Germany: Beer industry going through one of its most difficult periods in decades

Germany's traditional beer industry, one of the country's cultural and economic pillars, is going through one of its most difficult periods in decades. Stefan Blaschak, the chief executive of the renowned Oettinger brewery, has raised the alarm about a wave of bankruptcies sweeping the sector, warning that the situation is more serious than ever before, Telegrafi reported on August 26.

"This is a crisis like no other. The beer world is collapsing," Blaschak said in a statement to the media, adding that "we are seeing small businesses going bankrupt almost every day. If this trend continues, even large breweries will not escape the consequences."

According to the latest data, beer consumption in Germany has suffered a significant decline in 2025, with a decrease of 7–7.5 percent compared to the previous year. This decline comes as a continuation of a trend that has been going on for several years, but this year's figures are particularly alarming for the industry.

In the past two years, a total of 52 breweries have closed across the country — the highest number of closures in such a short period in more than 30 years. This indicates not only the economic difficulties facing producers, but also a profound change in the habits of German consumers.

The factors that have led to this situation are numerous: changes in lifestyle, increased health awareness, competition from other beverages such as wine and carbonated drinks, as well as increased production costs due to inflation and supply crises following the pandemic and international conflicts.

Blaschak points out that unless immediate measures are taken to support the industry, a large part of Germany's cultural and culinary heritage is in danger of disappearing.

“Beer is not just a product – it is part of our national identity. If we allow this industry to collapse, we lose more than just a few beer brands – we lose a part of our history,” he concluded.