Beer is ancient—older than democracy, older than the wheel, older than your uncle’s conspiracy theories. Some of the world’s oldest breweries have been around for centuries, brewing the same recipes, in the same places, using the same techniques. They’ve survived wars, plagues, economic collapses, and prohibition—all to keep making beer.

So let’s raise a glass and take a beer-fueled road trip through some of the oldest, most legendary breweries in the world.

1. Weihenstephan Brewery (Germany, 1040) – The Grandfather of Beer

If beer had a royal bloodline, Weihenstephan would be king.

• Established in 1040, this Bavarian brewery is officially the world’s oldest still in operation.
• It started as a monastic brewery (because monks loved their beer—see: “getting through the Middle Ages”).
• Famous for Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, a wheat beer so smooth it might convert you to monkhood.

Must-Try: Weihenstephaner Vitus, a strong, malty weizenbock with banana and clove flavors.

Why It’s Legendary: It’s been brewing beer for nearly 1,000 years. That’s 38 generations of brewers. Your craft beer phase won’t last that long.

2. Augustiner-Bräu (Germany, 1328) – The Hidden Gem

Munich is beer heaven, and Augustiner-Bräu is one of its oldest, best-kept secrets.

• Founded in 1328 by Augustinian monks (again, monks + beer = history).
• Unlike the massive Bavarian breweries, this one stays small and traditional—no corporate takeovers, just pure brewing mastery.
• Served in wooden barrels at Oktoberfest, because that’s how beer should be.

Must-Try: Augustiner Helles, the cleanest, crispest lager you’ll ever taste.

Why It’s Legendary: They refuse to sell out. No ads, no flashy marketing—just good, old-school beer.

3. St. Bernardus Brewery (Belgium, 1946, but a 19th-century secret)

Okay, technically, St. Bernardus wasn’t “officially” a brewery until 1946—but hear me out.

• The monks at Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus in Belgium had been brewing Westvleteren Trappist beer since the 1830s.
• In 1946, they passed their brewing secrets to St. Bernardus—who continued making that legendary beer under a different name.
• Today, St. Bernardus Abt 12 is one of the best Belgian quadrupels ever made.

Must-Try: St. Bernardus Abt 12—a dark, rich, high-ABV masterpiece.

Why It’s Legendary: It’s literally the same beer as Westvleteren 12, but you don’t have to hunt it down in a monastery.

4. Guinness (Ireland, 1759) – The Most Famous Brewery on Earth

No list of old breweries is complete without Guinness, the world’s most iconic stout.

• Founded in 1759 by Arthur Guinness, who signed a 9,000-year lease on the brewery. (Confidence? Arrogance? Who’s to say?)
• Its creamy, nitrogen-infused pour revolutionized stout beer.
• Guinness is so iconic that people who hate beer still drink it on St. Patrick’s Day.

Must-Try: Guinness Foreign Extra Stout—a bolder, more intense version of the classic.

Why It’s Legendary: 10 million pints of Guinness are consumed daily. That’s enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool in 6 hours.

5. Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic, 1842) – The Original Pilsner

Ever had a pale, golden, crisp beer? You can thank Pilsner Urquell.

• Founded in 1842, this Czech brewery invented the world’s first pilsner.
• Before that, beer was mostly dark and murky—this was the first time beer was golden and clear.
• Inspired almost every lager and pilsner in existence today.

Must-Try: The unfiltered version, which is only available fresh at the brewery.

Why It’s Legendary: It’s the blueprint for every pilsner ever made—and still one of the best.

6. Bass Brewery (England, 1777) – The Beer That Made Branding a Thing

Bass Brewery isn’t just old—it’s responsible for the world’s first trademark.

• Founded in 1777, their red triangle logo was the first registered trademark in the UK.
• Their Bass Pale Ale was so famous, it appears in paintings by Manet and Picasso.
• The beer itself? Smooth, balanced, and historic.

Must-Try: Bass Pale Ale, one of the OG pale ales.

Why It’s Legendary: It literally made beer branding a thing.

7. Yuengling (USA, 1829) – America’s Oldest Brewery

The US is young in beer years, but Yuengling is its oldest surviving brewery.

• Founded in 1829 in Pennsylvania, it survived Prohibition by making “near beer” and ice cream.
• Still family-owned and independent—rare for a beer this big.
• Their traditional lager is a staple on the East Coast.

Must-Try: Yuengling Traditional Lager—a crisp, malty amber lager that tastes like American history.

Why It’s Legendary: It survived Prohibition. Enough said.

Final Thoughts: The Oldest Breweries Are Still the Best

Why do these breweries still exist after centuries?

Because great beer never goes out of style.

They’ve adapted, evolved, and outlasted trends—because when you brew beer that good, you don’t need gimmicks.

So if you ever get the chance, visit them. Taste history. And appreciate the fact that the same beer you’re drinking today was once enjoyed by people in powdered wigs and top hats. Because, at the end of the day, the more beer changes, the more it stays the same.