Innviertel is a traditional beer region. Today it still has the highest concentration of breweries in the whole of Austria.

From the Middle Ages, all matters relating to crafts and trades were regulated by guilds.

Until around 300 years ago, guild regulations permitted only a certain number of establishments to operate. In the district of Ried these comprised, for example: 13 bakers, 13 butchers and 13 beer brewers.

About 200 years ago, almost every landlord brewed his own beer. Beer was brewed solely for personal consumption and to sell in front of the premises. Customers brought their own pitchers with them to carry their daily beer-to-go. Beer was not consumed in public; it was drunk at home.

The brewery guesthouses were popular meeting places on market days and feast days. And when there were public spectacles such as a hanging, a horse race or a frost fair they were full of guests. Hangings, horse races and  riding demonstrations became real attractions.

Not all innkeepers brewed their own beer. About 120 years ago, the Innviertel landlords became unhappy with the beer they were being supplied with. This led them to establish a new brewery in 1908. The building at 27, Rossmarkt originally consisted of three buildings – one of which included the “Bräustadel zu Schwarzmann".This is the site outside the Schärding Gate, where the Ried Brewery was founded