The name of Franziskaner can be traced back to the oldest privately-owned brewery in Munich. It was founded in 1363 in the heart of town by a brewer named Seidel Vaterstetter. Being located next to a Franciscan monastery, it took on the name by which it is known today: Franziskaner. In 1861 the Franziskaner brewery was purchased by Josef Sedlmayr, the brother of Spaten's Gabriel Sedlmayr jr.

In 1922 the Spaten brewery and the Franziskaner brewery were united under the present name of Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu GmbH.

Their tradition continues with the weiss beer speciality, Franziskaner Weissbier. In 1934 the well-known German graphic artist Ludwig Hohlwein designed the brand's historical emblem, the Franciscan friar. Today, thanks to a centuries-old brewing tradition and the highest standards in production, this monk stands for one of the world's best weiss beers.

For years the weiss beer segment of the hotly contested German beer market has revealed steady growth rates.

Franziskaner has played a major role in this line of development, which is now nationwide.

It recognized the trend to weiss beer at an early date and aligned its brand image accordingly. Its memorable logo, the Franciscan friar, stands for the very best in brewing authority and quality.

To greet the new millennium Franziskaner revised its appearance and communications in order to position the brand among consumers as an attractive and up-to-date alternative on the beer market.

A new TV campaign was launched in January 2000 with the goal of enhancing nationwide public awareness and establishing a unique and unmistakable brand image. The new campaign was based on a detailed analysis of the current brand status.

Today Franziskaner Weissbier is a premium brand that stands for Bavarian beer culture at its most refreshing. The unique world of the Bavarian Alps, with its many facets and exciting activities, forms a backdrop to all Franziskaner Weissbier advertisements.

Since June 2000 Franziskaner Weissbier has also been present online. You can find out everything you need to know about our brand, current events and sponsorships at our web address www.franziskaner-weissbier.de, along with attractive sweepstake competitions associated with the Franziskaner Weissbier universe.

To keep our brand in the consumer's eye, Franziskaner Weissbier has been an official sponsor of the German Olympic Team for many years, including this year's Summer Olympics in Sydney. Being a partner in the Munich Olympic Park and a sponsor of the Munich Six-Day Race, we are also very actively involved in the local Bavarian market with an emphasis on sports and mobility.

Today Franziskaner Weissbier is one of the leading weiss beer brands in Germany and is available nationwide.

Thanks to its strong market position, including the restaurant sector, it continues to have an extremely positive impact on the entire weiss beer segment of the German market.

Franziskaner Weissbier is also among the most successful weiss beers on the global market. All over the world, more and more people are discovering the pleasures of weiss beer through our brand.