Germany: Radeberger Gruppe closes Hövels Hausbrauerei in Dortmund

The Radeberger Gruppe has closed the small brewing facility of the traditional Hövels Hausbrauerei in Dortmund, relocating production to the nearby industrial brewery operated by Dortmunder Actien-Brauerei (DAB) at the Steigerstraße site.

According to a report by WAZ Dortmund, brewing operations in the house brewery beneath the Hövels restaurant at the Hoher Wall ceased in February 2026 and will fully phase out during March. The move marks the end of the last external brewing location previously used by the Dortmund brewing group.

Despite the relocation, the company stated that consumers will not notice any changes. Production volumes, bottle appearance, and the original recipe of the beer will remain unchanged. The Hövels brand will continue to be brewed at the large-scale DAB facility in Dortmund’s Nordstadt district. The brewmaster from the house brewery is also expected to move to the Steigerstraße site. In addition, the house beers Urtrüb and Schwarzes, brewed for the Wenkers am Markt restaurant, will now also be produced at that facility.

Uwe Helmich, managing director of the Dortmund breweries, explained that the decision was driven primarily by economic considerations. Operating a very small brewing installation had become increasingly costly, particularly following significant cost increases in recent years. According to Helmich, the microbrewery had become “extremely cost-intensive” and no longer economically viable.

While the restaurant, beer garden, and gastronomic operations at the Hoher Wall location will continue unchanged, the future of the former brewing equipment remains uncertain. The company is considering several options, including dismantling and selling the system or potentially reusing it for specific products.

The Hövels brand has long held symbolic importance within the group. In earlier years, Dr. Albert Christmann, former CEO of the Radeberger Group and later CEO of the OetkerGruppe, reportedly counted Hövels Bitterbier among his personal favorite beers.

09 March, 2026