The origin of Dreher Breweries

The origins of modern lagers date to Austria (Vienna) in the early nineteenth century. Anton Dreher is credited with brewing the very first lager in 1836. Prior to that time, all beers being brewed were ales, but Dreher was able to isolate a strain of yeast that fermented at lower, lager temperatures and created a beer that was brewed entirely with that yeast.

Anton studied brewing in Munich and was one of the first brewers in Europe to try English style malting. He created what is now known as Vienna malt, the amber malt was stewed after the barley was sprouted, and this converted some of the malt starches into sugars, which were then caramelized by a gentle roasting.

In 1854 the first commercial brewery was built in Pest by a brewer named Peter Schmidt and he stored his beer in the Kőbánya neighborhood in Budapest’s tenth district. Schmidt brought the bottom-fermenting technique to Budapest after studying in Munich. Peter Schmidt founded Kőbányai Serfőző Társaság.

The brewery has become the largest brewery in Hungary soon after being acquired by the Dreher family in 1862.

But Anton didn’t live to see any beer brewed there. His son (also name Anton) continued the family business, which now included breweries in Michelob (a town in Bohemia) and Trieste (which is now in Italy). Dreher was taken over by Asahi Breweries of Japan in 2017. 

The origin of Dreher Breweries