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1847

J.C. Jacobsen founded Carlsberg.

In 1811, Jacob Christian Jacobsen, the founder of Carlsberg, was born. After his father’s passing in 1835, J.C. Jacobsen took over as a brewer, driven by an innate passion for beer and a keen interest in natural sciences.

Determined to improve the quality of beer, he embarked on a lifelong journey of innovation. His quest took him to Bavaria, where he studied advanced brewing techniques at Gabriel Sedlmayr's Zum Spaten Brewery in Munich. In the summer of 1845, J.C. returned to Denmark by stagecoach, carefully transporting two pots of Spaten yeast in a specially designed hat box—marking the beginning of a brewing revolution.

During his journey back to Denmark, J.C. Jacobsen kept the yeast cool by frequently stopping to douse it with cold water. His dedication paid off as he brewed his first batches of lager in his mother’s copper wash basin, refining the recipe tirelessly until it met his standards.

Realizing the need for larger storage space to perfect his new lager, J.C. decided to build a new brewery. He named it after his five-year-old son, Carl, and the Danish word for hill, "bjerg." Thus, Carlsberg was born in 1847, just outside Copenhagen.

International recognition followed 21 years later when the first Carlsberg beer was exported to Great Britain, marking the beginning of its global journey.

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1883 The Carlsberg brewery caught fire

J.C. Jacobsen used the opportunity to modernize the brewery once again, installing a cutting-edge cooling system that improved product quality and significantly boosted sales. Around this time, his son, Carl, returned to Denmark after studying advanced brewing techniques across Europe.

Carl was invited to brew his own beer in a newly constructed annex brewery, which he named New Carlsberg. To meet market demand, Carl increased production capacity and halved his father’s brewing process. Within just ten years, sales at New Carlsberg surpassed those of J.C. Jacobsen’s Old Carlsberg.

However, tension arose when Carl began producing beer with a shorter storage time, which he sold under the Carlsberg name—much to his father’s disapproval. This sparked a bitter family feud. J.C. Jacobsen took legal action, evicting Carl from the annex and attempting to limit his production capacity. He even tried to force Carl to change the name of his brewery and to relinquish the label design, but Carl resisted.

1868

Carlsberg export begins

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1875

J.C. Jacobsen founds the Carlsberg Laboratory to study the malting, brewing and fermenting process

1876

The Carlsberg Foundation is established to manage the Carlsberg Laboratory and to support Danish scientific research

1882

After falling out with his father, Carl Jacobsen sets up his new independent brewery New Carlsberg

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1883

By 1883, Professor Emil Christian Hansen had developed the key to consistent beer production. He discovered that organisms were composed of different fungi and that yeast cultures could be cultivated. Hansen successfully isolated a pure yeast culture, revolutionizing the concept of brewing forever.

This method of cultivating pure yeast was a groundbreaking innovation, worth a fortune, and had the potential to elevate the quality of beer worldwide. However, instead of keeping this discovery a secret, J.C. Jacobsen chose to share it freely with brewmasters across the globe.

Perhaps Jacobsen believed that the original Carlsberg yeast would remain unparalleled, or maybe he understood that by sharing it, a little bit of Carlsberg would live on in beers around the world. Whatever his reasons, the original Carlsberg yeast remains foundational to many single lagers crafted even today.

In 1909, Danish chemist Dr. Søren P.L. Sørensen, head of the Carlsberg Laboratory's Chemical Department, developed the pH scale. His pioneering research had a profound impact on both beer and science. The pH scale has since become the standard for determining how liquids interact with living organisms.

Throughout the 20th century, the Carlsberg Laboratory made significant contributions to the study of enzymes, and it continues to be a leader in this field today.

1889

Carlsberg starts export to Asia

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1904

The Danish architect and artist, Thorvald Bindesbøll is commissioned to design the label that will redefine the look of Carlsberg beer forever. During the same year, Carlsberg also becomes the first Danish brewery to receive an appointment to supply beer to the Royal Danish Court. The crown in the Carlsberg label is a testament to this prestigious honor. Carlsberg's natural ingredients are symbolized by the label's hopleaf. For J.C. Jacobsen and son Carl, the look of the Carlsberg estate was also very important.  Both father and son believed that attractive surroundings like art could raise a man's spirit. They wanted to explore new architectural styles for their industrial buildings and strove to create an aesthetic brewery.

Carl Jacobsen wanted to prove that a factory's chimney could be a work of art. He had Carlsberg's famous twisting chimney built in 1900. The star gate at the original entrance bears the symbol of the 12 pointed star. The 12 pointed star is the trademark of old Carlsberg. Carl Jacobsen's elephant tower is perhaps the best-known building on the estate. The elephants symbolise Carl's four surviving children. Jacobsen chose the symbol of the elephant because it represented strength, loyalty and industriousness; the perfect match to his motto Laboremus Pro Patria (let us work for our country).

1906

New and Old Carlsberg merge to become Carlsberg Breweries. Carl becomes the first managing director of the Carlsberg Breweries. He institutes a pension fund and introduces an eight-hour workday to his employees.

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1900s

Continued export and expansion activities

1932

Carlsberg establishes an export department and regular visits to import agents are initiated

1954

Bottle agreements are signed with companies in Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta to bottle Carlsberg beer for their local markets

1966

First overseas licence is given and Carlsberg is brewed for the first time outside Denmark at the Photiades Breweries in Cypres

1968-1990s

Between 1968 and 1981, Carlsberg expanded its international presence, opening its first overseas brewery in 1968. By 1972, 1974, and 1981, Carlsberg had established breweries in Malaysia, the UK, and Hong Kong, respectively.

After 1976, Carlsberg and Tuborg's sales outside Denmark surpassed domestic sales, with the success of these brands attributed to their commitment to quality, expertise, and technological innovation.

In the 1990s, Carlsberg continued to strengthen its global footprint, increasing ownership or acquiring stakes in breweries across Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Vietnam, China, Poland, Latvia, and Croatia. As of 2024, Carlsberg remains a leading global brewery, with an extensive international reach.

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1970

Carlsberg is listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange

1973

Carlsberg's iconic tagline 'Probably the best beer in the world' is created

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2016

Carlsberg introduces The Rebrew Project to celebrate the anniversary of Carlsberg Laboratory