Weihenstephaner Hefeweißbier Dunkel has been on a triumphal march. On the first day of the World Beer Awards in the United Kingdom, the specialty was named Germany's best dark wheat beer - and on day two it went even further: the titles of world's best of its kind and overall best wheat beer worldwide topped it all off. But that was not all the medals that the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan took home.The aromas of ripe banana, the fine sparkling effervescence, the velvety mouthfeel - Weihenstephaner Hefeweißbier Dunkel provides plenty of arguments for a top ranking. The tasting panels at the World Beer Awards obviously saw it the same way - and awarded the beer several medals: a brilliant achievement by the Weihenstephan brewers! But other Weihenstephan specialty beers also won prizes: The Weizenbock Vitus was named Germany's best of its kind, the Hefeweißbier won silver in its category, and the Kristallweißbier and the Original each won bronze in their respective styles.Plenty of precious metal for the Weihenstephan beers - but what Director Prof. Dr. Josef Schrädler was particularly pleased about was the success of the "Dunkel": "The Hefeweißbier Dunkel has gained more and more momentum in recent years. We were delighted that it has now been named the world's best wheat beer at the World Beer Awards, which is anything but easy." The competition was once again fierce: breweries from all over the world submitted beers, and the experts were busy tasting them over the course of two days.The result also put Head Brewmaster Tobias Zollo in high spirits: “It is wonderful to see that not only our flagship beers receive the recognition they deserve, but that the other styles are also appreciated. It is an incredible confirmation of the work of our brewers that the world's best wheat beer comes from Weihenstephan.”

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The world's best wheat beer comes from Weihenstephan!

Markus Blume, Minister of State for Science and the Arts, and Director Prof. Dr. Josef Schrädler ceremoniously cut the opening ribbon and gave the starting signal for the new cellar, where the beer is already flowing in streams into the tanks.Minister of State Markus Blume tapped the first beer from the new tanks and emphasized: "O'zapft is - the first time in the brand new lager cellar of the World's Oldest Brewery! From now on, Weihenstephan's liquid gold will be maturing in the new multifunctional 'treasure chamber' of our state brewery to become the wonderful Premium Bavaricum. The combination of ultra-modern brewery infrastructure and traditional brewing craftsmanship makes our Weihenstephaner unique - home and high-tech for sipping and enjoying. And: Weihenstephaner is a strong ambassador for Bavaria in the world: the Bavarian premium beer is being exported in over 60 countries - a real export hit. Cheers to Weihenstephan!"<h2>The brewery was buzzing after the logistics center was built</h2>This first sip in the new Kombikeller was preceded by a journey lasting several years. After all, this project had been planned for some time - as part of Weihenstephan's master plan for the future. After the logistics center, the new dealcoholization plant and the recently installed filtration system, the Kombikeller is the next major project within seven years that was not only started but also completed during this period. After careful consideration, however, the investments were well worth it.This first sip in the new Kombikeller was preceded by a journey lasting several years. After all, this project had been planned for some time - as part of Weihenstephan's master plan for the future. After the logistics center, the new dealcoholization plant and the recently installed filtration system, the Kombikeller is the next major project within seven years that was not only started but also completed during this period. However, the investments were well chosen after careful consideration: Technical Lead Tobias Zollo and his team subjected the technical processes to a critical review - and identified where there was potential for optimization. The construction of the logistics center freed up space at the brewery, which was quickly taken up by the new facilities and ultimately the new cellar. Everything is now controlled from a newly installed control room. The distances are shorter, the systems are optimally networked and the entire process, from brewing to bottling, is now in the hands of the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan - once all these measures have been completed. External service providers, as was the case a few years ago, are no longer required.<h2>Weihenstephan brewery becomes more flexible</h2>The brewery's director, Prof. Dr. Josef Schrädler, was all the happier at the inauguration: "The new Kombikeller is another big step into the future." With the increased flexibility - after all, all tanks can be used as fermentation, storage and pressure tanks - it is possible to react quickly and efficiently to changes in the market. After all the construction work", explained Prof. Dr. Schrädler, "it is good that there is now some peace and quiet at the Weihenstephaner hill. Although the technical team would certainly like to optimize a corner or two," he said with a smile on his face.Technical Lead Tobias Zollo praised his team: "These transition phases are never easy for operations. I'm very proud of how all the brewers helped to make the transition as easy as possible." Now they can look forward to a new cellar at the highest technical level.The picture gallery is constantly being expanded. At the top of the article you will also find the podcast with our Technical Lead Tobias Zollo, in which we talk in detail about the brewery's investments.

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1000YoB - 5.06 - Weihenstephan grows: Find out about our latest investments

One and a half years of construction are over: The new Weihenstephaner "Kombikeller" was inaugurated

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1000 YoB - 5.07 - Market visit Netherlands: How to convince a country to try something else than a lager

The Weihenstephan family says „Goodbye“. Tim Lynch, who was a TBS employee for twelve years before becoming the first and to date only Weihenstephan Country Manager, has passed after battling cancer for the last year.The footsteps he leaves are certainly big ones – until his final breath he was dedicated to give his all for our brewery: Whether at the CBC in Las Vegas to promote the Braupakt or during his many visits all over the States. He did not let the illness get the best of him and still did his job – or better yet: worked for his passion. He has been on the road in the name of beer since 2006, when Total Beverage Solution implemented Weihenstephan beers into their portfolio. Tim was responsible for Weihenstephan and several other brands from 2006 to 2018 – before becoming our very first Country Manager. Tim has always been our first choice: His passion, his dedication and his personality were unrivaled. And he tackled this new job like the pro he was.Without him Weihenstephan would not be the kind of brand in the US that it is today. His close relations to store and restaurant owners or distributors are one of a kind. Tim was an absolute philantropist and knew how to handle everyone he met. Even those who seemed a little difficult at first. No problem for Tim! He always had a foot on the gas and refused to slow down.But all these accomplishments vanish in the light of him being an incredible human being. Helpful, kind, open, always witty – and an absolute Californian original. He lived life the way it should be: with a smile on his face, fun and full of excitement. One could have serious and deep conversations with him on one day, while having a night full of laughter on the next. We did not only lose a dear colleague, but also a close friend. A friend who lived thousands of kilometers away but still gave you a comfortable feeling whenever we saw each other. A friend who everyone took to their heart the moment you met him. We simply lost a wonderful person.Our thoughts are with his wife Sarah and his two daughters. The Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan will always cherish Tim’s accomplishments and keep him in our fondest memories. Farewell, Tim, until we meet again. Here’s to you.

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Goodbye, Tim. 

1000YoB - 5.05 - What is the purpose of hops in the beer?

It is a great success for the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan: For the third time in a row, beers from the World’s Oldest Brewery were awarded at the World Beer Cup in Las Vegas, USA - an honor that emphasizes the consistently high quality of Weihenstephan.Head of Export Marcus Englet and Brand Ambassador Matthias Ebner could hardly believe their luck in Las Vegas - both had traveled to the Craft Brewers Conference in Sin City and did not only get to promote the new Braupakt with St. Bernardus from Belgium, but also take home two medals. The World Beer Cup Awards were part of the conference - and both the Kristallweißbier and the Weizenbock Vitus received bronze medals.<h2>It is always a “team effort”</h2>Marcus Englet was delighted: “This is an award that means a lot to us. Around 9300 beers were submitted, so to receive a medal here at all is a great achievement.” Brand Ambassador Matthias Ebner agreed – per him, one of the main reasons for this success is the work of all the employees at the brewery: “It's always a team effort, from the technical department to sales to administration. Without everyone at the brewery, we wouldn't be able to accept these awards on behalf of Weihenstephan.”<h2>World Beer Cup is based on the olympic principle</h2>The two beers Vitus and Kristallweißbier are already the golden boys of the Weihenstephan brewery. Whether at the Australian International Beer Awards, the European Beer Star or, as in recent years, the World Beer Cup - both beers regularly win prizes all over the world. The Director of the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan, Prof. Dr. Josef Schrädler, was very pleased with the result: “Winning a medal at the World Beer Cup three times in a row is incredible.” The fact that the WBC is based on the Olympic principle (there is exactly one gold, one silver and one bronze) makes the award all the more valuable, explained Prof. Dr. Schrädler.However, Las Vegas was only a stopover on the Weihenstephan team's current trip to the USA: events in several cities in the United States, from East to West, are on the agenda - some of them together with the team from St. Bernardus, to present the new Braupakt and get in touch with American beer drinkers.&nbsp;

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Double bronze at the World Beer Cup 

1000YoB - 5.04 - The new Braupakt with St. Bernardus: All you need to know about our new beer

1000YoB - 5.04 - The new Braupakt with St. Bernardus

1000YoB - 5.03 - The adventures of Weihenstephan logistics

1000YoB - 5.02 - Collab brews: How we decide on partners

1000YoB - 5.01 - The Weihenstephaner tasting wheel: We help you verbalize your beerific thoughts!

1000YoB - 5.01 - The Weihenstephaner tasting wheel

Weihenstephan collaborated with the Californian craft beer pioneers from Sierra Nevada in 2018, creating the first Braupakt ever. Now, almost six years later, this collab gets a sequel: with a Blonde Ale, brewed in Weihenstephan.What do the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan and St. Bernardus have in common? The faces of both breweries are monks - and what could be better than having the two historical figures Korbinian and Bernardus toast each other? Not only symbolically through the creation of the Braupakt, but also literally on the label. It shows the two monks having a first sip of the Blonde Ale. The two breweries have been friends for a long time - after all, St. Bernardus is the official importer of Weihenstephaner beers in Belgium.The idea behind this unique collaboration was to brew a filtered, strong, top-fermented beer. This wonderful specialty is the combination of two brewing philosophies - this seems crystal-clear when you take a look at the raw materials: Hops from Belgium, from the immediate area around St. Bernardus, Weihenstephan yeast, Bavarian malt - and water from Freising. The beer is of course brewed in accordance with the Purity Law of 1516. Spicy, with a characteristic yeast note, fruity and strong with 6.5% alcohol: Braupakt 2024 flatters the palate with these characteristics.The matching glass gives the Collab a further Belgian touch: the bulbous shape allows the diverse aromas of the brewing pact to fully unfold. The beer makes a particularly elegant and stylish impression in this glass with its strong, deep golden color.Marcus Englet, Head of Export of the Weihenstephan brewery, is delighted: "In St. Bernardus, we have found a perfect partner for the second edition of the Braupakt. A brewery that, like us, puts the quality of its beers above all else and has thrown itself into this project with great attention to detail. With Braupakt 2024, we have succeeded in creating a collaboration in a class of its own: a beer based on a Belgian style that was created not only with ingredients from both countries, but also with the great expertise of two brewing philosophies."Marco Passarella, Sales Manager at St. Bernardus, can only agree: "We really put an emphasis on quality over quantity. Both of us were convinced that we should not settle for a beer which we are not 110 percent satisfied with. But we succeeded in creating a wonderful brew that is up there with the best beers. This project was unknown territory for us, this is our first collaboration ever. But we absolutely loved it – that is why we are going to brew another beer with Weihenstephan in 2025, but this time in St. Bernardus."Braupakt 2024 will be available in several countries, starting in March. The Blonde Ale will be bottled in 0.33l-longneck-bottles and sold in six-packs, 24x0.33l crates as well as 30l- and 50l-kegs.

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The new Braupakt: Weihenstephan with St. Bernardus - when Belgium and Bavaria come together

For 20 years now, the best beers have been awarded at the European Beer Star. In a blind tasting, 150 jury members judged the beers exclusively in terms of sensory aspects: appearance, aroma and taste. 2356 beers were entered in 74 different categories in 2023.This huge competition is why the moment, when the winners were announced, was filled with great joy: The Weihenstephan representatives in Nuremberg were already jubilant when the Hefeweißbier won the bronze medal - but the celebrations really started with the Weizenbock Vitus! In its category, the beer specialty was named Europe's best. Head Brewmaster Tobias Zollo accepted these honors on stage in Nuremberg.The Weizenbock Vitus, known and celebrated for its intense notes of banana and cloves, its high drinkability despite 7.7 percent ABV and its noble appearance in the glass, finally won Gold again after several consecutive silver medals. At the European Beer Star blind tastings in September, the jury's opinion was clear - this has to be Europe's best Weizenbock.&nbsp;Weihenstephan's Director Prof. Dr. Josef Schrädler says: "Since the medals at the European Beer Star are awarded according to the Olympic principle - exactly one gold, silver, and bronze medal per category – these awards are particularly valuable. We are of course delighted that not only the Hefeweißbier but also its big brother, the Vitus, have won medals."Tobias Zollo added, "You can smell the banana notes of our Vitus in our wheat beer cellar from a distance. This intense aroma is one of the reasons why the Weizenbock is so well received around the world. Our brewers know exactly what they are doing. We are very proud of this success!"

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Gold and Bronze: Weizenbock Vitus and Hefeweißbier honored at European Beer Star

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It has been almost 1000 years since the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan started - and according to its motto "Tradition and Innovation" we dig deeper into the world of podcasts. Be part of Matthias "Tissi" Ebner's (Brand Ambassador) and Anton "Done" Hirschfeld's (Online Marketing Manager) beer journey. Learn something new while listening to scientific conversations or discussions about beer culture. This is where you will discover beer from a whole new angle.

Weihenstephan's founding father: The story of St. Korbinian

The Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan is focused on Tradition while being a state-of-the-art enterprise at the same time. It is located in Freising Bavaria on the top of the Weihenstephaner hill.

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Weihenstephan's founding father: The story of St. Korbinian

1000YoB - 5.06 - Weihenstephan grows: Find out about our latest investments

Weihenstephan's founding father: The story of St. Korbinian

1000YoB - 5.06 - Weihenstephan grows: Find out about our latest investments

The world's best wheat beer comes from Weihenstephan!

Listen to our Podcasts!

One and a half years of construction are over: The new Weihenstephaner "Kombikeller" was inaugurated

1000 YoB - 5.07 - Market visit Netherlands: How to convince a country to try something else than a lager

Goodbye, Tim.

1000YoB - 5.06 - Weihenstephan grows: Find out about our latest investments

1000YoB - 5.05 - What is the purpose of hops in the beer?

Double bronze at the World Beer Cup

1000YoB - 5.04 - The new Braupakt with St. Bernardus

1000YoB - 5.03 - The adventures of Weihenstephan logistics

1000YoB - 5.02 - Collab brews: How we decide on partners

1000YoB - 5.01 - The Weihenstephaner tasting wheel

The new Braupakt: Weihenstephan with St. Bernardus - when Belgium and Bavaria come together

Gold and Bronze: Weizenbock Vitus and Hefeweißbier honored at European Beer Star