What Klosterbrauerei Andechs does

Klosterbrauerei Andechs is the brewery of the Benedictine monastery of Kloster Andechs, located on the 'Heiliger Berg' (Holy Mountain) in Andechs, Bavaria, and operated under the oversight of Abtei Sankt Bonifaz in Munich as a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts. Brewing at the monastery dates to 1455, making it one of Germany's oldest continuously operating breweries; production today spans bottom-fermented lagers (Andechser Hell, Spezial Hell, Bergbock Hell, Export Dunkel, Doppelbock Dunkel), top-fermented wheat beers (Weißbier Hell and Dunkel, Weizenbock), specialty styles (Radler naturtrüb, Andechser Apfelweisse), and a growing alcohol-free line including Andechser Hell alkoholfrei, Weißbier alkoholfrei, and the Andechser Apfelweisse alkoholfrei launched March 2026. All products adhere to the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law of 1516); dark beers are brewed using the classical multiple mashing process (Mehrfach-Maischverfahren), and the site operates a dealcoholisation plant and CO2 recovery system, with EMAS environmental certification maintained since 2013.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer beer and merchandise sales at the pilgrimage destination with wholesale distribution across German gastronomy and retail, plus export to Italy through a dedicated partner and limited US presence. Revenue streams include on-site draught and bottled beer at the Bräustüberl pilgrimage tavern, e-commerce through the proprietary andechs-biershop.de, monastery store merchandise, and paid brewery tours (including VR tours). The organization is governed by Abt Dr. Johannes Eckert OSB as legal representative, with Frater Leonhard Winkle as Cellerar and Alexander Reiss as Operations Manager; the broader monastery employs over 200 staff across its economic enterprises. No external funding or M&A activity is disclosed, and financial figures including revenue are not publicly reported.

Name

Klosterbrauerei Andechs

Legal name

Klosterbrauerei Andechs

Website

https://andechs.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Klosterbrauerei Andechs is a Benedictine monastery brewery founded in 1455 in Bavaria, Germany, producing Reinheitsgebot-compliant lagers, wheat beers, Doppelbock, and alcohol-free variants for on-site pilgrims, German HoReCa and retail, and export markets including Italy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Monastery Brewery Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)

Keywords

• Monastery brewery
• Bavarian lager beer
• Wheat beer production
• Non-alcoholic beer
• Traditional brewing

Headquarters

HQ city

Andechs

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Beer Sales (On-site Draught and Bottled): The primary revenue stream is beer produced at the monastery brewery, sold on-tap at the Bräustüberl tavern, in bottles and packages via the online shop (andechs-biershop.de), and distributed to restaurants and retailers across Germany and export markets.
2. Gastronomy (Bräustüberl Pilgrimage Tavern): The Bräustüberl is a historic pilgrimage tavern operating as part of the Klostergaststätten GmbH, generating food and beverage revenue from visitors to the Holy Mountain. It is open daily with traditional Bavarian cuisine paired with Andechs beers.
3. Online Merchandise and Souvenir Sales: The monastery operates an online shop (shop.andechs.de) selling books, souvenirs, vouchers, and branded merchandise alongside beer.
4. Brewery Tours and Guided Experiences: The brewery offers paid guided tours of the brewhouse, fermentation cellars, filtration plant, and the Alte Apotheke experience exhibit, generating revenue from tourism and beer enthusiast audiences.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Klosterbrauerei Andechs is a Benedictine monastery brewery that produces and sells a traditional Bavarian beer portfolio (lagers, bocks, doppelbocks, wheat beers, radlers, and apple wheat beer) plus non-alcoholic variants and soft drinks. Beer is sold on-tap at the on-site Bräustüberl pilgrimage tavern, in bottles via the proprietary online shop and wholesale partners, and is distributed to restaurants, hotels, and retailers across Germany and Italy. The brewery also operates guided brewery tours (including VR tours), the monastery store, and ancillary hospitality services.

Product overview

Klosterbrauerei Andechs operates as a traditional Benedictine monastery brewery founded in 1455, producing a portfolio of over 12 distinct beer varieties plus non-alcoholic beverages. The core offering includes bottom-fermented lagers (Andechser Hell, Spezial Hell, Bergbock Hell, Export Dunkel, Doppelbock Dunkel) and top-fermented wheat beers (Weißbier Hell, Weißbier Dunkel, Weißbier alkoholfrei, Weizenbock). Specialty products include Radler naturtrüb and Andechser Apfelweisse (apple wheat beer), with recent addition of alcohol-free variants for Hell and Weissbier styles. The brewery also offers non-alcoholic soft drinks (Colamix, Zitronenlimo, Tafelwasser, Apfelschorle). Brewing uses traditional methods including the multiple mashing process (Mehrfach-Maischverfahren) for dark beers, with raw materials sourced from Hallertau hops and selected malt houses. The monastery also operates the Bräustüberl pilgrim tavern and provides guided brewery tours including VR experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Andechser Klostergasthof: Monastery inn offering accommodation and dining services
• Andechser Bräustüberl
• Andechser Klostermetzgerei
• Andechser Klosterbrennerei

Products and services

• Andechser Hell Traditional Bavarian Vollbier Hell (lager) with 5.0% alcohol by volume, produced using bottom fermentation and brewed in compliance with the Reinheitsgebot. Core flagship lager for on-tap service and bottled retail.
• Andechser Hell alkoholfrei Non-alcoholic version of the Andechser Hell lager produced using the brewery's on-site dealcoholisation facility. Awarded 1st place for alcohol-free Helles (announced February 2025). Targets the growing no/low-alcohol consumer segment.
• Spezial Hell Specialty Bavarian lager with higher original wort content than standard Hell, featuring an enhanced malty aroma. Bottom-fermented and Reinheitsgebot-compliant.
• Bergbock Hell Strong Bavarian lager (Bockbier) with at least 16% original wort and 6.5% alcohol by volume. Bottom-fermented and Reinheitsgebot-compliant.
• Export Dunkel Dark Bavarian lager with chestnut/ruby colour, brewed using the traditional Mehrfach-Maischverfahren (multiple mashing process), featuring caramel and cocoa notes with smoky undertones. 4.9% ABV.
• Doppelbock Dunkel World-renowned dark double bock with dark copper colour and fiery red reflections, featuring roasted notes, dried fruit, and pronounced caramel aroma. 7.1% ABV with 18.8% original wort. Flagship product of the brewery.
• Weißbier Hell Top-fermented wheat beer introduced on Josephitag 1993 (March 19). Untreated and naturally yeast-cloudy, featuring banana and honey melon fruit aromas with clove spice. 5.5% ABV, 12.8% original wort.
• Weißbier Dunkel

Quantifiable outcome

• First place award for the alcohol-free Helles (Andechser Hell alkoholfrei) announced February 2025.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ratisbona Compliance GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRatisbona Compliance GmbH provides external legal expertise for the whistleblowing system (Hinweisgebersystem) established by the Abtei Sankt Bonifaz in compliance with the German Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG). Ratisbona offers a publicly accessible reporting platform with structured process and legally sound initial assessment.
• Italian Distribution Partner for Andechs BeercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe monastery brewery has a dedicated Italian partner that manages distribution and sales of Andechs beer in the Italian market. The Andechs website includes a dedicated section (Italian language) titled 'Il nostro partner per l'Italia' listing the Italian distribution partner.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu: Munich brewery now owned by AB InBev, producing Spaten and Franziskaner brands. Directly competes with Andechs across Munich Helles, Export Dunkel, and Weissbier categories, though backed by a global brewer with materially larger distribution and marketing resources.
• Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan: Often cited as the world's oldest brewery (founded 1040), now state-owned and based in Freising, Bavaria. Comparable to Andechs as a heritage Reinheitsgebot brewer with a broad lager/wheat/bock portfolio, on-site Braustuberl, and global export presence — competing in the same premium traditional German segment.
• Augustiner-Bräu München: One of Munich's six big traditional breweries, privately held and similarly positioned as a heritage Bavarian Reinheitsgebot producer with strong on-premise tied-house estates (Augustiner-Keller). Most directly comparable to Andechs in terms of brand prestige, Reinheitsgebot positioning, and Bavarian regional focus.
• Brauerei Aying: Family-owned Bavarian brewery founded 1878, producing a portfolio of traditional Reinheitsgebot beers with on-site gastronomy (Ayinger Bräustüberl). Closely comparable to Andechs in scale, traditional positioning, family/owner-operator governance, and on-site hospitality model.
• Hofbräu München: State-owned Munich brewery with the iconic Hofbräuhaus beer hall. Comparable as a Reinheitsgebot brewer with strong heritage positioning and on-site hospitality (Hofbräuhaus), but operates at significantly larger scale and with broader global brand recognition than Andechs.
• Erdinger Weissbräu: World's largest wheat beer brewery, privately held and based in Erding, Bavaria. Directly competes with Andechs's Weißbier range and offers comparable alkoholfrei wheat beer SKUs; similar premium traditional positioning though at substantially greater scale and broader export reach.
• Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg: Benedictine monastery brewery at Kloster Weltenburg (often cited as the world's oldest monastic brewery, founded 1050). The most structurally comparable peer — same monastic Benedictine ownership model, Reinheitsgebot brewing, on-site Braustüberl at pilgrimage destination, and portfolio of traditional Bavarian lagers and bocks.
• Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe: Munich-based brewery owned by Schörghuber Group, producing Paulaner and other Bavarian brands (e.g., Hacker-Pschorr). Overlaps directly with Andechs on traditional Bavarian Helles, Weissbier, Bock, and Doppelbock styles, with a substantially larger distribution footprint in Germany and internationally.
• Schneider Weisse (G. Schneider & Sohn): Kelheim-based Bavarian wheat beer specialist with similar heritage profile and family/private ownership structure to Andechs. Directly competes in the Weissbier category and offers a comparable portfolio depth across wheat beer variants, including specialty and stronger styles (e.g., Aventinus).

Emerging players

• Maisel & Friends (Brauerei Gebr. Maisel): Bayreuth-based Bavarian brewery with a craft-oriented arm (Maisel & Friends) alongside traditional Weissbier. Partial overlap with Andechs on Weissbier and Reinheitsgebot credentials; differentiated by a more explicit craft-brewing positioning and broader specialty portfolio targeting younger consumers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/klosterbrauerei-andechs

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Klosterbrauerei Andechs