Klosterbrauerei Reutberg

Klosterbrauerei Reutberg is a traditional Bavarian brewery located in Sachsenkam-Reutberg in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, Upper Bavaria, next to the Franciscan Reutberg Monastery. Its origins trace to 1618, when Countess Anna von Pienzenau had the monastery founded; in 1677 the nuns received the concession to brew their own beer, primarily to serve pilgrims. The brewery is therefore one of the oldest brewing sites in the region and describes itself as preserving monastic brewing craft for centuries. After secularization and the monastery's re-establishment in 1835, brewing continued under secular brewers. In 1924, farmers and citizens from Sachsenkam, Reichersbeuern and Greiling, led by Pfarrer Alois Daisenberger, founded the Klosterbrauerei Reutberg eG cooperative to secure affordable local beer. The cooperative remains the owner today, with thousands of members. The brewery produces a range of Bavarian specialties including Helles, Weißbier, Bock and Pils, and operates the Klosterbräustüberl with a beer garden next to the brewery. The brewery is known for its artisanal methods, using water from its own springs and hops from the Hallertau region. It has survived waves of brewery closures in the region and remains the last historic brewing site in the district. Its beers have won awards, such as silver at the European Beer Star 2014 for the Heller Bock. The cooperative structure and regional roots are central to its identity, and it continues to celebrate local festivals and maintain its historic brewing traditions.

The history of Klosterbrauerei Reutberg begins with the founding of the Reutberg Monastery in 1618 by Countess Anna von Pienzenau near Sachsenkam, as a place of reflection and faith. In 1677, the Franciscan nuns received the concession to brew their own beer, primarily to provide for pilgrims. Barley and hops were grown by the monastery itself, and water came from monastery-owned springs. By 1786, a chronicler reported a strong influx of impoverished rural people and discharged soldiers, leading to complaints from nearby Tölz, then a brewing town with 22 breweries, that the monastery was abusing its concession and running a tavern where beer was served and drunk from morning to night. After secularization, the monastery was re-established in 1835 and granted the "foreign brewing right." Secular brewers now operated the brewery, and a tavern was opened outside the monastery walls where beer was sold publicly. In 1901, the brewery was rebuilt at its current location outside the monastery, but by 1904 it was already too small and did not meet the technical standards of the time, prompting the Franciscan nuns to give up brewing. Due to public outrage, the Ordinariate reversed this decision and instead leased the brewery and tavern. In 1906, the brewery was re-equipped and modernized, with a cool ship and modern grist mill, and from 1913 with electric lighting and bottling. However, World War I and inflation severely affected the brewery. Under Pfarrer Alois Daisenberger, farmers from Sachsenkam, Reichersbeuern and Greiling planned in 1924 to found a brewery cooperative to provide locals with affordable beer. On 23 October 1924, 42 members founded the Klosterbrauerei Reutberg eG. In its first year, the brewery produced 3,364 hl and increased membership to 150; by 1929 output rose to 9,000 hl. At the outbreak of World War II, annual output was 12,000 hl. After the war, in 1950 the Weiße Bräu Bad Aibling was acquired, and in 1953 the property of today's Reutberg-Stüberl in Bad Tölz. Production continued to rise, reaching 35,000 hl in 1968. In the 1960s, a new storage cellar, a new empty-goods hall and a bottling plant were built. In 1968, production of non-alcoholic beverages began, reaching 11,300 hl in 1974. Cooperative membership exceeded 2,000. Mismanagement led to a temporary decline. To avoid takeover by a large Munich brewery, a merger with a Holzkirchen brewery was planned, but this was averted in 1987, largely thanks to Hans Kappelsberger, whom the Münchner Merkur called the "savior of the Reutberg" upon his death in 2017. After the massive brewery die-off in Bad Tölz and surroundings from the 19th century, Klosterbrauerei Reutberg was temporarily the only remaining brewery in the district from 2005 and remains the last historic brewing site. Water still comes from its own springs, while hops are sourced from the Hallertau. In 2018, the brewery produced about 21,400 hl of beer. Manual keg and bottle filling take place in Reutberg, while machine bottle filling has been done at Brauerei Aying since 1991. In 2017, the brewery invested in seven new stainless steel tanks to supplement aluminum tanks. Brewing still uses a 1937 solid copper mash tun and brew kettle. In 2017, the brewery had 5,230 cooperative members, including Ilse Aigner and Friedrich Merz. Output in 2017 was over 22,000 hl of beer, with twelve varieties. Two to three shipping containers are annually shipped to Santa Monica, USA, and distributed mainly in California. In 2018, the brewery served as a filming location for the series Hubert und Staller (episode: Weiblich, böse, tot).

• 2018

  Output about 21,400 hl; brewery serves as filming location for Hubert und Staller.

• 2017

  Investment in seven new stainless steel tanks; 5,230 cooperative members; output over 22,000 hl.

• 2014

  Heller Bock awarded silver at European Beer Star.

• 2005

  Temporarily the only remaining brewery in the district.

• 1991

  Machine bottle filling outsourced to Brauerei Aying.

• 1987

  Planned merger with a Holzkirchen brewery averted, largely thanks to Hans Kappelsberger.

• 1974

  Non-alcoholic beverage production reaches 11,300 hl.

• 1968

  Output reaches 35,000 hl; production of non-alcoholic beverages begins.

• 1953

  Acquisition of property for today's Reutberg-Stüberl in Bad Tölz.

• 1950

  Acquisition of Weiße Bräu Bad Aibling.

• 1929

  Output rises to 9,000 hl.

• 1924

  Klosterbrauerei Reutberg eG founded by 42 cooperative members on 23 October.

• 1913

  Electric lighting and bottling introduced.

• 1906

  Brewery re-equipped and modernized with cool ship and modern grist mill.

• 1901

  Brewery rebuilt at current location outside the monastery.

• 1835

  Monastery re-established after secularization and granted "foreign brewing right".

• 1677

  Nuns receive concession to brew their own beer.

• 1618

  Reutberg Monastery founded by Countess Anna von Pienzenau.

Traditional Bavarian monastery brewery with artisanal, regional focus and cooperative ownership.

• Kloster Hell

• Export Hell

• Kloster Märzen

• Aegidius-Trunk

• Heller Bock

• Josefi Bock

• Export Dunkel

• Kloster Weiße

• Daisenberger Dunkle Weiße

• Weißbier-Bock

• Kloster Pils

• Jubiläumssud

1. 1Klosterbrauerei Reutberg | Brauerei in Sachsenkam seit 1677klosterbrauerei-reutberg.de
2. 2Unsere Geschichte | Klosterbrauerei Reutbergklosterbrauerei-reutberg.de
3. 3Klosterbrauerei Reutbergwikidata.org
4. 4Klosterbrauerei Reutbergde.wikipedia.org