Neubrandenburg, in what is now the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Its roots reached back to a brewery founded in Neubrandenburg by Franz Moncke in 1847. That business, located on Treptower Strasse and known for Bavarian-style bottom-fermented beer, was acquired by Friedrich Bechly around 1900. Friedrich and Hans Janssen, who were associated with another brewery in Rostock, later combined their interests with Bechly's Neubrandenburg operation. The resulting Janssen & Bechly Brewery was founded in 1911, and a new plant opened in 1912 at 49 Demminer Street. The enterprise became an Aktiengesellschaft, or joint-stock company, on January 25, 1922. Its initial capitalization consisted of 1,100 bearer shares with a nominal value of 1,000 marks each. The share capital was increased in 1923, the shares were split on a five-for-one basis in January 1925, and the capital was increased again in 1941. World War II disrupted normal corporate governance, and the company's last recorded annual meeting before the end of the war took place on August 12, 1943. After the establishment of the German Democratic Republic, the brewery was nationalized in 1949 and converted into a Volkseigener Betrieb, or state-owned enterprise. It was renamed VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg and continued brewing under the Neubrandenburg name. It was subsequently reorganized as VEB Nordbräu Neubrandenburg, with Nordbräu becoming the principal brand identity. The brewery's historical range included Bockbier, Edelbräu, Kronenbräu, Malzbier, Pilsner, Tafelbier, and Weiberbock styles, indicating a portfolio spanning bottom-fermented lagers, specialty strong beers, malt beverages, and table beers. Following German reunification, the operation was sold to private investor Peter Roth in 1991. The privatized business was unsuccessful and ceased production in 1995. In 1996, the Nordbräu brand was sold to the Mecklenburg brewery Lübzer for 8 million marks. The transfer separated the surviving brand asset from the original Neubrandenburg production site. The former brewery building on Demminer Street, which had stood for almost a century, was demolished in 2009 to permit construction of a shopping center. A capstone bearing the brewery logo was preserved. Today, the brewery is a defunct historical beer producer, while its surviving significance lies in Neubrandenburg's industrial history, East German brewing history, and collectors' interest in bottles, caps, bar coasters, metal signs, and stock certificates.
History
The brewery's institutional history began with Franz Moncke's Neubrandenburg brewery, established in 1847 on Treptower Strasse. The brewery became known for Bavarian-style bottom-fermented beer and was acquired by Friedrich Bechly around 1900. Friedrich and Hans Janssen were connected with a separate brewery on Badstuberstrasse in Rostock. Their collaboration with Bechly led to the establishment of Janssen & Bechly Brewery in 1911. A new production facility was completed at 49 Demminer Street in Neubrandenburg and opened in 1912. The business operated as a private brewery until it was converted into an Aktiengesellschaft on January 25, 1922. The company began with 1,100 bearer shares valued at 1,000 marks each. Further capital changes occurred in 1923, 1925, and 1941. The effects of World War II interrupted the company's regular corporate activity; its last annual meeting during the wartime period was held on August 12, 1943. In 1949, the East German state nationalized the enterprise and converted it into a Volkseigener Betrieb. It first operated as VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg and later as VEB Nordbräu Neubrandenburg. Beer was sold under the Neubrandenburg and Nordbräu names rather than the original private-company identity. The range included Bockbier, Edelbräu, Kronenbräu, Malzbier, Pilsner, Tafelbier, and Weiberbock. After reunification, the brewery entered the privatization process and was sold to Peter Roth in 1991. The private operation did not succeed and closed in 1995. Lübzer, a Mecklenburg brewery, acquired the Nordbräu brand in 1996 for 8 million marks. The original brewery site survived for several more years, but the Demminer Street building was demolished in 2009 for a shopping-center development. Its logo-bearing capstone was retained as a surviving physical reminder of the brewery. Historical memorabilia associated with the business includes bottles and caps, bar coasters, metal advertising signs, and stock certificates.
- 2009
Original brewery demolished
[1]The former Demminer Street brewery was demolished for a shopping center, although its logo capstone was preserved.
- 1996
Nordbräu brand sold
[1]Lübzer acquired the Nordbräu brand from the defunct brewery.
- 1995
Production ends
[1]The brewery closed after the privatized operation failed.
- 1991
Post-reunification privatization
[1]The brewery was sold to private investor Peter Roth after German reunification.
- 1949
Nationalization and state operation
[1]The brewery was nationalized and renamed VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg.
- 1922
Conversion to an Aktiengesellschaft
[1]The company became a joint-stock corporation with 1,100 bearer shares.
- 1912
Demminer Street brewery opens
[1]The new brewery at 49 Demminer Street began operations.
- 1911
Janssen & Bechly Brewery founded
[1]Friedrich Bechly joined with Friedrich and Hans Janssen to establish the brewery in Neubrandenburg.
- 1900
Friedrich Bechly acquires the older brewery
[1]Friedrich Bechly purchased the older Neubrandenburg brewery, which was known for Bavarian-style bottom-fermented beer.
- 1847
Earlier Neubrandenburg brewery established
[1]Franz Moncke established the Neubrandenburg brewery that later formed part of the Janssen and Bechly Brewery's institutional origins.
Products and positioning
A regional German brewery with roots in Bavarian-style bottom-fermented beer production. During the East German period, its identity shifted from the private Janssen & Bechly company to the state-operated Neubrandenburg and Nordbräu brewing brands.
Strong lager
Bockbier
A stronger, malt-forward lager style included among the brewery's historically documented products. The style formed part of the brewery's broader range of bottom-fermented beers.
Pale lager
Pilsner
A pale lager produced within the brewery's historical portfolio and associated with the mainstream German beer category.
Malt beverage
Malzbier
A malt-based beer beverage documented among the brewery's product types, broadening its range beyond standard pale and strong lagers.
Table beer
Tafelbier
A lighter table-beer style included in the historical product range.
Beer
Edelbräu
A historical beer designation associated with the Janssen and Bechly Brewery's product portfolio.
Beer
Kronenbräu
A historically documented beer name produced by the brewery.
Bock beer
Weiberbock
A bock-style beer listed among the brewery's historical products.
Beer brand · 1949
Neubrandenburg
The principal beer brand used after nationalization, when the former private company operated as VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg.
Beer brand
Nordbräu
The brand associated with the later VEB Nordbräu Neubrandenburg operation. It survived the brewery's closure and was sold to Lübzer in 1996.
Brand decisions
1996
Sale of the Nordbräu brand to LübzerM&ABackground
After the Neubrandenburg brewery ceased production, its surviving Nordbräu brand remained a transferable commercial asset.
Action taken
Mecklenburg brewery Lübzer acquired Nordbräu for 8 million marks.
Aftermath
The brand passed to another regional brewery, while the original production business remained closed.
Brand sale price. 8 million marks (1996)
1991
Privatization after German reunificationM&ABackground
German reunification created the conditions for the sale of the former state-owned brewery.
Action taken
The brewery was sold to private investor Peter Roth.
Aftermath
The private operation ultimately failed and production ended in 1995.
1949
Accept nationalization and transition to state ownershipStrategyBackground
The postwar East German economic system brought the privately operated brewery into state ownership.
Action taken
The business was converted into a Volkseigener Betrieb and renamed VEB Brauerei Neubrandenburg, later becoming VEB Nordbräu Neubrandenburg.
Aftermath
Production continued under Neubrandenburg and Nordbräu branding, but the original private-company structure disappeared.
Sources1 sources
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