Dortmund’s rise as Europe’s beer capital in the 1970s

In the early 1970s Dortmund’s breweries produced roughly 7.5 million hectoliters of beer each year, making the Ruhr‑area city the undisputed beer capital of Europe, with only Milwaukee in the United States as a comparable rival. The city’s brewing tradition stretches back to at least 1266, when a municipal record first mentioned beer, and the official brewing right was granted by King Adolf of Nassau at the end of the 13th century.

The name “Dortmunder” has been a legally protected geographical indication in Germany since 1904, similar to Champagne in France. Four of the six German breweries that exceeded one million hectoliters annually in the mid‑1960s were based in Dortmund. The Union Brewery’s historic hall was completed in 1927; its iconic gold “U” was added to the roof in 1968. Over time, large breweries have largely disappeared, leaving only museums and a few legacy brands.

Dortmunder Export, the city’s signature export lager, was originally brewed stronger to survive long transports and today has an alcohol content of about 5 percent. It is an under‑lager (untergärig), contrasting with the obergärig Kölsch of Cologne and Alt of Düsseldorf, which explains the distinct taste and colour differences between these regional beers.