Werner Brombach, the second-generation owner of Germany’s Erdinger Weissbräu, has died at the age of 86.
The Bavaria-based brewer confirmed earlier today (11 August) that Brombach passed away at the weekend following what it called a short illness. The German had headed up the wheat beer specialist and brand owner since 1975, taking over from his father, Franz, who had assumed the lead when he bought Erdinger in 1935.
Erdinger’s origins date back to 1886.
“In 2025, he transferred his shares in Privatbrauerei Erdinger Weissbräu Werner Brombach GmbH to the Werner Brombach Family Foundation, safeguarding the values that meant so much to him,” the company said in a subsequent statement. “His legacy will live on … in Erdinger and in the passion for Bavarian brewing that defined his life.
“We mourn the loss of an extraordinary entrepreneur, a true brewer driven by passion and one of the greatest ambassadors of the Bavarian joy for life.”
Just over two years ago, Erdinger teamed up with Carlsberg to produce a one-off beer to mark German manager Jürgen Klopp’s decision to leave Liverpool FC. Klopp was a brand ambassador for the brand at the time, while Carlsberg has been a sponsor of the English football team for around 30 years.
