Brewer with heart and soul dies at the age of 86
The German and international brewing industry, as well as the town of Erding, have lost a leading figure and a passionate entrepreneur. Werner Brombach, owner of Privatbrauerei ERDINGER Weissbräu, passed away on Saturday at the age of 86, surrounded by his family, following a short illness. The “Brewer of Erding” was the second-generation owner of the brewery, founded in 1886, and made ERDINGER Weissbräu and the town of Erding famous around the world. It is fair to say that he ranks among Germany’s most significant brewery owners of the past few decades. He is survived by his daughter Claudia (46) and son-in-law Alexander (45).
Walter Berizzi, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the “Werner Brombach Family Foundation” commented: “A profound sense of belonging to his home region, a down-to-earth attitude, a pioneering spirit and entrepreneurial vision – these were the qualities that defined Werner Brombach. He was a popular figure both at home and abroad and remained at the helm of the brewery right up to the end – always attentive to the needs of his staff. The ERDINGER family, the entire industry, the Free State of Bavaria and the world of sport have lost a great entrepreneur, a reliable boss, a generous patron and a man of unquestionable integrity. He was one of the most influential ambassadors of the Bavarian love of life.” His passion for the Bavarian art of brewing was his true calling. Werner Brombach once said of himself: “My purpose in life is to be a brewer with heart and soul.” He proved this day in, day out through his work!
A brewer with heart and soul
1965 was a special year for Germany's beer-drinking culture. When Werner Brombach joined his father Franz’s business over half a century ago, no one could have imagined that the brewery – with a capacity at the time of 40,000 hectolitres – would one day brew the world’s most popular weissbier. With his degrees in both brewing and business administration, Werner Brombach displayed great courage from the start and became a pioneer in the industry. He was the first to sell weissbier beyond the borders of Bavaria and embraced modern marketing techniques at a time when the concept of weissbier “branding” was still unknown. This approach proved to be the decisive factor in the brewery’s success. Following his father’s death in 1975, Werner Brombach took on sole responsibility for the family business. With entrepreneurial skill and his policy of taking small but steady steps, he gradually expanded the brewery to become the global market leader. By 1977, output had already reached 225,000 hectolitres, and 13 years later, in 1990, the one-million-hectolitre milestone was passed for the first time. Thanks to Werner Brombach’s uncompromising commitment to quality and his consistent brand strategy – endorsed not only by FC Bayern Munich but also by such renowned ambassadors as Franz Beckenbauer, Jürgen Klopp, Magdalena Neuner, triathlete Patrick Lange and, most recently, Thomas Müller – the brewery went from strength to strength. To safeguard the centuries-old tradition of “hellbier” (Bavarian lager) in the beer town of Erding, Werner Brombach also acquired the “Fischer’s Stiftungsbräu” brewery in 1991. “My idealism is what drives me: to make good things even better,” was his motto. As a result, the brewery has also been offering “hellbier” specialities under the ERDINGER Brauhaus brand since 2022 – all under the strong ERDINGER brand umbrella.
Pioneer with a vision
Werner Brombach truly earned his official and unofficial titles. The “weissbier czar”, or “weissbier pioneer”, shaped his industry for over 60 years. He was recognised for his achievements with numerous honours, including the Cross of Merit, 1st Class, of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Bavarian Order of Merit. In 2012, he was awarded the Erding District’s Gold Ring of Honour and was an honorary citizen of the district town of Erding. He was also particularly proud of the Bavarian Hospitality Medal from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Honorary Award of the German Beverage Industry. In 2022, as part of his succession plan, he handed over his role as Chairman of the Management Board to Dr. Stefan Kreisz. In 2025, as sole shareholder of Privatbrauerei ERDINGER Weissbräu Werner Brombach GmbH, Werner Brombach transferred his shares to the “Werner Brombach Family Foundation”, which he represented as sole board member until the very end. As a result, ERDINGER will continue to stand for the finest Bavarian brewing tradition and love of life well into the future. This is because the “Werner Brombach Family Foundation” is committed to upholding Werner Brombach’s uncompromising approach to quality, the strong ERDINGER brand and the company’s clearly defined core values. This ensures that Erding will remain a centre of traditional beer culture and that ERDINGER will remain the home of Bavarian beer specialities – entirely in keeping with Werner Brombach’s vision.
