The Klosterbrauerei Andechs is a monastic brewery in Andechs, Upper Bavaria, Germany, well known for its Andechser beers. The brewery is run by the monks of Andechs Abbey, a priory of St. Boniface's Abbey, a Benedictine abbey situated 40 km away in Munich. It is the only monastic brewery in Germany that brews Bock beer year-round for nationwide distribution.
Every year, the brewery produces over 100000 hL of beer.[1] A portion of the beer is served on-site at a restaurant and Biergarten at the abbey, Klostergasthof Andechs; the remainder is exported throughout Germany and worldwide. The activities of the Andechs monks, such as help for the homeless in Munich, are financed with proceeds from brewery - without the aid of any church tax funds.[2]
History
The earliest documented reference to beer being brewed in Andechs Abbey dates to 1455.[2]