Christianssands Bryggeri
Encyclopedia
Christianssands Bryggeri (or CB, Kristiansand's Brewery) is a Norwegian brewery centred in Kristiansand
. Together with Hansa Brewery
in Bergen and Borg Bryggerier
in Sarpsborg
it makes up Hansa Borg Bryggerier
, which is the second largest group of breweries in Norway, next to Carlsberg (with the brand Ringnes
).
CB was created in 1856 by consul Ole Jacob Mørch. In 1859 he had to sell the brewery, together with the rest of his enterprises, as a consequence of hard times folloing the Crimean War
. The brewery was sold to consul Jørgen Christiansen, who re-started production in the autumn of 1859. Kristiansand had about 11,000 inhabitants at this time, so the brewery became an immensely successful business.
The family Christiansen led the enterprise for five generations until 1964. After this the shares were sold to Tou Brewery in Stavanger
. Since then CB has had several owners: a group of investors called Sørlandvekst, the Swedish
brewery Spendrups
, and since 1999 Hansa Borg Bryggerier.
All CB products are brewed with Artesian water
from the source of Christian IV. Allegedly this source was found in 1932, in an extraordinarily dry summer, when the company's plumber used a divining rod. On 32 meters' depth he found crystal-clear and 100% pure water, which holds a stable temperature of 7 degrees Celsius, both in summer and in winter.
The beer has a fan-club, called "CB-ølets venner" (friends of the CB beer), with more than 10,000 life-term members. The brewery is also known for its julebrus, or Christmas soda, which has a golden brown colour, and a taste reminiscent of Champagne.
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
. Together with Hansa Brewery
Hansa Brewery
Hansa Bryggeri is the local brewery of Bergen, Norway.It was established in 1891 by Waldemar Stoud Platou when he acquired the minor local brewery Det Sembske Bryggeri...
in Bergen and Borg Bryggerier
Borg Bryggerier
Borg Bryggerier was formerly an independent brewery based in the city of Sarpsborg, in Østfold, Norway.Borg Bryggerier was founded in 1855 under the name Lande Gaard og Bryggeri by merchant Hans Hafslund. In 1905, the Egenæss family acquired the brewery. It has been owned by members of the...
in Sarpsborg
Sarpsborg
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg.Sarpsborg is part of the fifth largest urban area in Norway when paired with neighbouring Fredrikstad...
it makes up Hansa Borg Bryggerier
Hansa Borg Bryggerier
Hansa Borg Bryggerier is Norway's second largest brewery.-History:Hansa Borg Bryggerier was founded in 1997, after a merger between Hansa Bryggeri and Borg Bryggerier . The company is controlled by the Egenaess family , who owned Borg Breweries in Sarpsborg since 1905 until the merger in 1997...
, which is the second largest group of breweries in Norway, next to Carlsberg (with the brand Ringnes
Ringnes
Ringnes is the largest brewer in Norway.-History:Ringnes AS was founded in 1876. The company's brewery in the Grünerløkka district of Oslo produced its first beer in 1877. The brewery was founded by brothers Amund and Ellef Ringnes together with financial director Axel Heiberg...
).
CB was created in 1856 by consul Ole Jacob Mørch. In 1859 he had to sell the brewery, together with the rest of his enterprises, as a consequence of hard times folloing the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
. The brewery was sold to consul Jørgen Christiansen, who re-started production in the autumn of 1859. Kristiansand had about 11,000 inhabitants at this time, so the brewery became an immensely successful business.
The family Christiansen led the enterprise for five generations until 1964. After this the shares were sold to Tou Brewery in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
. Since then CB has had several owners: a group of investors called Sørlandvekst, the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
brewery Spendrups
Spendrups
Spendrups Bryggeri AB, is a Swedish brewery and a brand name. The head office is located in Vårby, Huddinge. Spendrups have breweries in Grängesberg, Vårby and Visby ....
, and since 1999 Hansa Borg Bryggerier.
All CB products are brewed with Artesian water
Artesian aquifer
An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. This causes the water level in a well to rise to a point where hydrostatic equilibrium has been reached. This type of well is called an artesian well...
from the source of Christian IV. Allegedly this source was found in 1932, in an extraordinarily dry summer, when the company's plumber used a divining rod. On 32 meters' depth he found crystal-clear and 100% pure water, which holds a stable temperature of 7 degrees Celsius, both in summer and in winter.
The beer has a fan-club, called "CB-ølets venner" (friends of the CB beer), with more than 10,000 life-term members. The brewery is also known for its julebrus, or Christmas soda, which has a golden brown colour, and a taste reminiscent of Champagne.