| Throughout Germany, beer is very popular with the | | | | be popular in other areas of the world as well. Pilsner |
| culture. German beer is highly diverse and an | | | | is one of the most popular and most familiar of all |
| important part of Germany's culture. Beer is so | | | | German beers, providing you with more hops and |
| pervasive amongst the populace; Germany has | | | | less malt. Pilsner can be found for sale all over the |
| become synonymous with beer consumption in the | | | | world, and happens to be very popular throughout |
| world's mind. The Germans are behind only the | | | | North America as well. Numerous bars serve it as |
| Czechs and the Irish in their per capita consumption | | | | well, as it happens to be one of the most popular |
| of beer. | | | | dark lagers out there. |
| In total, there are approximately 1300 breweries in | | | | Throughout Germany, there are several different |
| Germany producing over 5000 brands of beer, which | | | | companies, producing over 5,000 different brands of |
| is more than any other location in the world. Touring | | | | beers. Some of the more well known and larger |
| Germany's breweries is as much of a cultural | | | | companies of north Germany are Beck, St. Pauli, |
| experience as a scientific expedition. Family owned | | | | Warsteiner, and Krombach. In the southern region of |
| breweries are common, with a lot of pride mixed in | | | | Germany, there are more breweries, although most |
| with the basic ingredients! | | | | of them are smaller, as they are locally owned and |
| The German beer market is somewhat sheltered | | | | operated. Southern Germany also contains the |
| from the rest of the world beer market by the | | | | Benedictine Abbey, which is one of the oldest |
| German brewers' adherence to the Bavarian | | | | breweries in the world. This brewery started |
| Reinheitsgebot (purity requirement) dating from 1516 | | | | producing beer in 1040 - very impressive indeed! |
| (and most recently updated in the Vorläufiges | | | | Germany is also home to Oktoberfest, which is held |
| Biergesetz of 1993), according to which the only | | | | every year in Munich. The Munich Oktoberfest is well |
| allowed ingredients of beer are water, hops and | | | | known for the quantity of beer drunk as well as the |
| barley-malt. This law also requires that beers not | | | | friendly, social atmosphere created by the massive |
| using only barley-malt (such as wheat and rye) must | | | | marqees with long tables and bench seating. Almost |
| be top-fermented. All beer that is manufactured in | | | | 6,000,000 liters of beer are served every year at |
| Germany must follow the purity law, which lets | | | | the festival. Oktoberfest starts in late September |
| manufacturers know what ingredients can and cannot | | | | and carries on for two weeks, ending in early |
| be used. | | | | October. During Oktoberfest, beer drinkers from all |
| Due to the strict purity requirements, you can easily | | | | over the world will travel to Germany and celebrate |
| notice German beers by their overall level of quality. | | | | German beers. Each and every year, over 5 million |
| They have a distinct taste, with little to no | | | | people attend the event, making it one of the |
| aftertaste. | | | | biggest beer celebrations in the world. |
| Some styles of German ale include Koelsch, Weizen, | | | | During Oktoberfest, local breweries in Munich are the |
| and Altbier. There is a variety of different types of | | | | only breweries allowed to serve beer in the bigger |
| German beer, such as: Altbier - a dark amber, hoppy | | | | tents. There are six breweries in total, producing a |
| beer brewed around Düsseldorf and Lower | | | | variety of different beers. By attending this yearly |
| Rhine. Kölsch - pale, light-bodied, beer which can | | | | event, you can learn more about German beer, |
| only legally be brewed in the Cologne region. Leipziger | | | | sample the different varieties, and enjoy the rich bold |
| Gose - an amber, very sour, wheat beer brewed | | | | flavors that make German beer so very popular. |
| around Leipzig. While the beer market is weaker but | | | | Due to the success Oktoberfest gets each and |
| more centralized in northern Germany (the biggest | | | | every year, other cities around the world try and |
| brands being Beck's, Krombacher, Veltins, Warsteiner, | | | | mimic this event. Even though they have success, |
| and Bitburger), the south has many very small, local | | | | their level of success isn't near as much as the |
| breweries. | | | | original Oktoberfest - Germany. |
| The German beer Altbier is a very common dark ale | | | | German beers are very popular around the world, |
| that is top fermented in the lower regions of | | | | with Oktoberfest helping to prove that very claim. |
| Germany. The beer proposes a yellow color, with a | | | | If you drink beer but have never experienced what |
| taste that is rich in hops. Another ale, Rauchbier, is | | | | beers from Germany have to offer, you really should |
| known to have a smoky flavor with a smoked color. | | | | give them a try. Once you do, you'll quickly realize |
| These beers taste great, and happen to be very | | | | why German beers are so very popular - and why |
| popular throughout the regions of Germany. | | | | the taste simply can't be duplicated with any other |
| German lagers are also very popular, and happen to | | | | beer. |
