<P> While the beer market is weaker but more centralized in northern Germany, southern Germany has many smaller, local breweries . Almost half of all German breweries are in Bavaria, were the seven main breweries produce 158 million gallons . In total, there are approximately 1,300 breweries in Germany producing over 5,000 brands of beer . </P> <P> The highest density of breweries in the world is found in Aufseß near the city of Bamberg, in the Franconia region of Bavaria with four breweries and only 1,352 citizens . The Benedictine abbey Weihenstephan brewery (established in 725) is reputedly the oldest existing brewery in the world (brewing since 1040). In 2004, Oettinger replaced Krombacher as the best selling brand in Germany . </P> <Table> Top ten best - selling German beer brands in million hectolitres <Tr> <Th> Brewery </Th> <Th> Location </Th> <Th> Output in 2012 </Th> <Th> Output in 2015 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oettinger </Td> <Td> Oettingen </Td> <Td> 5.89 </Td> <Td> 5.39 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Krombacher </Td> <Td> Kreuztal </Td> <Td> 5.46 </Td> <Td> 5.49 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bitburger </Td> <Td> Bitburg </Td> <Td> 4.07 </Td> <Td> 3.84 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Beck's </Td> <Td> Bremen </Td> <Td> 2.78 </Td> <Td> 2.59 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Warsteiner </Td> <Td> Warstein </Td> <Td> 2.77 </Td> <Td> 2.34 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hasseröder </Td> <Td> Wernigerode </Td> <Td> 2.75 </Td> <Td> 2.25 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Veltins </Td> <Td> Meschede </Td> <Td> 2.72 </Td> <Td> 2.79 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Paulaner </Td> <Td> Munich </Td> <Td> 2.30 </Td> <Td> 2.42 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Radeberger </Td> <Td> Radeberg </Td> <Td> 1.91 </Td> <Td> 1.90 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Erdinger </Td> <Td> Erding </Td> <Td> 1.72 </Td> <Td> 1.80 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Brewery </Th> <Th> Location </Th> <Th> Output in 2012 </Th> <Th> Output in 2015 </Th> </Tr>

What is the most popular beer brand in germany