Germany: Kulmbacher Group’s Scherdel brewery to cease operations by end of 2026

The Hof-based Scherdel brewery will cease operations at the end of next year. The Kulmbacher Group, the owner, cites economic reasons, DieSachsen.de reported on October 17.

In Hof, the owner is closing the traditional Scherdel brewery at the end of next year. The Kulmbach Group announced that it was no longer possible to operate the brewery profitably. "Together with the Hof employees, we have fought intensively for years to preserve the brewery in Hof," said CEO Jörg Lehmann.

In recent years, however, the situation at the site has come to a head. The Hof brewery has had to accept a sharp drop in sales: The sales volume of Scherdel beers has halved over the past two decades. Kulmbacher had taken over Scherdel in 2003 following the insolvency of Scherdel Privatbrauerei.

Now it is time to act, Lehmann continued - in view of increased prices for raw materials, energy and personnel as well as upcoming investments: "We have examined various options for the location. However, economic operation in Hof is no longer possible."

The Scherdel beers have an almost 200-year tradition, Lehmann continued. They would therefore continue to be brewed even after the closure of the brewery - albeit at the Kulmbacher site in Neuensalz in the Vogtland district of Saxony.

The planned closure will affect 35 employees. They will be offered jobs at other Kulmbacher locations, for example.

The Scherdel brand is known in Hof and far beyond primarily because the traditional Schlappenbier was brewed there. This special beer is only available around the Hof Schlappentag - one of the oldest marksmen's and craftsmen's festivals in Germany. The future of Scherdel Schlappenbier was initially unclear.

Beer consumption in Germany has been declining for years. At the same time, raw material prices are rising. This is putting many breweries under pressure.