Our Mission
“Maintaining our heritage while keeping an eye on the future.”
Keeping traditions alive is not just a question of age, but also a question of attitude. Owned by Count Arco, Arcobräu does not have to answer to the demands of shareholders, but can focus instead on the satisfaction of our customers. We are regional stakeholders with a responsibility to the local community: Be it in our capacity as an employer, supporting the regional economy or as a guardian of the lower Bavarian brewing tradition, keeping alive the various regional beer specialities.
Our Beer
Best tasting beer in the market
We have something for every taste at Arcobräu: Beer that is bottom fermented or top fermented, strong or alcohol free, from bitter to spicy. Our beer is always brewed according to Lower Bavarian brewing tradition—from malt, water, hops and yeast—with love, patience and the time that a good beer needs to mature. With every sip (or gulp) you take of Arcobräu, you will be able to taste and appreciate the brewing craft that has gone into it.
Family History
The history of Arcobräu is rooted in the history of the Counts of Arco.
The logo carries the Arco coat of arms, emblazoned with the double eagle of the Holy Roman Empire — granted to the Counts of Arco in 1415 by Emperor Sigismund with imperial immediacy and hereditary rank of count.
Albrecht Dürer painted the famous watercolour of Castle Arco, which rises high above the northern Italian country side near Lake Garda, marking the Arco Earldom, during his Italian journey. The painting is in the Louvre in Paris today.
The Counts of Arco have lived in Bavaria since the 18th century, when the family branched:
- The Counts von und zu Arco-Zinneberg, who today are the standard bearers of the1,000 years of unbroken history of this ancient and noble line.
- The Counts of Arco-Valley, whose blood line came to an end in 1989 after the death of the last male of the blood. The name is continued today through adoption.
The Bavarian Counts von und zu Arco-Zinneberg are direct descendants of the last Bavarian Princess-Electress Maria Leopoldine, born Archduchess of Austria-Este.
“The Princess-Electress” as she was known throughout 19th century Bavaria was a king-maker and significant political player during the reign of first King Maximilian I. Joseph from 1806 to 1826.
She is the matriarch of the Counts von und zu Arco-Zinneberg.
Today’s company: Arcobräu Gräfliches Brauhaus grew out of the Moos Schlossbrauerei, founded by Warmund Count von Preysing in 1567.
The brewery was passed down to Count Riprand von und zu Arco-Zinneberg in 2003 as a legacy from his mother Countess Maria-Theresia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg, born Countess von Preysing-Lichtenegg and Moos. She was a granddaughter of the last Bavarian King Ludwig III.
The brewery was passed down to Count Riprand von und zu Arco-Zinneberg in 2003 as a legacy from his mother Countess Maria-Theresia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg, born Countess von Preysing-Lichtenegg and Moos. She was a granddaughter of the last Bavarian King Ludwig III.
The Art of Brewing
Lower Bavarian brewcraft
For almost 500 years, Arcobräu has been brewed in Moos, at the very heart of lower Bavaria where the Danube and the Isar meet. Surrounded by rolling fields of barley and wheat with the dark hills of the Bavarian forest in the distance, the location is idyllic.
As a family brewery, still owned by the descendants of the founders, Arcobräu has a venerable brewing tradition and a lot of experience. We use only the best ingredients to make Arcobräu. Our water, which is the essence of brewing, comes from our own ancient mineral well. We use highest quality barley and wheat malt, the best Hallertau hops and our own strain of yeast, which is specially stored in the vaults of Weihenstephan University.
Arcobräu is loved locally as well as throughout Bavaria and the world. It is not a coincidence that Count Arco’s brewery is the largest supplier to all the Volksfests (beer festivals) in Eastern Bavaria.
Our Brewing Process
Since 1567 beer in Moos is brewed in accordance with the German Reinheitsgebot (food purity law). Although brewing is done with high tech machines today, the actual brewing process has not changed much over the years. The best beers are still brewed thanks to the brewer’s knowledge, flair and experience.
7 Purity Laws
1. Independence
We are a privately owned company and act independently. It is not the stock price that influences our actions, but customer satisfaction.
2. Personal Responsibility
We have a responsibility to the people of our region; as an employer, a promoter of the regional economy and as upholders of lower Bavarian tradition.
3. Unique Variety
We brew a variety of beers for all tastes. Our 15 types of beer and seasonal beer specialities allow you to experience a variety of beers fresh from the brewery all year round.
4. High Quality
Quality begins with hops and malt. We only use high quality Hallertau aroma hops and regional malts. The water we use in brewing comes from our 96 metre deep mineral water well. Our special ingredient is our own strain of yeast, developed exclusively for Arcobräu, propagated by state of the art equipment in our yeast cellar.
5. Clean Environment
Made with the highest natural ingredients, Arcobräu is a product of nature. Only by treating nature respectfully we can maintain our product. We are therefore committed to maintaining the environment and investing in environmentally friendly technologies for a shared future.
6. Brewing Tradition
Keeping traditions alive is not just a question of age, but also a question of attitude. So we allow our beers the time that they need to reach their full maturity. This may be more expensive, but you, the customer, will be able to taste the difference and enjoy it.
7. Heimatverbundheit
„Heimat“ has no English equivalent, but means something like homeland or the place that is home. Heimatsverbundenheit means a strong tie to the Heimat. As a regional brewery we believe in working together as a community in order to compete with national and international corporations who flood the market with indistinguishable mass products. Heimat shapes identity and defines character— and our beer has character by the gallon.
Our History
Arcobrau History
1567
First recorded reference to the Schlossbrauerei (castle brewery) Moos relates to the handover from Stephan Trainer to his son-in-law Johann Albrecht von Preysing.
1619
A large fire destroys the brewery, agricultural buildings and castle. Restoration by Count Warmund von Preysing starts with the brewery and the agricultural buildings. The castle is not completely restored again until 1636.
1789
Johann Kaspar I Count of Preysing combines the breweries Aholming and Moos. He creates the foundation of today’s brewery from the stones.
1922
Count Georg von Preysing hosts the Mooser Laubhuetten festival, Volksfest with a large agricultural show. This festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors. In the midst of the recession after the First World War the Schlossbrauerei Moos erects the first festival tent at the Straubinger Gäubodenfest.
1940
After the death of Count Kaspar von Preysing, his sister Maria Theresia Countess von und zu Arco-Zinnenberg succeeds him.
1960
Count Ulrich Philip von und zu Arco-Zinneberg combines all breweries owned by the Count’s family under the name of Arcobräu. The so-called Schlossbrauerei Moos becomes the headquarters.
1974
The Mooser Pfingstfest (Whitsun festival) is established. Today it is one of the most prestigious equestrian events in Bavaria. The harmonious mixture of equestrian sport and the traditional community fair has made the Whitsun festival in Moos famous beyond the village, attracting regional and supra regional visitors in the thousands.
1992
Several breweries in Schwandorf, Straubing and in the Bäder triangle are incorporated into Arcobräu over the years which leading to an expansion of the distribution area.
2004
A new wort boiler—Schonkochsystem—is installed, giving the brewery some of the most sophisticated modern brewing equipment in the world and decreasing energy consumed by boiling process by 15%.
2006
A state of the art de-alcoholization plant is installed to cover the increasing request for flavoursome non-alcoholic beer products. A new bottle washing system is also purchased.
2010
About 70 employees produce 140,000 hectoliters of beer annually, in addition to the main sales area of Lower Bavaria Arcobräu products are currently sold throughout Germany and exported to Europe, USA and Asia. The seven major festivals of Lower Bavaria today are celebrated and enjoyed with Arcobräu products.
2011
For the first time the Historic Mooser Dult is organized. Over 50,000 visitors enjoyed the historic rides and a sensational supporting program.
2012-2013
Further modernisation takes place in the brewery and the brewery’s pubs and restaurants are renovated.
2014
The capacity of the fermentation and storage cellar is expanded and a new bottle filler with 3-fold pre-evacuation is installed to further improve beer quality through the bottling process.