The Last Male Degenberger Dies

On June 10, 1602, Hans Sigmund von Degenberg died without a male heir. He was the last male representative of the Degenberg family, which had held the privilege to brew wheat beer north of the Danube since 1548. With the male line extinguished, the wheat-beer privilege reverted to Bavarian Duke Maximilian I of the House of Wittelsbach. On August 1, 1602, Maximilian took control of the Degenberg wheat-beer breweries in Schwarzach, Linden, and Zwiesel. Wheat beer had become increasingly popular, and the duke recognized its production as a valuable source of revenue. He retained the exclusive brewing right and subsequently expanded the system of ducal white breweries. In 1603, Maximilian also acquired the separate wheat-beer privilege connected with Winzer, giving the Wittelsbachs an effective monopoly over wheat-beer production in Bavaria. The income generated by this system became an important part of Bavarian state finances.