Beer prices rise: Brewer announce drastic increases!

Beer prices rise: Brewer announce drastic increases!

The German Brewer Association has announced that the beer prices will increase in the coming years. Association manager Holger Eichele commented on the current production costs, which according to him are significantly higher than five or ten years ago. The increased prices for hops and personnel as well as sales declines in the breweries are the main reasons for the upcoming price increases. Eichele emphasized that the breweries are forced to pass on part of these costs to consumers, but indicated no specific figures for the expected price adjustments.

Despite the unpleasant news for beer lovers, there are currently numerous special offers in the trade that may cushion the influence of price increases. Commercial groups, for example, offer boxes with 20 half -liter bottles at prices of 9.99 euros. Over two thirds of the Pils beer quantity in Germany are sold by such action offers, which shows that consumers can currently benefit from at least some discounts.

beer sales in a descent

The figures for beer sales speak a clear language: in the first quarter of 2025, sales in Germany fell by more than 570,000 hectoliters compared to the previous year, which corresponds to almost 115 million half-liter jugs. These declines could further negatively influence the forecast for the entire beer sales in 2025. Experts are of the opinion that a "super summer" would be necessary to save the paragraph in the upcoming beer season.

Bayern remains the cradle of German beer brewing. In 2023, 23.4 million hectoliters of beer were sold in Bavaria and the Free State thus holds a leading role in the federal comparison. This is the tenth year in a row that Bavaria is at the top. The beer sales have decreased by 2.5 percent compared to the previous year, but Bavaria is the largest beer producer in the country with a 41.7 percent share of all brewing sites based in Germany. A look at the brewery structures shows that there are currently 622 brewing sites in Bavaria, five less than in the previous year.

market development and trends

Despite the decline in paragraph, the Bavarian brewer ice scene holds its nationwide market share of 27.9 percent. This shows that the breweries are trying to maintain their market position, although the average per capita consumption in Germany is estimated to be 72.72 liters for 2025. The market forecasts indicate a combined market volume for 2025 of a total of 25.2 billion euros, with domestic sales at EUR 10.4 billion and the outstanding house sales are 14.7 billion euros.

Overall, the beer industry in Germany remains shaped by many challenges, both in terms of production costs and the changing consumer preferences. On April 23, 2025, the proclamation of the Bavarian purity law for the 509th anniversary, which underlines the tradition and meaning of beer in Bavaria. On this occasion, the Bavarian Brewer Association is planning a free beer bar in Munich, which was postponed to April 29th.