Erdinger
World's largest wheat beer brewery, based in Erding.
Last updated
Privatbrauerei Erdinger Weißbräu Werner Brombach GmbH, often shortened to Erdinger Weißbräu, operates in the Bavarian town of Erding. The brewery is famous for its wheat beers and holds the title of the largest wheat beer brewery in the world. Its products are widely sold across Germany and the European Union.
The company was founded in 1886 by Johann Kienle. It did not take its current name until 1949, when it was owned by Franz Brombach, who had bought the brewery 14 years earlier. Franz Brombach’s son, Werner Brombach, took over in 1975 and ran the brewery until his death on 8 August 2026.
Erdinger beer is the most well-known food product from the town. The brewery now produces 14 different varieties. These include the classic golden cloudy Weißbier (5.3% ABV), a dark Dunkel (5.6% ABV, or 5.3% in export bottles), a filtered Kristallweizen (5.3% ABV), the dark weizenbock Pikantus (7.3% ABV), a light Leicht (2.9% ABV), the traditional Urweisse (4.9% ABV), the seasonal Schneeweiße (5.6% ABV, available November to February), an alcohol-free version (under 0.5% ABV), the Festweiße for Erding’s autumn festival (5.7% ABV), a Helles lager (5.1% ABV), a Naturradler shandy made with Helles (2.0% ABV), an alcohol-free Helles (under 0.5% ABV), and two alcohol-free shandies: one with lemonade and one with grapefruit juice (both under 0.5% ABV). Since 2015, the brewery has marketed its alcohol-free beer as a sports drink for after physical activity.
Lore & Background
Erdinger was founded in 1886 by Johann Kienle. The brewery did not receive its current name until 1949, when it was given by owner Franz Brombach, who had acquired the brewery 14 years earlier.
Franz Brombach's son, Werner Brombach, took over in 1975 and remained at the helm until his passing on 8 August 2026. The brewery produces 14 varieties of beer, including its flagship Weißbier (a golden cloudy wheat beer at 5.3% ABV), Dunkel (a dark brown type at 5.6% ABV, or 5.3% in export bottles), Kristallweizen (a filtered Weißbier at 5.3% ABV), Pikantus (a dark weizenbock at 7.3% ABV), Leicht (a light beer at 2.9% ABV), Urweisse (traditional wheat beer at 4.9% ABV), Schneeweiße (a seasonal beer brewed from November to February at 5.6% ABV), Alkoholfrei (alcohol-free at less than 0.5% ABV), Festweiße (a seasonal brew for Erding's Herbstfest at 5.7% ABV), Helles (a lager at 5.1% ABV), Naturradler (a shandy made with Erdinger Helles at 2.0% ABV), Helles Alkoholfrei (alcohol-free lager at less than 0.5% ABV), Alkoholfrei Zitrone (alcohol-free shandy with natural lemonade at less than 0.5% ABV), and Alkoholfrei Grapefruit (alcohol-free shandy with natural grapefruit juice at less than 0.5% ABV). Since 2015, Erdinger has marketed its Alkoholfrei beer as a post-activity sports drink.
Reader's Guide
Erdinger is widely available and popular across Germany and the European Union. Its beer is the best-known culinary product of the town of Erding. The brewery's extensive range includes multiple alcohol-free options, which since 2015 have been marketed as post-activity sports drinks.
The brewery's history is tied to the Brombach family, with Franz Brombach giving the brewery its current name in 1949 and his son Werner Brombach leading it from 1975 until his death in 2026. The brewery's 14 varieties cover a broad spectrum of beer styles, from traditional wheat beers and dark beers to lagers, shandies, and seasonal offerings. Erdinger's status as the world's largest wheat beer brewery underscores its significance in the German brewing landscape.
More in Breweries of Germany
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Erdinger (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced