Beer brewery Waldschlößchen Riga

The Waldschlößchen Brewery was founded in 1865 in Riga, Latvia, by a Bavarian brewer, Johann Dauder. That same year, a brewery called “Waldschlösschen” (German for “Little Forest Castle”) was built on the outskirts of Riga according to Dauder’s design. In 1880, it was acquired by chemical engineer Dr. Adolf Robertovich von Büngner, who significantly expanded and modernized the production.

Brewing was a very profitable business, and the enterprise quickly developed. By the end of the 19th century, the city’s building authority received a petition for expansion and modernization. A steam boiler and a water supply system were installed at the brewery, and several buildings were constructed—many of which still stand today.

The beer brewed at Waldschlösschen found connoisseurs both in Russia and throughout Europe. A preserved invoice from 1899 shows that five types of beer were brewed at the time: Tafelbeer, Munich-style, Porteris, Pilsner, and Export. Toward the end of the century, a special batch of beer was bottled in porcelain bottles made specifically for the occasion.

20th Century
At the beginning of the 20th century, the brewery earned a reputation as the most modern of its time and became well known far beyond Livonia. It was located in the 3rd St. Petersburg Police District of Riga, at 104B Parovaya Street. In 1904, Adolf von Büngner founded the Joint Stock Company of the Waldschlösschen Brewery in Riga. The company’s charter was officially approved on December 3rd, with a capital of 1.5 million rubles divided into 3,000 shares at 500 rubles each.

World War I caused no harm to the brewery. During the war, beer was brewed only occasionally—once or twice a month—primarily to preserve the yeast cultures.

A new chapter in the brewery’s history began in 1937, when the joint-stock company “Aldaris” was established. The enterprise received a new name and logo, designed by Arturs Apeinis. This marked a period of modernization: copper kettles and other equipment were purchased from Germany. Beer brewed in these new kettles had a distinctive taste. These same kettles still exist in the company’s historic facilities and are the only ones of their kind in Europe.

21st Century
In 2008, the company held a 46.1% share of the Latvian beer market. It introduced the D-Light line of low-alcohol fruit beers, including cherry and lemon varieties. Aldaris was able to brew beer from barley and hops using a single fermentation process, reaching an alcohol content of 11–12%.

In the early 2010s, Aldaris’ exports to the Baltic countries increased by 74%. Original Aldaris beers are mainly exported to countries with significant Latvian diaspora populations—Lithuania, Estonia, Ireland, the UK, Israel, and the USA.

The company continues to invest in efficiency, modernization, the creation of new beer varieties and brands, and improving energy efficiency.