To mark the departure of legendary Liverpool FC manager Jürgen Klopp, Carlsberg has teamed up with ERDINGER Weissbräu to release a limited-edition celebratory beer - one for every official game he has been in charge of the Reds.
In total, 491 75cl bottles of Believers Brew will be sold with auctioneers Graham Budd from May 16th with all proceeds going to the LFC Foundation, the official charity of Liverpool Football Club, to support the important work it does in creating life changing opportunities for the most underserved communities - home and away. Klopp’s nine-season tenure is full of momentous achievements on the pitch, with trophies in the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, League Cup and more, as well as the club record for the longest unbeaten run in Premier League matches (44).
The Normal One, as he is fondly known, has also received multiple personal accolades including Premier League Manager of the Season and FIFA World Coach of the Year twice. Each bottle in the batch of 491 will be numbered, linking back to individual, official fixtures that he has managed. Some of the most notable bottles include:
Bottle 206:
Liverpool FC 4-0 FC Barcelona
UEFA Champions League, 7th May 2019, Anfield, Liverpool
Bottle 208:
Liverpool FC 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur FC
UEFA Champions League, 1st June 2019, Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid
Bottle 264:
Liverpool FC 5-3 Chelsea FC
Premier League, 22nd July 2020, Anfield, Liverpool
With Carlsberg a proud partner of Liverpool FC for over 30 years and Jürgen Klopp an ERDINGER Weissbräu ambassador since 2019, the collaboration between the brands is one rarely seen in the drinks industry.
The partnership is particularly fitting when compared to Jürgen’s collaborative approach to management and testament to his admiration amongst not just Liverpool FC fans but all fans of football. The Believers Brew name draws inspiration from Klopp’s first press conference, in which the manager promised to turn “Doubters to Believers”, a promise he undoubtedly fulfilled.
The beer uses signature ingredients from both breweries in an even split, 50% ERDINGER signature wheat malt, 50% Carlsberg signature pilsner malt and yeasts from both businesses in the two-stage brewing process, it also uses a proportion of unique Red Barley. Louise Bach, Global Sponsorships Director at Carlsberg said: “At Carlsberg, we never stand alone.
“We stand with our partners and we are incredibly proud of our over 30-year partnership with Liverpool FC. Curiosity is a key value of ours, and football is arguably one of the most curious sports out there, with progression and improvement a constant aim. It has been a pleasure to watch Jürgen’s journey over the last nine seasons. What better way to celebrate such an icon than creating something truly unique, collaborating with ERDINGER Weissbräu and raising money for a brilliant cause in the process.”
Dr Stefan Kreisz, Chair of the Management Board at ERDINGER Weissbräu said: “ERDINGER Weissbräu and Jürgen have enjoyed an excellent partnership for four years.
“With his passion, his demand for absolute quality and his enjoyment of life, he is a perfect fit for us. He is a role model in Liverpool and around the world for what can be achieved as a team.
“So, it's all the better that we can honour this great achievement in a very special way in collaboration with Carlsberg. With our shared passion for brewing, we have created something that will bring enjoyment to the lives of many people.
“Both to those who buy a bottle at auction and to all those who are supported by the fantastic work of the LFC Foundation.” The auction will start on May 16th on Graham Budd Auctions.
The starting bid for each beer has been set at £5. All auctions will end on 30th May.