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Key takeaways
What is the oldest beer in the world?
The world's oldest continuously brewed beer is widely recognised as Weihenstephaner, brewed by the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan in Freising, Germany. The brewery traces its official brewing licence to 1040, making it the oldest brewery with an unbroken brewing tradition still producing beer today.
It's worth making one distinction. "Oldest beer" usually refers to continuous production, not the oldest surviving recipe. That honour belongs to a Sumerian beer recipe from more than 3,900 years ago, preserved in the Hymn to Ninkasi, giving us a remarkable glimpse into how beer was brewed in ancient Mesopotamia.
Beer has been around longer than you think
Beer's story began long before pubs, breweries, or even written history. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a beer-like fermented drink at Raqefet Cave in Israel dating back around 13,000 years, making it the earliest known evidence of brewing. Rather than brewing for everyday refreshment, these prehistoric communities are thought to have made it for ceremonial feasts. The Smithsonian describes it as one of the oldest known examples of humans intentionally fermenting grains.
By around 1900 BCE, brewing had become an established craft in ancient Mesopotamia. The Sumerian Hymn to Ninkasi, dedicated to the goddess of beer, is the oldest surviving written beer recipe. While it's part hymn and part brewing guide, it reveals how deeply beer was woven into daily life thousands of years ago.
From the 7th century onwards, European monasteries became the guardians of brewing. Monastic brewers refined recipes, improved consistency, and documented techniques that shaped many of the beer styles we still enjoy today. Breweries like Weihenstephaner owe their longevity to this tradition.
One thing's certain, though: these historic beers would have tasted very different from a modern pint. Before the mid-1800s, nearly all malt was dried over open fires, giving beer a noticeably smoky character that's rarely found outside specialty smoked beers today.
The 10 oldest beers in the world you can still drink
Ranked by the founding date of the brewery where they are still produced today.
The world's oldest continuously operating brewery still produces beers that feel remarkably modern. Its Hefeweissbier is full of banana and clove aromas, while Original Helles is crisp, bready and beautifully balanced.
Although brewing methods have evolved since the monastery first made beer, Weihenstephaner has never stopped brewing. Fun fact: the brewery is older than the Aztec civilisation by more than 200 years.
Brewed inside a Benedictine monastery overlooking the Danube, Weltenburger remains one of Germany's great brewing institutions. Its award-winning Barock Dunkel is rich, smooth and packed with toasted malt, caramel and gentle chocolate notes.
While modern brewing has refined the process, the brewery continues to honour centuries-old monastic traditions, making every pint a taste of Bavarian history.
Affligem began as a Benedictine abbey brewery and still follows brewing traditions that date back almost 1,000 years. Its Blonde is fruity, lightly spicy and easy-drinking, while the Dubbel brings richer notes of dried fruit, caramel and dark sugar.
Although it's now brewed under the Heineken group, the recipes continue to reflect the abbey's long brewing heritage.
Grimbergen's famous phoenix logo carries the motto "Burned but not destroyed" after the abbey survived destruction several times over the centuries. The brewery's rich Belgian ales, especially the Dubbel, combine dark fruit, caramel and gentle spice with a smooth finish.
Today's beers stay true to the abbey's traditions while using modern brewing techniques for consistency.
Ask lager lovers to name Munich's finest brewery and Augustiner often tops the list. Its Helles is soft, biscuity and incredibly drinkable, with delicate malt sweetness and subtle hop character.
Unlike many historic German breweries, Augustiner remains independently owned, helping preserve the brewery's distinctive identity after nearly 700 years.
Spaten helped shape the modern lager we know today. Its brewers played a major role in refining Märzen, the amber lager traditionally served at Oktoberfest. Expect clean malt flavours, gentle toastiness and a crisp finish that makes it incredibly easy to drink.
Today, the brewery is part of AB InBev but remains one of Munich's iconic brewing names.
Founded the same year Columbus reached the Americas, Stiegl has spent more than five centuries perfecting approachable Austrian lagers. Goldbräu is fresh, lightly malty and delicately hopped, while its Radlers have become popular summer favourites.
Still independently owned, Stiegl combines traditional brewing with a focus on local Austrian ingredients.
Rochefort produces some of the world's most respected Trappist beers. Rochefort 8 and Rochefort 10 are rich, complex ales layered with dark fruit, fig, plum and warming spice.
The recipes have naturally evolved over the centuries as ingredients and equipment improved, but the monks continue brewing according to Trappist principles that place quality above quantity.
Three Tuns is the oldest brewery on this list still brewing on its original site in England. Best known for traditional cask ales, its beers offer classic British flavours with balanced hops, biscuit malt and gentle fruit notes.
If you're travelling through Shropshire, visiting the brewery tap is the best way to experience this remarkable piece of brewing history.
Guinness has been delighting drinkers since Arthur Guinness founded the brewery at St James's Gate in 1759. While the iconic stout remains a classic, Pinter offers something a little different with Guinness 'Dublin Porter, Brewers Edition' inspired by Arthur Guinness's original brewing books.
Expect a smooth, rich porter with hints of caramel, elegant hops, roasted Irish barley and a subtle ruby-red hue, brewed fresh at home in your Pinter.
What the oldest beers in the world have in common
The breweries on this list span almost 1,000 years, yet they all share the same philosophy: respect the craft, don't rush the process, and let quality come before quantity. Many began in monasteries, where brewing was treated with the same care as baking bread or making wine. Even where recipes have evolved, the commitment to consistency and craftsmanship has remained.
There's another lesson these breweries have taught us for centuries: beer is at its best when it's fresh. From monastery cellars to modern taprooms, serving beer at peak freshness has always been part of great brewing. That's one reason draught beer has remained a favourite for hundreds of years - and why brewing fresh beer at home lets you enjoy every pint just as the brewer intended.
Fresh draught beer at home - The way it was always meant to taste
The world's oldest breweries earned their reputations by serving beer fresh, when every flavour was at its best. Pinter follows that same idea, letting you brew fresh beer at home in days using quality ingredients, then pour it on draught for around £1.50 a pint.
No cellar or monastery required - just fresher beer, exactly as it was meant to be enjoyed.
The oldest beers still have a story to tell
The oldest beers in the world have lasted because they never stood still. Recipes have been refined, brewing techniques have improved and tastes have evolved, but the passion for making great beer has remained the same.
Whether you're sipping a Bavarian lager, a Belgian abbey ale or a classic British cask beer, every pint tells a story that spans generations. These breweries have spent centuries perfecting their craft - and that's something worth celebrating.
Ready to pour something fresh?
Experience beer at its freshest with Pinter. Brew fresh draught beer at home in days and enjoy every pint exactly as it was meant to taste.
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About the author
Charlie Howsego
Community Executive
As Pinter's Community Executive, Charlie loves nothing more than helping people discover the joy of brewing at home. Through his writing, he shares practical tips, brewing insights, and a genuine passion for fresh beer.