Warsteiner owner The Haus Cramer Group has started distributing Trappist beer brand La Trappe in Germany.

The deal, which started last week, covers two La Trappe beers – the 6.5% abv Blond and the 7% Dubbel.

Haus Cramer is marketing the beers in 20-litre returnable kegs and returnable crates of 24 x 0.33-litre bottles.

“With the distribution of the two products, the collaboration … aims to cater to a wide range of consumer tastes,” Haus Cramer said in a statement.

La Trappe is brewed on the grounds of Onze Lieve Vrouw van Koningshoeven Abbey in the Netherlands.

The abbey’s Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven has been brewing Trappist beer under the La Trappe brand since 1884.

The brewery is now a subsidiary of Dutch brewing major Royal Swinkels Family Brewers.

Just Drinks has contacted Haus Cramer for further comment.

Earlier this week, federal government data showed beer sales fell in Germany in 2023 after a brief upturn a year earlier.

In 2022, sales increased 2.7% on the previous 12 months to 8.8bn litres. However, the figures for 2023 underline the long-term decline in beer sales. The 2023 figure is 11.5% lower than 2013’s 9.5bn litres.

On a thirty-year scale, sales in 2023 were 25.5% lower than in 1993 when the nation consumed 11.2bn litres.

German domestic beer sales fell by 4.2% last year to 6.9bn litres. According to Destatis, 82.8% of beer sales in 2023 were consumed and taxed in Germany.