Carlsberg Brewery

The Carlsberg Group is one of the world's most famous breweries, with its headquarters in Valby, a district of the Danish capital Copenhagen. The company was founded in 1847 by Jacob Christian Jacobsen, a pioneer who would change Danish beer culture forever.

Until the mid-19th century, Danes were primarily accustomed to drinking wheat beer. However, Jacobsen discovered Bavarian beers and became fascinated by their quality. He named the brewery Carlsberg, a combination of his son Carl's name and the Germanic word "berg," which referred to its location on Valby Bakke (Valby Hill).

Success was not long in coming: in 1868, the first barrel of Carlsberg beer was exported. To guarantee the continued quality of his beer, Jacobsen founded the Carlsberg Laboratory in 1875. The young researcher Emil Christian Hansen was appointed there, who made a revolutionary discovery in 1883: he succeeded in cultivating pure brewer's yeast. The result was named Saccharomyces carlsbergensis and marked a breakthrough in the beer world. Jacobsen also made this method freely available to other breweries. To this day, this yeast type forms the basis for virtually all pilsner beers worldwide.

Carlsberg continued to grow steadily and also left its mark on architecture. In 1901, the iconic Elephant Gate, crafted from Bornholm granite by the artist H.P. Pedersen-Dan, was completed. This monumental gateway, supported by four sculpted elephants, became one of the brewery's symbols.

Expansion continued into the 20th century. In 1970, Carlsberg merged with competitor Tuborg, after which both brands were incorporated into De Forenede Bryggerier (United Breweries). Thirty years later, in 2000, another merger followed: this time with the Norwegian Orkla Group, making Carlsberg one of the largest breweries in the world. However, the partnership proved short-lived. After a failed takeover attempt by Orkla, Carlsberg decided to buy back its shares and maintain its independence.

Today, Carlsberg is a global player, but its roots remain firmly rooted in Valby, where J.C. Jacobsen's vision laid the foundation for a brewery that successfully combined science, tradition, and innovation.