Hallo! Guten Tag! Welcome to Germany, the land of perfection. From cars that are machined to perfection, to beer that is a massive part of the country’s culture, the Germans know what’s up. As long as you keep the two apart and don’t drink and drive, Germany’s contribution to the world is truly appreciable! We are Unsobered though, so you best believe that we’re about to educate you about the German Bier and the drinking culture of Duetschland.
History Of Beer In Germany
Beer in Germany is not just about a beverage, the socializing around it, and the resultant culture. Beer became the choice of drink for Germany in its pre-industrialization days, more out of necessity than choice. In a time when drinking water was more of a threat than relief, due to the many contaminants in it, the German Bier quenched the country’s thirst. The rich caloric content also made beer a supplement used by the German factory workers and farmers alike.
Made with just water, malt and hops, the recipe for German beer has been protected through the ages under the Reinheitsgebot or the “purity law”. One of the oldest versions of consumer protection and food regulation laws, the purity law was put in place to regulate and standardize the production process of beer in Germany. This was because the German beer was consumed en masse due its benefits, and public health and safety needed to be protected. Although the law doesn’t explicitly mention yeast, it was a part of the brewing process, and was seen more as a part of the production process than an ingredient.
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Styles Of Beer In Germany
As you can see, the Germans clearly take their Bier very seriously. This is why they also like to set clear distinctions between the various styles of the brew. Here are the most popular varieties of German beer you might come across on a visit to the country.
- Pale Lager: The “golden child” of the German drinking culture, the pale lager is the more popular German beer. It’s more malt forward, with lighter flavor notes from the hops. Export, Helles, Pilsener, Maibock, Marzen, and Spezial are pale lagers sold in Germany, with an ABV of 4.5-7%.
- Dark Lager: The German cousin of the “bitters” drank in the pubs of Britain, dark lagers have a full-bodied, bitter-sweet taste with the hops taking the lead, contrasting the malt flavors of the pale variant. Schwarzbier, Bock, and Dunkel are the popular dark lager manufacturers in Germany with an ABV of 4.5-7% as well. The Doppelbock or “double bock” is a brand of dark lager that has an ABV of 8-12%, making it one of the strongest beers in the world.
- Wheat Beer: With a lighter flavor than the barley malt used in traditional beers, wheat beers, also known as Weizenbier or Weißbier, is a unique style of beer that you can get in Germany. Not only does it taste different from the traditional barley malt beer, it is also said to have a unique mouth feel, which is softer than its traditional counterpart. Wheat beers have a cloudy appearance due to their unfiltered nature, but Kristallweizen stands out with a clear, filtered look.
- Local Varieties: Apart from the styles mentioned above, smaller breweries provide various local varieties, each with their own unique stories and flavors. Some of the more well known local variants of German beer are Altbier, Berliner Weisse, Zoigblier, Münchener Bier, and more. Remember to not just fill up on the popular German beers and show some of these local stars some love too!
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Oktoberfest: Germany’s Beer Festival
A discussion about Germany’s beer culture would be clearly incomplete without a mention of the German beer festival, Oktoberfest. Germany has over 1300 breweries, if there’s a country that would have a beer festival, it’s this country! The Volksfest, or people’s festival, starts in mid or late-September and goes on till 3rd October, or the first Sunday of October, whichever is later. Traditionally, Oktoberfest would be a 16-day celebration till the first Sunday of October. After the reunification of Germany, the length of the festival was modified to include the German Unity Day (October 3rd).
The rules of Oktoberfest dictate that only beer from the breweries in Munich can be used in the celebrations. This Munich beer is special as it has a 13.5% Stammwürze minimum. Don’t worry about trying to pronounce the word, think of it as the German equivalent of proof. This would mean that the minimum ABV for Oktoberfest beer is around 6%. So if you happen to be in Germany during Oktoberfest, you better be good at your “Ein, Zwei, Drei”-s, or the Munich beer will catch up fast!
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Summing Up
Drinking in Germany is clearly a nationally loved phenomenon. Hell, even the legal drinking age in the country is just 16 years (talk about an early start)! Jokes aside though, this just goes to show how little German beers are about getting drunk and how much more the brew is about the country’s history with it. No wonder drinking is less of a taboo in Deutschland! Having read this blog on drinking in Germany, consider yourself well armed with information for whenever you visit.
FAQs
Why Is Beer So Popular In Germany?
Beer became a choice of drink for the people of Germany at a time when the alcoholic beverage, thanks to its purity rules, was safer than water. This safety and even beer’s caloric content made it so even children were allowed to drink the spirit.
What Is The German Beer Rule?
The German Purity Law is one of the earliest instances of a consumer protection law. The law states that all German beer must be made with only 3 ingredients: water, malt, and hops. Yeast was allowed to be added much later.
Do Germans Drink A Lot Of Beer?
As of 2024, the average German consumes up to 99 liters of beer every year. This sets Germany as the 4th highest beer consuming country in the world.
Which Country Drinks The Most Beer?
Although beer is an integral part of the German drinking culture, the Czech Republic is the country with the highest beer consumption. The average Czech drinks around 128 liters of beer every year.
Is Beer In Germany Expensive?
A pint of local German beer like a pilsner costs between €2 and €4. However, these prices can get jacked up in the more touristy locations.
Which Country Has The Best Beer?
Although countries from all around the world have their own beer varieties, German beer is most commonly regarded as the best beer in the world.
What Do Germans Call Beer?
Beer is called “das Bier” in German, and the plural is “die Biere”.
