Germany - Breweries

In 1896 the two large breweries in Barmen and Elberfeld, Wicküler and Küpper merged. In 1962 the first glass of Küppers Kölsch was tapped, at that time brewed on a license basis at the Kölner Früh brewery, before the Küppers brewery at Alteburger Straße opened in 1972, at this time it was the newest commercial brewery in the city of Cologne. Küppers Kölsch is heavily marketed and sells well outside of Cologne but fails to attract local attention lacking the character of products from more well established brewerys.
In 1990, the Kölner Küppers Kölsch brewery was sold to the Dutch Grolsch group. Since 2004 it has been brewed by Kölner Verbund Brauerei of the Radeberger group. The Alteburger Straße site was sold in 2006 and has now been levelled.
Some of the Brewery's Range
Küppers Kölsch - First launched on the market in 1962
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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.