Spitzenbier

Spitzenbier is a craft beer brand produced by the St. Pöltner Bierbrau eGen, a registered cooperative based in St. Pölten, Lower Austria. The brand was born in September 2016, when a small group of beer enthusiasts associated with the St. Pölten beer club "Flüssiges Gold" decided to create their own regional beer. Stefan and Ilse Sodek laid the groundwork, and brewmaster Hansi Hintermeier developed the recipe. The cooperative itself was formally founded on 9 March 2017. The flagship product is Spitzenbier "Original", an unfiltered, bottom-fermented Märzen-style beer with a strong golden colour and a malty character. It is sold in 0.33-litre and 0.75-litre bottles, in 8-bottle trays and 6-bottle cartons, as well as in 5-litre party kegs and 20- and 30-litre barrels. The brand also offers Spitzenbier glasses (high-quality Ritzenhoff glassware) and Spitzenbier beer coasters. Products can be purchased directly from the brewery via an order form, through hospitality partners and retail outlets, with free delivery within the city of St. Pölten for crate and barrel orders. The brewery is organised as a cooperative with a board (Vorstand), a supervisory board (Aufsichtsrat) and an advisory council (Beirat). Its stated vision is to be the number-one craft beer, regional and economically sound; its mission emphasises variety, experimentation and professionalism; and its guiding principles are regionality, tradition and taste. The cooperative operates from a brewery facility at the LFS Pyhra school grounds, where an interim brewery was completed in February 2020 and the first tank was filled in March 2020. A new brewhouse was planned in June 2021, with the groundbreaking ceremony on 17 May 2024 and a public viewing of the brewhouse on 23 August 2024. Spitzenbier is a small, locally focused brand rather than a nationally distributed industrial beer. Its identity is closely tied to the city of St. Pölten's historical brewing tradition and to the cooperative structure that allows members of the community to participate in the brewery.

The origins of Spitzenbier lie in the home-brewing experiments of Johann "Hansi" Hintermeier, who began brewing with a mulled-wine pot in 2006. By 2008 he had moved to an industrial brewing system, creating "Kastner-Bier", which became popular in regional circles as a fine craft beer and won the national championship title (Staatsmeistertitel) in 2010 with a Märzen and a Pils. These experiences fed into what would become the first St. Pöltner Spitzenbier. In June 2016, a small group of beer lovers around the St. Pölten beer club "Flüssiges Gold" developed the idea and goal of brewing their own regional beer. Stefan and Ilse Sodek laid the foundation, and brewmaster Hansi Hintermeier developed the recipe. In September 2016, "Spitzenbier" was born. On 9 March 2017, the St. Pöltner Bierbrau eGen was founded as a registered cooperative. The cooperative built an interim brewery at the LFS Pyhra school grounds, completed in February 2020. In March 2020 the first tank was filled with Spitzenbier. On 16 March 2020, the first Covid-19 lockdown interrupted the young brewery's operations: after the first brew, delivery to pubs was stopped within days, and the brewery temporarily switched to direct deliveries to customers and retail. In June 2021, planning began for a new brewhouse for the St. Pöltner Bierbrau eGen at the LFS Pyhra site. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 17 May 2024, marking the start of the construction phase. On 23 August 2024, the brewhouse was opened for a viewing by members and the public. On 21 March 2025, a tasting of "Spitzenbier" was held. The brand remains closely tied to its cooperative structure and to the city of St. Pölten, which historically was a brewing town. The cooperative's stated vision is to be the number-one craft beer, regional and economically sound; its mission is to be diverse, experimental and professional; and its guiding principles are regionality, tradition and taste.

• 2025

  Tasting of "Spitzenbier".

• 2024

  Groundbreaking ceremony and start of the construction phase.

• 2024

  Viewing of the brewhouse for members and the public.

• 2021

  Planning of the new brewhouse of the St. Pöltner Bierbrau eGen at the LFS Pyhra site.

• 2020

  Completion of the interim brewery at the LFS Pyhra school grounds.

• 2020

  The first tank is filled with Spitzenbier.

• 2020

  First Covid-19 lockdown; delivery to pubs is stopped and direct delivery to customers and retail begins.

• 2017

  Founding of the St. Pöltner Bierbrau eGen.

• 2016

  Stefan and Ilse Sodek and brewmaster Hansi Hintermeier develop the vision of their own regional beer.

• 2016

  "Spitzenbier" is born.

• 2010

  "Kastner-Bier" wins the national championship title (Staatsmeistertitel) with a Märzen and a Pils.

• 2008

  Brewing development moves to an industrial system; "Kastner-Bier" is born.

• 2006

  Johann Hintermeier begins home-brewing experiments with a mulled-wine pot.

Regional craft beer from St. Pölten, brewed by a cooperative; positioned as the region's own beer with a focus on regionality, tradition and taste.

• Spitzenbier "Original" 0.33 l bottle

  Single 0.33 l bottle, list price €1.90 incl. VAT and beer tax.

• Spitzenbier "Original" 0.33 l 8-pack tray

  8 x 0.33 l bottles in a tray (carton), list price €15.20.

• Spitzenbier "Original" 0.75 l bottle

  Single 0.75 l bottle, list price €3.90.

• Spitzenbier "Original" 0.75 l 6-pack carton

  6 x 0.75 l bottles in a carton, list price €23.40.

• Spitzenbier 5 l party keg

  5 l party keg of Spitzenbier Original, introductory price €25.90, no deposit.

• Spitzenbier 20 l barrel

  20 l barrel of Spitzenbier Original, list price €72.80 plus €36.00 deposit.

• Spitzenbier 30 l barrel

  30 l barrel of Spitzenbier Original, list price €109.20 plus deposit.

• Spitzenbier glasses

  0.33 l high-quality Ritzenhoff glasses.

• Spitzenbier beer coasters

  Spitzenbier beer coasters (currently not available).

1. 1Spitzenbier | Bierbraugenossenschaft - Unser Bier von hierbierbrau.at
2. 2Unsere Geschichte | Bierbraugenossenschaft - Unser Bier von hierbierbrau.at
3. 3Über uns | Bierbraugenossenschaft - Unser Bier von hierbierbrau.at
4. 4Gremien | Bierbraugenossenschaft - Unser Bier von hierbierbrau.at
5. 5Spitzenbier - Wikidatawikidata.org