In 1852, Georg Kreuzberg, a German merchant, discovered a mineral well in Ahrweiler. He started to exploit the well and bottled the water in earthenware bottles from Baumbach. He labelled them ‘Apollinaris Brunnen/Georg Kreuzberg Ahrweiler Rheinpreussen’.

As to expand his business, he started to export the water to England. On one of the voyages, the ship that was carrying not only the mineral water, but German beer, wine and glass containers as well.