Marcus Englet explains Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery, ahead of GABS visit

Marcus Englet, Weihenstephan Brewery’s Head of Export at Weihenstephan, will be visiting Australia this week to participate in GABS Sydney. 

During his stay, Englet will present a keynote speech and conduct a q&a session at the International Brewers Collective Gala Dinner along with officially kicking off the GABS festivities via the ringing of the bells.

The keynote speech will be held on 30 May at the International Brewers Collective’s annual Gala Dinner at the International Convention Centre Sydney’s (ICC) Parkside Ballroom. Each year, the event invites leading international beer-industry talent to provide trade-specific insight to Australia’s brewing sector. For 2024, Marcus Englet will represent Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world.

In an interview conducted with Drinks Trade last year, Englet explained the history of Weihenstephan. 

“The Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan, founded in 1040 as a monastery brewery, is the world’s oldest brewery still existing, and is to 100% owned by the state of Bavaria,” he said.

“We are a state-of-the-art modern brewery with a long history and tradition in brewing award winning beers based on the Bavarian purity law of 1516, the world’s oldest food law.

“We are a full portfolio brewery, when it comes to traditional Bavarian beer styles. Sixteen different styles, lagers and top fermented wheat beers are our core lineup, which we produce with all our knowledge and passion.” 

Weihenstephaner exports to more than 50 countries globally and is now imported by Phoenix Beers’ newly established Bier 1040 division. In addition to being the oldest brewery in the world, Weihenstephan is also a partner of the world’s largest and most famous brewing school in the world.

“Cooperation with the famous campus for brewing technology of the Technical University Munich, here on the campus in Weihenstephan, we are partner in teaching and science and act with our brewery on the campus as a role model enterprise for brewing students from all over the world,” said Englet. 

“Its brewing school, founded in 1865 around our Brewery, is part of our mission and daily work: to improve and develop modern brewing technology and methods. Analytics, machinery, raw materials and sensory developments: all this is part of our DNA as partner in science and teaching at the brewing school.”

Thursday’s International Brewers Collective gala dinner will also feature German Consul General Felix Schwarz and at least 100 of Australia’s brewing industry trade, and follows on from a successful event last year headlined by Sierra Nevada's Steve Grossman and Cloudwater's Paul Jones.

The gala dinner will lead out the 2024 GABS beer festivals, with Sydney’s event taking place 31 May to 1 June, Brisbane’s from 14-15 June, and Melbourne’s from 21-23 June. 

For more information, read this Drinks Trade article.