The end of an era: Landsberg Brewery closes after 28 years!

The end of an era: Landsberg Brewery closes after 28 years!

Bad news from the Landsberg brewery: After 28 years, the traditional brewery will close its doors at the end of 2025. According to information from LVZ, the main reasons for this sad step are high energy costs and a general decline in beer consumption. Boss Jenny Thormann is convinced: “The future no longer offers a positive perspective.” This marks the end of an era that began in the neighboring town of Delitzsch in 1997 and has maintained a close connection to the region to this day.

Production will continue until the end of the year, followed by a sale of the last beers. These are expected to be brewed in December 2025 in the Saalekreis, Saxony-Anhalt. Behind the scenes at the brewery, the disappointment is noticeable, especially because the increased costs in almost all areas cannot be passed on to customers to the necessary extent. Thormann took over responsibility for the brewery and its malt factory in 2013, and their decision to close it reflects the serious situation in the industry.

An industry in crisis

Unfortunately, the Landsberg brewery is not alone in its difficulties. The entire beer market in Germany is facing dramatic challenges. A report from HNA shows that beer consumption in the country, traditionally high in autumn, is plummeting overall. The German brewery industry is particularly suffering from the after-effects of a three-year crisis. Experts expect a wave of bankruptcies, and Stefan Blaschak, head of Oettinger, also sees many breweries in difficulties.

In addition, the Federal Statistical Office recorded a decline in beer sales of 1.4 percent in 2024. The Landsberg brewery in particular recorded a decline of 15 percent. This development not only poses major challenges for smaller companies, but also has an impact on suppliers and the entire economic structure in the region.

Global trends and regional impacts

The decline in beer consumption is a trend worldwide that is also noticeable in Germany. Loud daily news The volume of beer produced fell by three percent in the first five months of 2025 compared to the previous year. While Germany remains a beer drinking country with a per capita consumption of 88 liters per year, demand is falling, leading to dissatisfied consumers who are faced with rising prices.

Beer prices rose by over 22 percent from 2020 to 2024, while household incomes grew by just six percent. Breweries are responding by trying to bring new, milder beers to market or promoting their image as a modern drink through beer sommeliers. At the same time, some larger breweries are reporting declines in certain segments, such as wheat beer.

The closure of the Landsberg brewery not only represents the end of a company, but also an insidious problem in the entire industry. It remains to be seen how the market will develop and whether other traditional breweries will have to follow suit. The last beer in Landsberg will not only be a drinking pleasure, but also a symbol of the challenges that German breweries are facing.