If you had asked beer lovers a decade ago which country brewed more beer — Russia or Germany — most would probably point to Germany without hesitation.
But the tables have officially turned. In a surprising twist that’s got the global brewing industry buzzing, Russia has just pulled ahead of Germany in overall beer production for the very first time.
Russian Beer Output Jumps While Germany Slows Down
According to an annual analysis by major hop producer BarthHaas — shared by Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper — Russia brewed around 9.1 billion liters of beer in 2024, a solid 9% jump from the previous year.
Meanwhile, Germany’s output dipped slightly by 1% to 8.4 billion liters.
That might not seem like a massive gap, but here’s the kicker — just five years ago, Germany was ahead of Russia by a whopping 1.4 billion liters.
The shift shows just how much global beer production patterns are changing.
Global Beer Scene: China Still Rules the Tap
Zooming out to the bigger picture, China remains the world’s beer giant, producing a staggering 34 billion liters annually.
The United States follows with 18 billion liters, and Brazil and Mexico take the next two spots with 14.7 billion and 14.5 billion liters, respectively.
Despite these impressive numbers, global beer output actually dipped overall in 2024, clocking in at 187.5 billion liters, down from previous years.
Why Germany Is Slipping Behind in Beer
So why is Germany, a country practically synonymous with beer, falling behind? A few things are at play.
First, consumer demand is shrinking, especially across Western countries where people have tighter budgets and are opting for alternative drinks — like hard seltzers, cocktails, and even non-alcoholic options.
On top of that, many small German breweries are feeling the financial squeeze.
Rising costs, declining sales, and changing preferences are forcing some to scale back or shut down entirely.
How Russia Boosted Its Beer Game
As for Russia’s rise, it wasn’t just about drinking more beer — it was about making more of it at home.
With imports taking a serious hit in recent years due to geopolitical tensions and sanctions, Russia ramped up its domestic brewing capacity in response.
This surge in home-grown beer is what helped tip the scale and push Russia past Germany in total production.
Germany Still Finds a Way Back Into Russia’s Beer Market
Ironically, even as Russia brews more of its own beer, Germany has reclaimed the top spot as the EU’s biggest beer exporter to Russia.
This shift happened in May, thanks in part to a 28% drop in Czech beer exports to the Russian market.
Germany shipped €1.6 million worth of beer to Russia that month, topping EU export charts.
Overall, EU beer exports to Russia hit €7.6 million in May, though that figure was still 4% lower than April’s total.
When It Comes to Hops, Germany Is Still King
While Germany may be losing ground in overall beer volume, it still leads the world when it comes to growing hops, the plant that gives beer its flavor.
Germany produces a massive 46,500 tons of hops every year, just ahead of the United States, which turns out nearly 40,000 tons.
Together, the two countries provide around two-thirds of the planet’s hops.
Russia’s Hops Deficit and Brewing Challenges
Russia, on the other hand, has a long way to go in the hops department.
In 2024, the country managed to harvest only 330 tons of hops, despite needing over 4,000 tons annually to meet demand from its growing brewing industry.
To fix that gap, Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Luth has announced a national strategy aiming to boost hop self-sufficiency to 50% by 2030.
That’s a bold goal — but one that reflects Russia’s ambitions to become a serious long-term player in the global beer scene.
So, What’s Next for Beer Lovers and Brewers?
Whether you’re a lager loyalist or a craft beer enthusiast, these changing trends in global beer production hint at bigger shifts in consumer behavior, national priorities, and economic forces.
Germany may still be the cultural heart of beer for many, but Russia’s brewing surge shows that beer is going through its own kind of globalization, driven by local demand, import substitution, and economic necessity.
The big question now is — will Germany bounce back, or is Russia just getting started?