Some people assert that in Germany, where, we are told, the drinking of beer is as natural as the drinking of water with us, there is no drunkenness such as w«j know it in this country. That leaves midrange beers in the middle. The legal drinking age in Germany for beer and wine is 16, but you can’t get your auto German driving licence until you’re 18, which is also the legal drinking age in German for spirits. About a decade ago, regulators told the brewery in Neuzelle that the black abbot couldn't be called a beer because of the added sugar. A Ratskeller is a beer hall in a basement, and Bremen Ratskeller serves excellent German and international cuisine, a vast selection of wines, and the odd beer, with some vintages that are over 100 years old. These decrees were handed … From left to right: the Berliner Weisse goes in a bowl-shaped glass, Kristallweizen wheat beer in a tall glass, lager is served in a beer mug, followed by a short glass for the dark Altbier, the small, narrow glass for the Cologne Kölsch brew, the rounded glass for Pils beer and finally the Bavarian half-liter beer mug. Berlin's corner pubs, like the Willi Mangler in the Schönefeld district, are a part of German beer history. So don’t wonder if you see some youngsters having a beer – it is probably legal. Order your next beer in Germany like a native with these helpful hints and phrases from professional English-German translator, Katie Schober. Germany is a beer country - and that's a fact. Consumption of the big names is actually declining, and these craft varieties may just take their place. Closeup of handsome young man drinking beer out of beer stein. Using only four ingredients German brewers have managed to create over 5,500 brands of beer. Drinking Age. However, reports have also shown that … Bocks can be traced right back to Munich or its Alpine cousin across the border, Vienna. Further, beer is considered the national drink of Germany and is known to conjure memories and feelings of good cheer in Deutschlanders when prompted to discuss it. Germany is also home to sour styles like Berliner Weisse and even smoked beers that taste like ham. In places like the German capital, it is even completely legal to drink alcohol from open containers in public, further legitimizing the presence of beer consumption. 2. The beer culture in Hallertau is rooted in German styles like weissbiers, lagers, and pilsners. There are, of course, some traditions surrounding beer drinking. Isolated on white . People are allowed to drink beer at the age of 16 while consuming stronger liquor you need to be 18 years old. The best known of these is probably the Oktoberfest beer, which is made especially for the festival in Munich and served in one liter Bavarian beer mugs. Using only four ingredients German brewers have managed to create over 5,500 brands of beer. In Germany, it is legal to enjoy soft alcoholic drinks like beer and wine at the age of 16, whereas hard drinks like spirits and liqueurs are only allowed to adults over 18. Thanks to the unique yeast used in the making of this brew, they are cloudy in appearance, which also plays a major role in giving it its distinct, rich, and flavorful taste. | Mobile version. There's a lot more to the German beer culture than donning a Dirndl and downing a Maß at Oktoberfest. James Meads swapped England’s postindustrial West Midlands for the beautiful German spa city of Wiesbaden in 2006. In the Ruhr area it's known as a Trinkhalle, in Mainz it is called a Büdchen and in Berlin it goes by the name of Späti. These days they can be found all over Germany, but they originate from the beginning of the 19th century in Bavaria. Before the German Beer Purity Law, there were decrees called "Grutrechte," or Gruit Rights, which conferred the privilege of making gruit beer or selling gruit to make beer. Located in Germany’s Altmühl Valley, the Riedenburger brewery has been around since 1866 and has been preoccupied with organic beer production since 1994. Reinheitsgebot is also known as the German Beer Purity Law. Aesthetics that we commonly associate with Germany in addition to beer such as the dirndl and lederhosen pants are strongly linked to the festival, along with the iconic Alpine surrounds of the Wiesn. Drinking in public is tolerated in Germany -- which doesn't mean it's always legal. A challenge to get through unless you consume plenty of beer. You on our travel show: we will accompany you with a camera team. For an authentic beer-drinking experience, ensure you’re sipping out of this dimpled Oktoberfest glass beer mug with flat pewter lid 0.5l (German Steins, £34.62). Wheat beers, known as Weizen, are Germany’s most famous variety of ales. The legal drinking age in Germany is 16, though kids must wait until they're 18 to drink spirits. These traditional styles are made to the highest of standards in accordance with unchanged recipes and techniques. Second, you’re unlikely to find Altbier very far outside the region near Düsseldorf, and good luck trying to find Kolschbie… First, these two hybrid brews are about as close as German brewers get to producing ales. Beer gardens are more popular than ever during this coronavirus summer as they offer plenty of fresh air and space. It helps fans celebrate and consoles them if their team loses. Actually it’s pretty great because it means nothing stands in the way of a real party to celebrate your successfully-passed driving test. Some German craft beers to watch out for are Berlin’s Vagabund, Ale-Mania from Bonn, Crew Republic from Munich, and many others. And that number is growing because every week a new beer is released on the market. Beer in Germany Legal drinking age in Germany. From pilsners to lagers to bocks and wheat ales, these are some of the most prominent brews in circulation today, and we have the Germans to thank. He is both highly organised and hopelessly unpunctual, which thoroughly confuses the Germans. In 2019, beer consumption amounted to roughly 82.9 million hectoliters, a decrease compared to the previous year at 84.65 million hectoliters. The German beer scene is actually more complex than many people think and the country produces a vast range of lagers and ales. This is enough to leave anyone’s head spinning. These neighborhood kiosks sell newspapers, tobacco, sweets, and usually beer. © 2020 Deutsche Welle | Two other beer styles of notable exception in west central Germany are Kolschbier and Altbier. Traditional breweries have now been joined by more experimental beer makers like Georg-Augustin Schmidt. You can create your own beer at the "Grillakademie" craft beer seminar in Bochum. Alongside specialty beers made from einkorn, emmer and spelt, the brewery also began offering an organic India Pale Ale called Dolden Sud and a variety of IPAs two years ago. To mark German Beer Day on April 23, here's a quick guide. German couple in Tracht with beer, pretzel. Typically, they have a sweet and yeasty taste. You can’t trust your taste in music when drinking . Legal notice | The craft-beer scene is especially strong in Hamburg and Berlin. But Germany manages quantity as well as quality: no other European country produces more beer. Germans come in third worldwide when it comes to beer consumption, drinking 28 gallons per capita. At any stadium the link between football teams and breweries is obvious: beer advertising features on the players' shirts and banners. We use cookies to improve our service for you. To this day, there is strict legislation in place to preserve the consistent quality of beers made in Germany. Especially on hot days the cellar beer gardens were popular among people from Munich. Not to mention, many bars throughout many German cities keep cropping up which specialize in craft and microbrews. This beer is light in both color and taste. Those who are crazy about beer beyond drinking it will find more than 30 beer museums, beer hikes and beer brewing seminars in Germany. How do you pick the perfect German beer-style? But if you want to enjoy a beer on the streets, it's unlikely anyone will stop you. A writer to the Christian Register who has lived in both countries tells a different story. Beyond Munich, most other major cities, and likely many small towns, also host beer festivals and events year-round. For these occasions regional breweries often create a festival beer. Lagers are also technically Viennese, but they have become a major staple at Oktoberfest, with Munich’s original breweries – Löwenbrau, Hofbrähaus, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Franziskaner, and Spaten – churning out massive amounts of this stuff and subsequently selling it all around the world. 1,967 beer drinking german stock photos are available royalty-free. In Bavaria, where the German Beer Purity Law was adopted in 1516, beer has been an established part of life for centuries. BEER DRINKING IN GERMANY. With our new "DW World Heritage 360" app you can explore them in a completely new way. I should say upfront that I’m not a beer connoisseur. The mix of stuffy air, no nonsense food and a crowd of regular bar flies is what makes them so charming. What began more than 150 years ago as a place to sell water, now serves as a pit stop for big city beer drinkers. Picking Your German Beer. Also note that in a country of … Normally we don't. In the summer, Berlin, for instance, hosts the International Beer Festival and the Craft Beer Week. In Germany beer is considered to be the national drink of the country, beer drinking is estimated to be one of the best things in the country. Bremen also hosts one of the most celebrated Ratskellers in Germany. Germans, in general, are also known for their relaxed attitudes around consuming the beverage. When it comes to drinking alcohol, whether at an office party, during intermission at the theater or just relaxing as pictured here in Berlin's Görlitzer Park, beer is always an appropriate choice in Germany, and can be consumed legally in public. How to Order a Beer in Germany By Katie Schober Willkommen in Deutschland! We look at the country's beer culture. Contact According to a 2015 report from Kirin, a Japanese beverage company, Germany ranks fourth in the world for beer consumption per capita, with 104.7 liters per person. Today, Bavaria has more than 600 breweries, more than in any other state in Germany. Local German beer styles. The world of beer in Germany is eclectic, ranging from pale beers such as Pils and Helles to the rich and malty Dunkels and Bocks. Football is also a celebration, and beer goes with football the way mustard goes with a bratwurst sausage. For most of the time, the students are too young (6–16), and even so, it is hardly appropriate. As for the bock beers, they vary in color, from gold to amber to dark brown. Prost! You can wet your whistle with more than 5,000 types of beers. James thinks in English and German at the same time, and when he suggests “going for a beer”, he means at least three – and definitely not Bitburger. I know and love a lot of beer snobs—and I asked for some of their input when writing this post—but to me, beer’s just beer. As is evident in the Reinheitsgebot, Germans have a great reverence for their beers, and drinking the beverage is an important part of their culture. Man drinking out of Oktoberfest beer stein (Mass). Drink … Oktoberfest is also one of the trademark symbols of German drinking culture, at least to those who are looking in from the outside. They are typically heavy and spiced and served in tall narrow glasses. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Helles pilsners are widely consumed around the world, with famous spin-offs including Miller, Bud, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and countless others. Germans love their beer; in fact, it is estimated that Germans drink around 104 liters (24 gallons) of beer per person, per year. Germany is famous for its food and drink, including Wurst (sausage), Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) and Bier (beer). It gave the decree-holder a monopoly in a geographical area. No doubt, one of the first things most people think of when German cuisine comes to mind is the beer. According to the Purity Law of 1516, German beer is only made with four ingredients—water, hops, malt, and yeast—but that doesn't mean that all German beer tastes the same. Woman Holding Beer. According to the Reinheitsgebot, for instance, the beers can only be made of water, malt, and hops – no additives are involved. The German purity law of 1516 states that beer can only be made with hops, malt, and water. Riedenburger Brauhaus. Beautiful young woman drinking beer. There are over 40 official varieties of beer associated with Germany, brewed by upwards of 5,000 different brands. On average, Germans consumed 99.7 liters of beer per person in 2019. If parents are present, the minimum age is not binding (kids could be younger). And in many Bundesliga football arenas the beer brand sponsoring the team is also served. Well, the Germans definitely do things a little differently than we do in the States. 9. As an introduction to the many beers of Germany, here are 10 examples of great beers in the most popular styles. Germans are known to be relaxed when it comes to beer consumption. German couple in Tracht with beer and pretzel. Funfair stalls, brass bands and "Schlager" music are the ingredients of a traditional German festival. You can find more information in our data protection declaration. … Send us your video of a dream destination for our tv show Check-in. To put that in perspective, the average American reportedly consumed 75.4 liters in the same year. Participants also learn about the different varieties of beer as well as German brewing traditions and, of course, the German Beer Purity Law. While it’s important to note that the pilsner actually originated in the modern-day Czech Republic, Germany has done a thing or two to popularize it. Craft brews in Munich, Berlin, and elsewhere can even be found on the shelves at some grocery stores and convenience shops amongst Augustaners, Paulaners, and the like. Germany is a beer country - and that's a fact. Woman Drinking Beer. Back then brewers served their beer straight from the cooling cellars along the banks of the river Isar. Reset All Filters. Privacy Policy | Drinking in the public. Or, as we English-speakers say, “Welcome to Germany.” Now that you’re finally here, I think it’s high time for a drink, don’t you? The over 500-year-old German Beer Purity Law says that only hops, barley, yeast and water can be used to make Germany's favorite drink. Some of these still exist, the oldest being Weltenburg Abbey on the Danube. If nobody is disturbed it’s fine. Legal drinking and purchasing age for Alcohol is age 16 in Germany. Top Germany Beer Tastings & Tours: See reviews and photos of beer tastings & tours in Germany, Europe on Tripadvisor. Beer gardens are also traditional to German beer culture. In places like the German capital, it is even completely legal to drink alcohol from open containers in public, further legitimizing the presence of beer consumption. That five-year difference to the US, where the drinking age is 21, appears to be significant. It is allowed to consume alcohol in the public – – the rule of thumb is that you cannot bother other people. Youths are allowed to start drinking beer at 16, while the legal age for liquor is 18. They have also become something of a cult. The most common and widespread is related to toasting: be sure to make clear eye contact with each person as your glasses clink or else bad luck and other superstitions await you. Beer is an important part of German culture The German laws regulating alcohol use and … That’s because there’s no place on Earth where beer making and beer drinking are so connected. There are even entire magazines dedicated to German craft beer culture, including the popular Hopfenhelden. That’s sacrilege in Germany, I know. German beer is so special because of a little thing called Reinheitsgebot. While it is more associated with veteran, old-school brews, the face of German beer is changing in some ways beyond those established varieties that have become well-known around the world. No doubt, this event has helped to further popularize Munich’s iconic breweries. The only exception are the few weeks before graduation for the graduating class. Youths are allowed to start drinking beer at 16, while the legal age for liquor is 18. One generalization about beer in Germany that seems to hold up is that drier, hoppier beers can be found in the north, while maltier, sweeter beers are found in the south. Of course, the most quintessential beer varieties and brands are deeply established. With over 100 different styles to choose from, I've narrowed it down to what I think are the top 10! It was adopted in 1516, making it the oldest, currently valid consumer protection law in the world. These beers were originally brewed and stored in the depths of caves during the cold months of the year, establishing their unique flavor and their characteristically Bavarian dark color. Tradition dominates, especially when it comes to maintaining the German beer purity law, Reinheitsgebot, which dictates beer can only be made with hops, barley, water, and yeast. Germans, in general, are also known for their relaxed attitudes around consuming the beverage. Bamberg's old town center, Aachen Cathedral and the Bauhaus in Dessau – all are UNESCO World Heritage sites. His micro-brewery "Braustil" in Frankfurt-am-Main produces small amounts of new varieties which have powerful aromas and are usually made with regional, organic ingredients. The casual beer drinker can be forgiven for thinking that all German brewers produce the same stuff. A local TV reporter covering the story said, “Well if you can't drink the beer… Because in Germany, beer’s not just beer. From the infamous Oktoberfest to the tremendous craft brewing culture that is cropping up in cities across the country, here is what you need to know about German beer. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Tourists rarely venture here, but residents of the neighborhood come to enjoy their after work beer. In the Middle Ages the breweries were firmly in the grip of monasteries. 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