Dortmunder Brennerei und Likörfabrik Krämer

Dortmunder Brennerei und Likörfabrik Krämer was a long-established family spirits producer in Dortmund, Germany. Its history began with August Krämer, who came to Dortmund from the Siegerland in 1850 and established his liqueur business in 1863. Over time, the enterprise developed beyond liqueurs into a broader distilling operation producing grain spirits and other distilled specialties.

In the early twentieth century, the family expanded its production with a dedicated grain distillery at Holthausen. Municipal historical records date the Kornbrennerei there to 1906. The business remained in the hands of successive generations of the Krämer family.

Both the company’s inner-city premises and its Holthausen distillery suffered extensive damage during the Second World War and were later rebuilt. Production continued under the Krämer family, and the Schwanenwall premises later again became an important center for production and sales. The historic site was renovated from 2004, with facilities for grain-spirit production, distillation, bottling and labeling added in a later phase.

The family business continues today as Aug. Krämer Kornbrennerei GmbH, based in Dortmund. It remains family-run, with the fourth and fifth generations represented in the company’s management. Its present range includes traditional grain spirits, distilled specialties and liqueurs, alongside handmade chocolates. The company uses fine wheat distillate for some of its spirits, while herbs and spices used in its herbal products are sourced to pharmaceutical-quality standards.