Germany’s Weltenburger, the world’s oldest monastic brewery, will be sold to Munich brewers Schneider Weisse. Weltenburger Abbey has brewed beer for nearly 1,000 years on the Danube’s banks in Bavaria. The Catholic Church still owns the brewery, but monks handed production to hired staff 50 years ago. These staff belong to the Bischofshof brewery, which will also be sold to Schneider. The deal was agreed by the Regensburg diocese and Schneider Weisse after Weltenburger’s business showed losses for several years. The church had to inject funds to keep it afloat. Till Hedrich, managing director of both Weltenburger and Bischofshof, called it a “Bavarian solution” to avoid closure or loss to outside investors. He said it would preserve an important part of Bavaria’s brewing tradition. Financial terms are not public. The sale will complete by January 2027, keeping all 21 Weltenburger employees. Regensburg bishop Rudolf Voderholzer said, “In addition to the aspect of tradition, it is very important to us that we can keep at least some of the jobs directly in the region.” Bischofshof, founded in 1649 with 56 workers, will stop production by year-end. Its beer brand will move to Schneider. Weltenburger beer will continue at the historic abbey. The diocese is looking for jobs for affected Bischofshof workers. The Weltenburger brewery survived several fires, floods, wars, and near destruction, welcoming half a million visitors yearly. Abbot Thomas M Freihart said, “Those who cannot enjoy themselves will eventually become unbearable to others,” and called beer enjoyment “a gift from God.” German beer sales are dropping as alcohol use falls. Over 15 years, sales fell by 25%, with a sharp 5 million hectolitre drop in 2025 alone. Germany still has many small and regional breweries but no beer ranks in the global top 10 sales. Nine monastic breweries remain run by monks or employees, plus one by nuns at Mallersdorf Abbey. Beer brewing dates back to the Neolithic era but flourished in medieval monasteries. The traditional Reinheitsgebot purity law restricts beer ingredients, limiting innovation. Meanwhile, non-alcoholic beers are growing popular.