Most companies only invent products. Carlsberg invented the pH scale, helped win a Nobel Prize, and changed how the world brews. On May 1, the Carlsberg Research Laboratory marks its 150th anniversary, celebrating a legacy of scientific breakthroughs that reach far beyond beer. To commemorate the milestone, Carlsberg is doing something it’s never done before: opening the doors of its legendary research facility to the public for a rare look at where science meets suds —and reshapes society.

Founded in 1875 by brewer and philanthropist J.C. Jacobsen, the laboratory helped lay the scientific foundation for modern brewing. But its legacy goes far beyond what’s in your glass. From inventing the pH scale to decoding the barley genome to pioneering crop technologies that could address global food insecurity amidst climate change, the Carlsberg Research Laboratory has always pursued science with long-term, society-shifting impact.

"The Carlsberg Research Laboratory has shaped our industry—and shaped the world," said Jacob Aarup-Andersen, CEO of Carlsberg Group. "For 150 years, its breakthroughs have advanced science, improved lives and demonstrated what can happen when you invest in science not just to build a business, but to brew a better tomorrow. That spirit continues to define Carlsberg and the laboratory today."

Brewing Innovation for the Next 150 Years.

With more than 100 scientists working in Copenhagen, the lab today continues to focus on long-term innovation. From sustainable agriculture to energy efficient brewing, the next era of breakthroughs is already underway.

"We don’t just think about what beer should be in five years—we think about what the world needs in fifty," said Birgitte Skadhauge, Vice President and Head of the Carlsberg Research Laboratory. "This lab began as a quest to perfect beer through science. Now, it's a world-leading hub of brewery-oriented research with global impact. We’re just getting started."

The laboratory is a living example of J.C. Jacobsen’s belief that Carlsberg should give back to society. Thanks to grants from the Carlsberg Foundations, the Carlsberg Research Laboratory does important long-term scientific research that is too challenging and too risky for others to pursue. Its most iconic discoveries include:

• Purified yeast: Discovered in 1883, made it possible to brew consistent, high-quality beer at scale. J.C. Jacobsen shared the discovery freely—even with competitors—transforming the global brewing industry. Today, most lagers in the world are based on yeast strains that trace back to that original Carlsberg breakthrough.
• The pH scale: Invented at the Carlsberg Research Laboratory, the pH scale became a foundational tool across chemistry, medicine, agriculture, and countless other scientific fields.
• Click chemistry: Developed over two decades at the Carlsberg laboratory, this breakthrough enables precise molecular assembly used in drug development and diagnostics. In 2022, Professor Morten Meldal was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery.
• FIND-IT: A cutting-edge, non-GMO crop breeding technology introduced in 2022, with the potential to boost global food security by creating climate-resilient, nutritionally rich crops.

150 Years Strong. And for the First Time—Open to the Public.

While Carlsberg’s lab shares its science with the world by publishing its research, the laboratory is usually closed to the public. To mark the 150-year milestone, Carlsberg is inviting the public behind the gates of its normally closed laboratory for a rare, limited-time experience. Hosted at the cultural attraction Home of Carlsberg, the celebration includes exclusive guided tours of the laboratory every Sunday in April and May, including exclusive tastings of beers that represent the past, present, and future.

Want to see where beer meets breakthroughs? Visit Home of Carlsberg to learn more and book your tour.