German brewery closures surge as beer consumption falls

Germany’s brewing sector is facing a deepening crisis. The historic private brewery Eichbaum, founded in 1679, announced it will cease operations by the end of September, laying off about 240 workers and planning to sell its assets. Eichbaum’s shutdown follows a wave of insolvencies at other breweries such as Hofbrauhaus Wolters, Schussenrieder, Kaufbeuren, Leikeim and Colbitzer Heide.

Industry data show the number of German breweries dropping from 1,552 in 2019 to 1,415 in 2025 – the lowest level since 2016. Annual beer production fell by a quarter over the past two decades, slipping below 75 million hectolitres for the first time. In 2024, roughly 7.8 billion litres of beer were sold, a 6 % decline from the previous year and 16 % below the 2019 peak. The downturn is driven by weaker consumer demand, rising costs, inflation and a shift among younger generations toward non‑alcoholic drinks. Christian Weber, president of the German Brewers Association, warned that closures cannot be avoided under current conditions, while Holger Eichele, director of the association, highlighted the challenging economic environment.