Hütt-Brauerei Bettenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG

What Hütt-Brauerei Bettenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG does

Hütt-Brauerei Bettenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG (i.L.) was a family-owned traditional German craft brewery founded on March 21, 1752, in Baunatal near Kassel, in the Nordhessen region of Germany. Across nine generations of Bettenhäuser ownership, the brewery produced a beverage portfolio organized into four beer lines — Klassik (Pils, Helles, Weißbier, Naturtrüb, Radler), Bio (organic certified), Alkoholfrei (non-alcoholic), and the Hessisches Löwenbier sub-brand (Schorsch, Hell, Leicht, Pilsener) — plus the 2025-launch Hessische Löwenlimonade soft drink and the 2023-launch HüttenKaffee specialty coffee line roasted locally from imported Uganda beans. Technical operations relied on original-family-recipe brewing methods together with a contract-brewing (Lohnbrau) service using the on-site facilities. The company also operated the Brauhaus Knallhütte restaurant under an independent tenant, the Brauereimarkt retail store at the Knallhütte headquarters, and a second retail outlet (Getränkehütte) in Körle.

The business model combined direct B2B sales to gastronomy and clubs through a regional field-sales team backed by an in-house logistics fleet (minimum order 2 hl, SEPA direct debit, 2-week payment terms, deposit/Pfand system on reusable packaging), direct-to-consumer retail via the two storefronts, channel-partner sales through beverage wholesalers with centralized billing, and a contract-brewing professional-services revenue stream. Headcount stood at 6 employees, the entity was a GmbH & Co. KG with no external venture or institutional capital, and Pricing was not publicly disclosed.

On August 29, 2025, owner Frank Bettenhäuser (68) announced orderly liquidation citing his age and an extremely difficult beer-market backdrop. Following public support and unsolicited continuation offers, the HÜTT and Hessisches Löwenbier brands together with production and supply contracts were sold to Schlossbrauerei Rheder from Brakel on November 12, 2025, with the acquirer continuing to brew the brands from the original recipes. The Baunatal brewery ceased production, gastronomy deliveries ended by late November 2025, and the legal entity (now Hütt-Brauerei Bettenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG i.L.) entered wind-down, while the Brauhaus Knallhütte restaurant remained open under independent management.

Name

Hütt-Brauerei Bettenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG

Legal name

Hütt-Brauerei Bettenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG i.L.

Website

https://huett.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1752

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hütt-Brauerei Bettenhäuser is a 270-year-old family craft brewery in Baunatal near Kassel producing Klassik, Bio, Alkoholfrei and Hessisches Löwenbier beers plus specialty coffee and lemonade for regional gastronomy, clubs, retail and corporate customers in Nordhessen; the brands were sold to Schlossbrauerei Rheder in November 2025 following orderly liquidation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Craft Brewery (Beer Manufacturing)

NAICS

Breweries (312120)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Kombucha & Fermented Beverage Taprooms (THAFAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Low/No-Alcohol Fermented Beverage Production (Hard Kombucha Base, Dealcoholized) (AFAFAHAI)

Keywords

• Craft brewery
• Regional beer
• Organic beer
• Non-alcoholic beer
• Specialty coffee

Headquarters

HQ city

Baunatal

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Beer Sales (HÜTT and Hessisches Löwenbier): Core revenue from beer production and sales across multiple categories: Klassik (classic beers), Bio (organic), Alkoholfrei (non-alcoholic), and seasonal varieties. Sold in bottles, crates, and draft (Fass) formats to gastronomy and retail customers.
2. HüttenKaffee Specialty Coffee: Specialty coffee sales including 'Frühaufsteher', 'Hoch Hinaus', and 'Bergsteiger' varieties. Sourced directly from Uganda, roasted locally in Kassel, sold through brewery market and online.
3. Hessische Löwenlimonade (Lion Lemonade): Non-alcoholic carbonated beverages in Orange, Cola Mix, and Zitrone flavors. Launched for 160th anniversary of Hessisches Löwenbier brewery. Sold in 24x0.33L and 6x0.33L bottles.
4. Brauereimarkt Retail Sales: Direct retail sales of beer, glasses, tankards, and textiles through the brewery market at Knallhütte location. Extended hours Monday-Friday 8:00-17:00.
5. Lohnbrau (Contract Brewing): Contract brewing services offered to third parties. Allows other brands to produce beer using Hütt facilities and expertise.
6. Brauhaus Knallhütte Restaurant: Restaurant and brewery pub operations at the Knallhütte location. New tenant/pächter operates independently. Open for food service with regional cuisine.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hütt-Brauerei is a traditional regional craft brewery producing the HÜTT and Hessisches Löwenbier beer ranges across classic, organic, non-alcoholic, and seasonal varieties, sold directly to gastronomy, clubs, and retail customers in the Nordhessen/Kassel region. The portfolio also includes the Hessische Löwenlimonade soft drink line and the HüttenKaffee specialty coffee line, complemented by on-site retail at the Brauereimarkt and Brauhaus Knallhütte restaurant. In November 2025, the HÜTT and Hessisches Löwenbier brands were transferred to Schlossbrauerei Rheder for continued production under original recipes.

Product overview

Hütt-Brauerei Bettenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG is a traditional family brewery offering a diverse beverage portfolio organized into four main beer lines (Klassik, Bio, Alkoholfrei, and Hessisches Löwenbier sub-brand), supplemented by the Hessische Löwenlimonade soft drink line and HüttenKaffee specialty coffee products. The company operates the Brauhaus Knallhütte restaurant and offers Lohnbrau (contract brewing) services. Founded in 1752 with nine generations of brewing heritage, the brewery was located in Baunatal, Hesse, Germany. The brand portfolio includes flagship Hütt beers alongside the Hessian Lion (Hessisches Löwenbier) sub-brand celebrating regional identity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hessisches Löwenbier: A regional Hessian beer brand named after the Hessian lion symbol, marketed as a beer with character, strength, innovation, and zest for life. Celebrated its 160th anniversary in 2025.
• Hessische Löwenlimonade
• HüttenKaffee

Products and services

• Hütt-Biere Klassik Classic beer portfolio including Pils, Helles, Weißbier, Naturtrüb, Radler, and seasonal Sommerbier. Flagship beers brewed according to original family recipes since 1752 and sold to gastronomy, clubs, and retail customers in the Nordhessen region.
• Hütt-Biere Bio Organic certified beer line including Hütt Helles Bio and Hütt Weißbier Hell Bio, produced with organic ingredients for environmentally conscious consumers in the region.
• Hütt-Biere Alkoholfrei Non-alcoholic beer range including Brauwasser, Lux Alkoholfrei, Naturtrüb, Radler Naturtrüb, Apfel Radler, and Weißbier Alkoholfrei for alcohol-free consumption.
• Hessisches Löwenbier Regional beer brand featuring varieties Schorsch, Hell, Leicht, and Pilsener. Celebrates 160-year heritage with lion branding representing strength, character, and innovation.
• Hessische Löwenlimonade Lemonade line launched for the 160th anniversary of the Hessisches Löwenbier brewery. Available in Orange, Cola Mix, and Lemon flavors in 24x0.33L and 6x0.33L bottles.
• HüttenKaffee Specialty coffee line featuring regionally roasted coffees from Uganda. Three varieties: Frühaufsteher (100% Arabica, mild), Hoch Hinaus (50/50 Arabica/Robusta, strong), and Bergsteiger (dark roast with caramel notes). Roasted in Kassel via drum roaster.
• Brauhaus Knallhütte Restaurant and brauhaus operated independently on the brewery grounds since 1752. Open Monday–Sunday with varied hours. Features regional cuisine and house beers.
• Lohnbrau (Contract Brewing) Contract brewing service offered by the brewery, allowing other brands to produce their beverages using the facility's equipment and expertise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Award-winning quality since 1838, recognized by CMA, DLG, and Bundesehrenpreis

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Schlossbrauerei Rheder (Gräflich von Mengersen'sche Dampfbrauerei Rheder GmbH & Co.KG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2025Production and supply contracts transferred to Schlossbrauerei Rheder from Brakel following Hütt's orderly liquidation announcement. Schlossbrauerei Rheder will continue brewing HÜTT and Hessisches Löwenbier using original recipes. This ensures brand continuity and seamless transition for business partners. Owner Frank Bettenhäuser described it as finding 'the best solution' as both are craft regional breweries with similar values and quality standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Krombacher Brauerei: One of Germany's largest breweries, headquartered in the same broader region (Kreuztal-Krombach, North Rhine-Westphalia). Comparable in terms of regional German family-brewery identity and on-premise gastronomy focus, though at a fundamentally different scale.
• Veltins Brauerei: Large German family-owned regional brewery with a Pilsener-led portfolio. Comparable to HÜTT in being an established family-owned German brewery operating in the same on-premise/retail channels.
• Erdinger Weißbräu: Large German weissbier specialist with global distribution. Comparable in operating in the same German beer market with a category-leading specialty positioning, but at much larger scale than HÜTT.
• Radeberger Gruppe (Dr. Oetker): Largest German private brewery group operating a portfolio of regional heritage brands. Relevant incumbent for understanding the consolidation backdrop that has pressured small breweries like HÜTT and the typical acquirer profile for distressed regional brands.
• Paulaner Brauerei Gruppe: Munich-based brewery group with multiple heritage brands. Relevant peer for understanding the German craft-to-mainstream brand portfolio dynamics that regional breweries like HÜTT operate within.
• Bitburger Brauerei: Major German regional brewery with national Pilsener positioning. A relevant incumbent peer because it competes for the same German on-premise gastronomy and retail accounts that small breweries like HÜTT serve.
• Warsteiner Brauerei: Large German family-owned brewery with broad national distribution. Comparable in being a long-established German family brewery operating in the same regulatory and competitive environment, but at substantially greater scale and geographic reach than HÜTT.

Direct peers

• Mahr's Bräu: Bamberg-based small traditional German brewery. Closest size and craft-positioning analog to HÜTT — a family-rooted regional brewery competing in the same on-premise gastronomy and Vereine channels, and a comparable small-scale producer of traditional German beer styles.
• Schlossbrauerei Rheder: Traditional mid-sized craft brewery in Brakel that acquired the HÜTT and Hessisches Löwenbier brands in November 2025. It is the closest operational peer: similar regional German craft positioning, comparable scale, and now the entity continuing the HÜTT brand's production under original recipes.

Regional players

• Binding-Brauerei (Radeberger Gruppe): Frankfurt-based traditional brewery with strong regional identity. Comparable as a German regional brewery with heritage positioning and gastronomy focus in a single metropolitan region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/huett.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/h%C3%BCtt-brauerei-bettenh%C3%A4user-gmbh-&-co.-kg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Hütt-Brauerei Bettenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG