Westerwald brewery modernized: A look at the future of beer!

Westerwald brewery modernized: A look at the future of beer!

The Westerwald brewery in Hachenburg has made significant progress in its logistics modernization in recent months. Construction has been running on schedule since March 2025, with the brewery making its largest investment in more than 160 years of its history. Not only will a new filling plant be set up, but the logistics halls will also be comprehensively modernized. The first construction phases have already been successfully completed and aim to enable a higher capacity of goods on the same storage space.

The project management is in the hands of Florian Wisser, head of filling technology, and Maik Grün, head of brewing technology. Particular challenges arise because the work has to be carried out during ongoing operations, which requires employees to make additional efforts. Regional companies are involved in the construction activities. The modernization includes, among other things, connecting three separate halls to create space for over 200,000 Hachenburger boxes.

State-of-the-art technology and new products

An important aspect of modernization is the introduction of semi-autonomous, AI-supported conveyor systems that promise to optimize operations. A highlight of the new logistics is the “Hachenburger SelbstBIER-Diener”, an XXL cold room that is accessible to registered users around the clock. These expansions come at a time when Westerwald Brewery sales are positive in the first half of 2025, particularly in the non-alcoholic products segment. For comparison, it is noteworthy that the entire market was down 6.5 percent at the end of May 2025.

The Westerwald brewery is now run by Jens Geimer in the fifth generation and has made a name for itself for its high-quality beers, which are sold primarily in the Westerwald and neighboring regions. The brewery also shows a strong commitment to sustainability and transparency and has been climate neutral since October 2021.

Another interesting insight into the brewing industry comes from Freistadt, where a new bottling plant was put into operation on March 26, 2025. This facility took one year to build and was completely renovated, including the addition of a repackaging line for 6-carriers and cartons. The Freistadt brewery's filling capacity has been doubled to an impressive 22,000 bottles per hour, making production processes significantly more efficient. In addition, a packaging change was introduced in April, whereby Ratsherrn Premium disposable bottles are now packaged in environmentally friendly boxes of 12, just like the Zwickl-Radler.

The developments in the Westerwald brewery and the recent investment in Freistadt illustrate the dynamic change in the brewing industry, where modernization and sustainability increasingly go hand in hand.