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Breweries in Bavaria at the end: the death of pubs endangers tradition!
Bavarian breweries are fighting against the death of pubs: over 3,500 restaurants closed in 2024, is there an existential crisis looming?
Breweries in Bavaria at the end: the death of pubs endangers tradition!
The Bavarian brewing industry is under immense pressure as over 3,500 catering establishments have closed this year Federal Statistical Office reported. This is particularly hard on smaller breweries that rely on income from brewery pubs. These inns not only serve as sales points, but also shape the image of the breweries. With the death of pubs, numerous businesses are at risk of falling into crisis, as small breweries are more dependent on catering. The general manager of the Bavarian Brewers Association, Lothar Ebbertz, explains: “The hospitality industry is a special sales intermediary for the Bavarian brewing industry.”
A particularly dramatic example is the Wildbräustüberl in Grafing near Munich, which had to close again after extensive renovation. Johannes Hartwig from Wildbräu Grafing describes the frustrating situation: “We invested a lot of money, but the pub just wasn’t running.” This fate is not an isolated case; The Gut Forsting brewery is also fighting for a successor for its host family, who are giving up after more than 50 years. Despite good sales, finding new tenants is extremely difficult, which highlights the uncertainty in the industry.
Pressure on breweries to innovate
In order to survive in this tense situation, breweries must become more creative. The Rittmayer brewery in Hallerndorf, Upper Franconia, has set up a bottling center for smaller breweries to share costs. Another example is the Gut Forsting brewery, which brews beer for other master brewers under the “Gypsy Brewer” label. These innovative approaches are crucial to meeting the industry’s challenges. Despite the difficulties, there are positive developments: Gut Forsting was recently able to find a new landlord for its inn.
Amid all these challenges and opportunities, Bavarian brewpubs remain an important institution. In addition to the economic aspect, the cultural significance of these restaurants also plays an important role. How Bavaria's best mentioned, it is not just the beer gardens, but also the unique atmospheres of the inns that make them an important part of Bavarian tradition.