The oldest continuously operating brewery in the entire world is the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan (Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan), located in Freising, Bavaria, Germany. Originally established as a Benedictine monastery in the 8th century, it was officially granted its formal brewing and selling license by the City of Freising in 1040 AD. Operating successfully for nearly a millennium, it bridges ancient brewing heritage with modern brewing science in partnership with the Technical University of Munich.