| German beer - you have to admit, is one of the | | | | If you like a more bitter and less malty taste try the |
| finest tasting beers you can drink. German breweries | | | | pils which is also called pilsner. You can order them in |
| are pretty secretive about their "how tos". They all | | | | restaurants and special pils bars. Take a closer look at |
| seem to say it's in the water. I'm sure there's some | | | | the time consuming process of serving a foam |
| truth to that, but what really gives the beer it's great | | | | crowned pils with perfection. You will see dozens of |
| flavor is the hops which is traded as seriously as | | | | glasses filled with foam only, waiting to settle. It can |
| grapes for wine makers. | | | | take a good quarter of an hour for the foam refills |
| Most German beers are great tasting because all are | | | | to turn into the golden liquid. |
| vegan (no animal products are used). Bavarian purity | | | | Ein "Dunkeles" (A dark beer) |
| laws limit them to four ingredients only: water, grain, | | | | Against popular beliefs it is not the most powerful in |
| hops and yeast. Real German beer is also not | | | | alcohol contents. It is basically a lager bottom brewed |
| pasteurized as many American beers are, which lets | | | | beer containing "toasted" malt. |
| you taste the beer's real flavor. | | | | Ein "Weissbier" (A white beer) |
| Listed below are some of the different types of | | | | A very good idea when the sun is shining and you |
| German beers typically found in Bavaria and what | | | | prefer being refreshed by a lighter tasting beer. |
| you can expect should you order one of these | | | | Weizen means wheat, often called a Weissbier |
| types. | | | | (white), and is served in tall and elegant 1/2 liter |
| Ein "Helles", bitte ( A lite beer) | | | | glasses. But beware of its "light" character, it is the |
| The standard light beer, when you order a "Helles" in | | | | strongest in alcohol. While some will serve it with a |
| a pub or restaurant you'll most likely end up with a | | | | slice of lemon, do not put one in your Hefe (yeast) |
| pint. Depending on the brewer it can be quite | | | | Weissbier. The Hefeweissbier comes only in bottles, a |
| refreshing. Some beer gardens have responded to | | | | professional will wet the glass and pour the bottle at |
| the public's demand for smaller quantities and now | | | | a steep angle. With the foam that remains at the |
| also offer them outdoors, the "real" beer garden only | | | | bottom of the bottle he will collect the yeast (swirling |
| serves the "Mass" (one quart) - pronounced "maus". | | | | action) and add it to your beer. |
| By the way, Germany has laws governing the | | | | Ein Bock und Doppelbock (A Bock beer) |
| quantity of liquids served to the public, that is why | | | | Bock is term used for a stronger beer (doppel |
| you will find level markers on each glass. If your Mass | | | | meaning double even more so). Fasting monks found |
| looks like it is not quite 1 liter after the foam settles, | | | | an ingenious way of compensating the lack of food - |
| just go back and ask for "bitte nachschenken". The | | | | they started brewing very strong beers. March and |
| man at the keg will be impressed that you know | | | | October are the two most prominent seasons for |
| your way around. | | | | brewing these special beers. |
| Ein "Pils" (A Pilsener) | | | | |
