The baroque abbey of Weltenburg seen from above, framed by forest and the loop of the Danube

Brewery Story No. 05

Weltenburger Kloster

Where beer, monastery and the Danube meet.

Weltenburg, Bavaria

On the banks of the Danube, surrounded by forest and the dramatic landscape of the Danube Gorge, stands Weltenburg Abbey — a place where monastery, landscape and brewing have been connected for centuries.

Beer has been brewed here since 1050, making Weltenburg home to one of the world's great surviving traditions of monastic brewing.

This is where the Weltenburger Kloster story begins.

A wrought-iron cross on a boulder beside a wooden bench, with a gravel path leading towards the abbey church among autumn woods — A path through the autumn woods leads towards the abbey church.

The pink abbey facade with the Weltenburg lettering, the Seit 1050 crest and a painted shield telling of the world's oldest monastery brewery — Seit 1050 — the abbey facade announces its brewing heritage.

A brewer pouring malted barley from a sack into the hopper of the green grist mill beneath the timbered roof — Malted barley poured into the grist mill beneath the old timbers.

A brewer opening the hatch of the green grist mill in the malt loft — Opening the hatch of the mill in the malt loft.

A brewer pointing to bottles and awards in an illuminated display cabinet of Weltenburger Kloster beers — Bottles and awards — the beers of Weltenburg on display.

Three spherical tanks standing in the Felsenkeller rock cellar, lit warm against a blue glow in the rock — Tanks resting in the rock cellar, carved into the stone.

Dark Weltenburger beer drawn straight from the tank into a branded tulip glass — Dark beer drawn straight from the tank.

A brewer resting his hand on a large stainless steel tank surrounded by pipework and blue hoses — A brewer's hand on the steel.

A brewer opening valves on stainless steel pipework beside a conical fermentation tank in the tiled brewery cellar — Valves opened in the tiled cellar beside the fermenter.

A bottle and glass of Weltenburger Kloster Winter-Traum on a bar counter beneath the painted mural Ein Bier im Himmel wie auf Erden — Ein Bier im Himmel wie auf Erden — a Winter-Traum at the bar.

The beer garden in the monastery courtyard with guests at long tables beneath the trees and the abbey buildings behind — The beer garden in the monastery courtyard, beneath the trees.

A wooden ferry boat mooring at the Danube shore below the abbey facade and its church tower — The ferry arrives at the Danube shore below the abbey.

The baroque banqueting hall with a stucco ceiling, painted frescoes and a crystal chandelier above long tables — The baroque banqueting hall, its frescoes and chandelier.

The abbey church facade on the cobbled courtyard beside the arched gateway — The abbey church facade on the cobbled courtyard.

A monk in a black habit walking down the arched cloister corridor — A monk walks the arched cloister.

The story ends with the beer itself — from the brewery to the finished bottle.

Stacked Weltenburger Kloster six-pack carriers filled with bottles, ready to leave the brewery — Weltenburger Kloster — beer ready to leave the brewery.

A bottle and glass of Weltenburger Kloster Hell standing among fresh green hops — Weltenburger Kloster Hell — bottle and glass among the hops.