Unable to deliver to hotels and restaurants closed due to coronavirus restrictions a German brewery on Thursday gave away some 2,600 litres (690 gallons) of beer.

Rather than throwing it away, the owners of the Willinger brewery, in the western state of Hesse, decided to dish out the light and dark beer free of charge.

Owner Franz Mast said he needed to empty the tanks as soon as possible to fill them up again with fresh beer and be ready for when bars are allowed to reopen.

The move went down well. Dozens of people stood patiently in line outside the brewery, wearing masks and keeping to social distancing recommendations. Many took full buckets and boxes back home.

“We also want to thank people, and we hope they are as supportive once we reopen, that they come here and recommend us,” Mast told Reuters Television.

Bavaria’s Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest beer festival, has been cancelled.