Following the sale of its production site to Paulaner, which was announced today, Hatz-Moninger, a subsidiary of the privately owned Scheidtweiler Group of breweries, is set to build a new brewery in Karlsruhe, featuring a rooftop bar with panoramic city views.
The current Hatz-Moninger brewery produces approximately 70,000 hectoliters of its beer brands Moninger and Hatz, as well as around 130,000 hectoliters of contract fillings, including Ratskrone for Edeka. While the Moninger and Hatz brands will remain with the Scheidtweiler Group, the brewery itself has been sold to Paulaner, which intends to repurpose the capacity for its growing non-alcoholic beverage business, particularly the production of its popular soda Spezi.
Already in November 2022 (inside.beer, 17.10.2022), Paulaner acquired the 1.8 million hectoliter brewery in Gotha from Oettinger, which was threatened with closure, and relocated the production of Spezi from Munich to Gotha.
The existing brewery in Karlsruhe-Grünwinkel had become too large for Hatz-Moninger, prompting the sale to Paulaner. Until the new Hatz-Moninger brewery is operational, Paulaner will continue brewing Hatz-Moninger beers under a transitional agreement.
The new brewery will be located in a historic silo building on the same site, preserving the early 20th-century industrial façade while transforming it into an "experience brewery" with a visitor center and gastronomy. The investment is estimated at EUR 6–8 million, though the exact costs remain uncertain. The sale price of the brewery premises to Paulaner has not been disclosed.
During the transition, 23 of 32 production employees from Hatz-Moninger will be transferred to Hoepfner, a Paulaner subsidiary, while the remaining employees will stay with Hatz-Moninger. Once the new brewery is completed, the company plans to expand its workforce.
According to inside getraenke, Paulaner will install a Spezi filling line in the current Hatz-Moninger brewery by mid-2025 and start two-shift operations. The Hatz-Moninger and Ratskrone brands will continue to be brewed there, with a third shift focusing on these products. In the long run, the Scheidtweiler Group plans to install an 80,000-hectoliter brewery on the site for its own production. Additionally, the logistics center from the old Moninger site will be consolidated on the premises.
The transition is expected to bring efficiency improvements, especially since the current Hoepfner brewery has limited capacity and operates under a long-term lease. The Paulaner Group is looking to expand its production network, particularly to meet increasing demand for Spezi, which has surged to 2.2 million hectoliters annually.
The redevelopment has been supported by local authorities in Karlsruhe, facilitating the coexistence of both breweries on the site. The first beers from the new brewery are expected to be served at the rooftop bar in 2027.