What's in Carlsberg

It was a simple yet merry lunch with Carlsberg Malaysia. The Managing Director Soren Holm Jensen told us the story of Carlsberg when I asked what's in the name of "Carlsberg". Over a glass of Carlsberg Gold, the story was told ...

In 1847, a small hill town overlooking Copenhagan, Captain J.C. Jacobsen launched Denmark's first lager beer, Carlsberg. The beer was named after Jaconson's son, "Carl" and the "berg" meaning "on a hill".

It became an extremely profitable business.

J.C. Jacobson later introduced the idea of using personal wealth for public philanthropy. However, the reason for doing so was not merely benevolent charity, but an outcome of a conflict with his only son, Carl.

Instead of letting Carl be the heir of his fortune, he created Carlsberg Foundation and made it the principle heir. The foundation was to promote an awareness of history and an appreciation of beauty.

Carl founded and achieved economic independence with his own brewery, the Ny (new) Carlsberg Brewery.

The rilvary between father and son was not only linked to brewing beer, but was extended to their respective act of philanthropy. While the father believed in the educational important of history, Carl believed in the refining capacities of art.

The two businesses were merged later. Today, the decendents of Jacobson's family do not own signficant shares in the Carlsberg business. Carl also willed his Ny Carlsberg Brewery to a foundation.

So, that's Carlsberg!

And a toast to all my friends from Carlsberg and yours truly!