Through a royal decree, King Ludwig I. reduced the Hofbräuhaus beer price below the normal local price so that “also the working class and military can afford a healthy and affordable drink.” As generous as this act was, at times it also had catastrophic effects. Beer sales skyrocketed, leaving the brewery unable to keep up with demand. As a result, almost every year the Hofbräuhaus had to close for a certain amount of time, due to a lack of beer.