The Catholic Diocese of Regensburg has decided to sell the beer brands Bischofshof and Weltenburger, including the world’s oldest monastery brewery in Weltenburg, founded in 1050. The buyer is Privatbrauerei Schneider Weisse, with the transaction scheduled to take legal effect on 1 January 2027. The purchase price has not been disclosed, as both parties agreed to confidentiality.
At the heart of the decision lies the growing economic pressure on the church and church-owned operations. Bischofshof, founded in 1649 and owned by a foundation of the Diocese of Regensburg, has been loss-making for several years. The Regensburg-based brewery last produced around 170,000 hl per year. Despite restructuring efforts and a relaunch of the Weltenburger brand in recent years, a sustainable turnaround proved unattainable. According to church representatives, continuing the business independently would have required further financial support without a realistic prospect of long-term profitability.
Rudolf Voderholzer, Bishop of Regensburg, made clear that the sale was driven by economic necessity rather than a lack of attachment to tradition. While the historical and cultural significance of the breweries was undisputed, he stated that there was “no longer any economic basis” for maintaining beer production at the Regensburg site. The diocese therefore opted for what it described as a “Bavarian solution”, selling to a family-owned brewery with strong regional roots rather than to a purely financial investor.
As part of the transaction, brewing at the Bischofshof site in Regensburg will cease at the end of 2026, affecting 56 employees. The diocese and the companies involved have announced plans to seek socially acceptable solutions, including redeployment within the beverage sector where possible. In contrast, the monastery brewery in Weltenburg, whose output forms part of the former Bischofshof volume, will continue operating with its current workforce of 21 employees, preserving continuous brewing at the historic site. The monastery of Weltenburg itself remains fully active as a Benedictine community, with religious life continuing independently of the brewery, which will operate under new ownership.
The logistics business of Bischofshof will also remain in operation. Over the medium term, production of the brands is to be concentrated at Schneider Weisse’s headquarters in Kelheim and at the Weltenburg monastery brewery. Schneider Weisse itself currently produces around 220,000 hl annually, meaning the acquisition will significantly expand the group’s brewing volume and brand reach while reducing the Diocese’s exposure to further operating losses.
The sale underlines the difficult position even of long-established and well-reputed breweries in a shrinking German beer market. Declining consumption and rising costs are increasingly forcing owners to choose between tradition and economic reality.In this case, the Diocese of Regensburg has concluded that transferring stewardship of the oldest monastery brewery in the world is the only viable way to safeguard its future.
