Small German brewers fight to survive the pandemic with sheer creativity

Stieren, brew meister at the Munich Brew Mafia, says that business is still good but the brewery only employs three people, making it easier to survive when sales plummeted during lockdown. Photos: dpa

Whether coming up with a specialty beer, baking bread, holding online tastings or crowdfunding, it's safe to say that German breweries have not seen the pandemic as a holiday.

Even as the tide of infections seems to be receding across Europe, the economic effect of cancelled festivals and closed restaurants is still being felt in the industry, especially the smaller breweries.