Double beer experience in the brewing town of Freistadt
The history of the Braucommune dates back to the founding of Freistadt in 1220, when the 149 houses in the old town were granted brewing rights. Over the centuries, the town grew, while the number of breweries declined. By the mid-18th century, there were only two breweries left, but they were no longer able to meet the demand for beer. So the 149 homeowners made a decision that still has consequences today – in a positive sense: they founded the Braucommune, bought a plot of land, and began construction of the brewery in 1770. The total quantity of 6,390 buckets of beer was divided among the various houses, probably based on the town's beer demand at the time.
Shares in buckets
The bucket (1 bucket = 56 liters) is still the unit of measurement used today to indicate the owners' shares. These shares are entered in the land register: if someone sells their house in Freistadt's old town, the respective buckets remain with the house. “It is practically impossible for a large corporation to take over the brewing commune. To do so, it would have to buy the entire old town of Freistadt,” explains the brewery's managing director, Ewald Pöschko. Unlike in the past, the “brauinteressenten” (brewery shareholders), as the owners of the houses involved in the Braucommune are called, are no longer paid in kind. Instead of beer, they receive the “Braunutzen,” which corresponds to a dividend. The amount of this dividend depends on the commercial success of the brewery.
The future of Braucommune
Ewald Pöschko says that they are proud of Braucommune's history. But for him, the present and the future are at least as important as the past. Today, the Freistadt brewery is economically sound and in an excellent position. After difficult years in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it is now the second-largest employer in Freistadt and a brand whose appeal extends far beyond the district's borders. The new brewhouse is unique in Austria, and the restaurant housed in the building, the Brauhaus, also attracts many people. Due to high demand, a new, larger logistics center was needed, which was built in 2022 in the INKOBA industrial park in the south of Freistadt. A modern and efficient logistics center has been created there, which not only meets all technical requirements, but above all offers optimal working conditions for employees.
For Pöschko, the Braucommune is not a relic of times past, but a guarantee of preserving cultural heritage: And that doesn't just mean the variety of beers, which are brewed from select ingredients and to the best of our knowledge and belief. Pöschko is also concerned with culture in the form of works of art – such as the glass relief wall in the brewhouse or the fountain by Prof. Arik Brauer. Because “concrete, glass, and stainless steel alone do not make people happy. People also need food for the senses.”
For physical well-being
The brewery is closely linked to the brewhouse: “The brewery and brewhouse inspire each other. If the food and beer are good, the guests will spread the word. The brewhouse is therefore a small building block in the success of the ‘Freistädter Bier’ brand,” says managing director Helmut Satzinger. It goes without saying that all types of beer, both draught and bottled, are also available in the brewhouse. However, the extensive beer menu also includes selected international beers.
Regionality is a top priority. The ingredients used in the kitchen, such as meat, fish, potatoes, eggs, and bread, should come from as close as possible. “We have an obligation to our guests: decent products for decent prices,” he says, describing his credo.
Close to beer
The Braucommune not only brews and serves beer, but also passes on knowledge about beer. In addition to open tours, the Freistadt Beer Academy also offers training to become a beer sommelier or a beer brewing course. “With 15,000 visitors coming to brewery tours or the Beer Academy every year, we are also a major tourist attraction,” reports Ewald Pöschko.
Contact
Braucommune in Freistadt (Freistädter Brauhaus brewpub)Brauhausstraße 2
4240 Freistadt
Phone +43 7942 75777
E-Mail: office@freistaedter-bier.at
Web: www.freistaedter-bier.at
Web www.freistaedter-bier.at/brauhaus/
