Germany - Breweries

Hacker-Pschorr is a brewery in Munich, formed in 1972 out of the merger of two breweries. However the Hacker and Pschorr breweries were actually one and the same in the early 1800s, when the 23-year-old brewery servant Joseph Pschorr married Maria Theresa Hacker in 1793, daughter of brew master Peter Paul Hacker and acquired his father-in-law's house and brewery. Pschorr's sons later went their separate ways and divided the brewing business into Pschorr and Hacker wings. Both brothers prospered and so did their brands. The two breweries became friendly rivals, but when tragedy struck, blood was thicker than water. When a bombing raid shut down Pschorr's brewing works in 1944, Hacker allowed the Pschorr family to brew twice a week until their equipment could be repaired. In 1972 the two breweries joined once again. Today, the brand is part of Paulaner, but retains its brewing independence.

Hacker-Pschorr beer has been served at every Oktoberfest in Munich since 1810 and is one of six breweries allowed to do so. As only beer conforming to the Reinheitsgebot, and brewed within the city limits of Munich, can be served at the Munich Oktoberfest. Beers meeting these criteria are designated Oktoberfest Beer. The six breweries that can produce Oktoberfest Beer are:
Augustiner-Bräu
Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu
Hofbräuhaus (Staatliches Hofbräu-München)
Löwenbräu
Paulaner
Spaten-Bräu

Some of the Brewery's Range
Hacker-Pschorr Weisse -
Bräurosl Weisse -
Bock Bock Munchner -
Animator -
Hubertus Bock -
Anno 1417 -

Over the years the brand identity is updated and re-launched with subtle changes, a change of Logo or a new font.
Sometimes this brand update is done by the new owners after a brewery has been sold, other times just to give the brand a fresh new look on the ever growing market.

Below are some notes to help identify some of these changes and an aid to reference the year of the glass.