Zipfer

Brewing on the site began earlier: Friedrich Hofmann started brewing beer in Zipf in 1842. The brewery in its present form dates to 20 July 1858, when Franz Schaup purchased it at a forced auction. Under Schaup, annual output rose from 1,542 hectolitres to 14,206 hectolitres within five years, and he expanded the brewery's infrastructure with cellars and a steam engine. Wilhelm Schaup subsequently developed the operation into an industrial-scale brewery before the turn of the century, introducing artificial cooling and a connection to Austria's western railway.

Zipfer beers are bottom-fermented (meaning the yeast works at the bottom of the vessel, characteristic of lager production) and brewed from barley and natural hops, with the beer matured slowly in casks. Zipfer is one of the most significant beers in Austria, and one of its alcohol-free drinks has picked up an award.

In 1970, Zipfer merged with Brau AG. In 2003, the brewery became part of the Heineken Group when Heineken merged with Brau Union Österreich AG, Austria's market leader at the time. Heineken now owns more than 100 beer brands worldwide.