Carlsberg was founded by J. C. Jacobsen in 1847, and the first brew was finished on November 10, 1847. Exportation of Carlsberg Beer began in 1868; foreign brewing was begun in 1968 with the opening of a Carlsberg brewery in Blantyre, Malawi. Some of the company's original logos include an elephant (after which some of its lagers are named) and the swastika. Use of the latter was discontinued in the 1930s because of its association with political parties in neighboring Germany.
Carlsberg founder J. C. Jacobsen was a philanthropist and avid art collector. With his fortune he amassed an impressive art collection which is now housed in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in central Copenhagen.
The species of yeast used to make lager beer, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, was named after this brewery.
The old brewery in Copenhagen is open for tours and famous visitors have included Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth II.
Carlsberg acquired Tuborg breweries in 1970 and merged with Tetley in 1992.