The story
Beer production in Valdivia dates from the early years of the German colonisation in southern Chile with Carlos Anwandter and his family being the first brewers in the area, after the opening of the Cerveceria Anwandter in 1851; such company was destroyed by the 1960 Valdivia earthquake.
By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the German-Chilean Kunstmann family decides to start experimenting with the production of beer at home, managing some moderate success with neighbors and family. In 1997, the production process is moved out of the family home in Valdivia and a small restaurant and factory was opened on the outskirts of the city in Torobayo called "La Cerveceria", thus creating the Sociedad Cervecera Valdivia Ltda which was founded by members of the Kunstmann Family.
Expansion
In 1998, the brand starts its expansion plan to markets abroad with the first shipments to Germany and the United States, followed by the entrance to the Japanese market in 2001. Up until 2002, all international exported products carried the "Patagonia" brand name but in an effort to unify their brand image and recognition, the Patagonia name is discarded and since then, all products carry the Kunstmann brand name.
By 2003, Kunstmann had already managed to grab 0.5% of the Chilean beer market, producing up to 20.000hl of beer per month. That same year, in May 10 Kunstmann closes a distribution and advertising deal with Compañia de Cervecerias Unidas (United Brewing Company) which acquired a 49% stake, creating the current Compañia Cervecera Kunstmann S.A.
From Wikipedia’s article on Kunstmann, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4