Schützengarten

Schützengarten, formally Brauerei Schützengarten AG, is a Swiss brewing company and beer brand based in St. Gallen. Founded in 1779, it describes itself as Switzerland’s oldest brewery. The company traces the region’s brewing tradition to the medieval monasteries of St. Gallen: the St. Gallen monastery plan of 825 depicts three breweries. Schützengarten’s own commercial history began when Johann Ulrich Tobler bought a property associated with the Schützengesellschaft vor dem Platztor and established a small brewery in its former shooting house. The brewery later passed to brewer David Billwiller, whose family developed it into a modern business. The company’s portfolio includes lager, wheat beer, specialty and seasonal beers, and a growing range of non-alcoholic offerings. Names featured on its official site include Lager Hell, Weisser Engel, St. Galler Klosterbräu, Schwarzer Bär, Landbier, Säntisbier, Hopfenzupfer, Gallus 612 India Pale Ale, Löwengarten Helles Lager, Festbier, and non-alcoholic versions or styles such as Weisser Engel Alkoholfrei, Alkoholfrei Pale Ale, Alkoholfrei Ginger Beer, and Alkoholfrei Panaché. The company presents Weisser Engel Alkoholfrei as a new alcohol-free version of its wheat beer. It also promotes beer-related experiences and regional engagement. Schützengarten says it has remained independent since its founding and is firmly rooted in Eastern Switzerland. It reports more than 220 employees and describes its beers as especially popular in Eastern Switzerland, while its stated ambition is to extend the brand’s reach beyond that home region. The brewery supports cultural and sporting events, particularly in Eastern Switzerland. Sustainability is part of its stated business philosophy: the company reports generating hydropower at its Erlenholz facility since 1895, and says that in 2024 it tripled the photovoltaic area on its brewery roofs. Its current portfolio, regional presence, and ongoing investment in renewable electricity position it as both a long-established local brewery and an active contemporary drinks company.

Schützengarten places its story within St. Gallen’s long brewing tradition. The company’s history page points to the St. Gallen monastery plan of 825, which shows three breweries, and notes that the plan was used as a model for the construction of the Abbey of St. Gall in 830–837. The medieval monastic tradition provides historical context; the commercial brewery’s own foundation is dated to 1779. According to the company, Johann Ulrich Tobler bought a property that included the Schützenhaus and the target range of the Schützengesellschaft vor dem Platztor. He established a small brewery in the shooting house, serving shooters and restaurant guests. This enterprise formed the basis of Schützengarten’s subsequent history. Brewer David Billwiller later bought the property and brewery, developing the small craft operation into a modern enterprise together with his son. Arnold Billwiller took over from his father and expanded production, making use of contemporary technological developments. One cited innovation was the installation of a refrigeration plant soon after the invention of the refrigeration machine, allowing the brewery to produce good-quality beer in summer. The company’s history page also describes Arnold Billwiller building a hydropower facility at Erlenholz. The current homepage says Schützengarten has produced its own electricity there since 1895. The facility was comprehensively renewed and automated in 2003, after which it supplied approximately 3.2 million kWh annually, according to the company. The brewery reports subsequent investments to improve electricity production, including renewal of the control system, renovation of the weir, and overhaul of the turbine. Today, Schützengarten presents itself as the oldest brewery in Switzerland and says it has remained independent since its founding. Its business combines a portfolio of beers and alcohol-free drinks with a strong Eastern Swiss identity. The company reports more than 220 employees and participation in regional cultural and sporting events. Recent product activity includes an alcohol-free version of Weisser Engel, while its 2024 sustainability milestone was a threefold increase in the photovoltaic area on the brewery roofs. The company says 970 solar modules are expected to produce about 340,000 kWh per year.

• 2024

  Photovoltaic area on brewery roofs tripled

• 2003

  Erlenholz hydropower facility renewed and automated

• 1895

  Electricity generation at Erlenholz

• 1779

  Brauerei Schützengarten AG founded

• St. Gallen monastery plan depicts three breweries

An independent, long-established Swiss brewery rooted in Eastern Switzerland, combining a broad beer portfolio and new non-alcoholic offerings with regional engagement and a stated commitment to sustainability.

• Lager Hell

• Weisser Engel

• Weisser Engel Alkoholfrei

• St. Galler Klosterbräu

• Schwarzer Bär

• Landbier

• Säntisbier

• Hopfenzupfer

• Gallus 612 India Pale Ale

• Alkoholfrei Ginger Beer

• Alkoholfrei Pale Ale

• Investments in renewable electricity generationOther

1. 1Brauerei Schützengarten - Schützengartenschuetzengarten.ch
2. 2Geschichte - Über uns - Schützengartenschuetzengarten.ch
3. 3Über uns - Schützengartenschuetzengarten.ch
4. 4Team - Über uns - Schützengartenschuetzengarten.ch