Monastery Brewery Festival Klosterbrauerei Scheyern

One of the Three Oldest Breweries in the World

The Benedictine Monastery of Scheyern was founded in 1119 — on the ancestral seat of the Wittelsbachs, the later Bavarian royal family. Beer has been brewed in Scheyern since its founding: continuously, demonstrably, without major interruption. This makes Klosterbrauerei Scheyern one of the three oldest breweries in the world — alongside Klosterbrauerei Weihenstephan (Freising) and Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg on the Danube. To this day, the monks brew according to traditional methods — Klosterbier, Doppelbock, Weißbier, and seasonal varieties.

Corpus Christi — A High Catholic Feast Day

The brewery festival traditionally falls on Corpus Christi — the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, a public holiday in Bavaria. The Catholic celebration in adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar is a highlight of the liturgical year. In Scheyern, this liturgy combines with the centuries-old monastic brewery tradition to create a day that unites religion, monastic culture, and Bavarian lifestyle.

Schedule of the Festival Day

The day begins at 8:30 AM with a solemn pontifical high mass in the Abbey's Basilica. After the service, the Corpus Christi procession winds through Scheyern — with the monks, the monastery community, local clubs, and traditional costume groups. This is followed by the traditional Weißwurst breakfast with the monks in the monastery courtyard — one of the rare opportunities to converse directly with the monastic community. From noon onwards, the traditional program of the Slovenian guests with dancers and musicians provides entertainment — a partnership with the Slovenian Benedictine Abbey. In the afternoon and evening, Bavarian-Bohemian brass music creates a festive atmosphere in the monastery courtyard (approx. 5:30 PM–10:00 PM).

The Monastery Beer and the Monastery Butchers

The brewery's monastery beers are served — Hellbier, Weißbier, Märzen, and in summer, seasonal beers. In addition, the monastery butchers offer their specialties: Klosterwürste (monastery sausages), ham from their own smokehouse, and roast pork from the monastery courtyard. The monastery distillery, monastery dairy, and monastery bakery also contribute their products to the festival's offerings. A visit to Kloster Scheyern offers an experience of one of Bavaria's most diverse monastic businesses.