| The Germans are famous for a lot of things; one of | | | | of other famousbrewing towns were Einbeck and |
| them is brewing. With over 1300different breweries | | | | Braunschweig. In modern Germany, most of the |
| spread across the land, beer is an important part of | | | | country'sbeer-drinking people still prefer fabbier, or |
| their cultureand heritage. As far as per capita beer | | | | draft beer, over bottled beer because ofit's |
| consumption, the German people are only below the | | | | full-bodied flavor and right amount of head foam. In |
| Czechs and the Irish. The monks started to | | | | use still today, German beersteins became popular |
| experiment with brewing around one-thousand | | | | about the time the purity standard came about in an |
| A.D. at the beginning of the Germanic history The | | | | effort to stopfurther breakouts of the black plague. |
| nation's monarchy eventually startedto legislate the | | | | During the era of the black plague, Germany |
| production of beer as brewing became more and | | | | originated several regulations to stop itspeople from |
| more profitable. The mostimportant and influential | | | | getting ill. Infection would spread as large amounts of |
| factor to influence German brewing came about | | | | infected flies landedin citizen's food and beverages. |
| infifteen-sixteen with the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot, or | | | | This led to the German beer stein, a beverage |
| the purity standard. | | | | vesselwith a hinged lid that could be operated with |
| To help make sure Bavarian beers were only the | | | | the thumb so somebody could preventinfection and |
| best quality the Duke Wilhelm IVauthorized the | | | | still be able to drink with their free hand. As citizens |
| Bavarian Reinheitsgebot. The document states that | | | | began to learn theplague spread in unsanitary |
| beers must only be madeof water, hops, and barley. | | | | conditions with stagnant water, beer drinking |
| Unaltered after almost five-hundred years, the | | | | roseexponentially. German beer steins were originally |
| Reinheitsgebotis the oldest legislation put on food on | | | | made of stoneware with pewter lids. |
| the earth. Yeast is the only addition to thelist of | | | | German beer steins started to be made completely |
| essential ingredients in the proclamation. | | | | of pewter for nearly three-hundred yearsas the |
| Manufacturers before had just used theyeast that | | | | pewter guild became more powerful. Eventually, |
| was naturally in the air. Bavarian beer makers were | | | | porcelain and silver steins wereintroduced and are still |
| soon known as the bestproducers of beer because | | | | produced in the present. |
| of the stringent standard of quality following by the | | | | More than 5000 brands of beer are produced today |
| purityrequirement. As the notoriety of the Bavarian | | | | from more than 1350 breweries within |
| breweries spread across the nation | | | | Germany's borders. The oldest beer maker in the |
| othermanufacturers began to adhere to the | | | | world that continues operation today isthe |
| proclamation as well. | | | | Benedictine abbey Weihenstephan, that has been |
| As a result of the Reinheitsgebot, German beers | | | | making beer since one-thousand andforty. The |
| have a long-standing reputation ofproducing quality | | | | Franconia region of Bavaria by the city Bamberg is |
| beers made from only the best ingredients. A lot of | | | | the most concentrated areafor breweries in |
| locations becamefamous brewing spots as time | | | | Germany. Most beers can be placed by ales and |
| passed and Germany started to export beer. By | | | | lagers but Germanbreweries produce a large variety |
| 1500, | | | | of tastes. The majority of beers have an |
| Scandinavia, Holland, England, and even as far as India | | | | alcoholiccontent from 4.7% to 5.4% but some types |
| principally recieved their beerfrom one of the more | | | | can be as high as 12%, making them morepowerful |
| than 600 breweries in the town of Bremen. A couple | | | | than a lot of wines. |
