The Germans love beer! The average German drinks more than 100 liters of beer every year. A clear indication of this national passion is the fact that most Germans seem to born with the ability to open a bottle of beer, without a bottle opener. German beers are the most prolific in the
world, but there are many more styles than most people know. Germans are extremely picky about what goes in their beer— there’s even a law protecting beer purity. So what are the secret ingredients? Water, hops, malt, and yeast are the primary ingredients. Of course, brewers can sell
more experimental beer. Ranging from the numerous lagers to the various wheat beers and even sours, German brewers can do it all!
Despite these rules, German’s still have a strange habit of mixing their beer to make unusual concoctions — Biermixgetränke. For example, you can mix beer with Coke, Sprite, banana juice, strawberries, sparkling wine, and mineral water. Furthermore, drinking in public in Germany is
legal but do not throw your bottle — take it back to the shop to get your 8 cents. Alternately, you can place it next to, but never in the bit itself, and someone else with recycles it. One last tip — when cheering with a German, always look them in the eye, otherwise, they’ll reprimand you for
risking seven years of bad luck or bad sex, and you don’t want that on your conscience. Stay tuned as we list our favorite German beers, Prost!
Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock
Eisbock was inadvertently invented in Kulmbacher after a full wooden barrel was left out of the brewery in the dead of winter. Following Kulmbacher tradition, this brewery is partly frozen in the lagering tanks. Ice crystals are removed, concentrating the color and the flavor. This beer has
a malty richness, and overall sweet flavor, with undertones of honey. This is a great beer for 9.2% alcohol and is a must try! The outstanding quality and taste was confirmed in 2016 when it earned the platinum award in the category, ‘Wood barrel-matured beers’, at the ‘Meiningers International Craft Beer Award’
Weihenstephaner Korbinian
The Weihenstephaner Korbinian was born in Bavaria at Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, or “The World’s Oldest Brewery”. The label has interesting artwork —it depicts St. Korbinian as well as the Bayerische crest. The Korbinian is a double bock beer and has an
alcohol content of 7.4%. The beer is a rich mahogany color and has a roasted caramel aroma to it. You can pick a red fruity sweetness in the very middle of your palate with undertones of rye bread. This beer pairs best with smoked meat and fish, as well as wild roasts and fowl.
Aecht Schlenkerla
Aecht Schlenkerla is known for their smoked beers and the Urbock is the best. The beer pours a brownish/black/cola color in low light and has a very nice 3-finger head. The head is a nice light tan/khaki color and has a nice thickness about it. The head is reminiscent of Guinness with that
nice root beer float thing going on. The aroma on this is really nice, provided you don’t find smoked beers offensive. This too has a rich deep sweet malt flavor and there are hints burnt wood, meat. This beer has a distinct and powerful taste — one that you either love or hate!
Weihenstephaner Vitus
This light-colored, spicy single-bock, “Vitus” is saturated with fine yeast and creamy foam. It is a specialty with a round character based on the extra long storage time. The fruity smell of dried apricots joins aromas of citrus, cloves, and hints of banana. Full-bodied and sparkling with an
effervescent mouthfeel. Thus, the Vitus does not taste like a typical Bock beer but more like a noble, fruity wheat beer. Perfect with red meat, strong cheese and also able to guide desserts. It is brewed according to centuries-old brewing tradition on the Weihenstephan hill and has an alcohol content of 7.7%.
Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock
Aventinus, the Wheat Doppelbock of Bavaria, has always been known to be the most intense and complex wheat beer in the world. This was the case for the past sixty years, but not anymore. Up until the 1940s, Aventinus was shipped all over Bavaria in containers lacking temperature
control. Consequently, the precious drink partially froze during transportation. Unaware that the brew was concentrated by the separation of water from the liquid, people were baffled by this unique version of Aventinus. By chance, the first Aventinus Eisbock was created. Well aware of
this story, Hans Peter Drexler, brewmaster of the Schneider brewery, decided to recreate this classic “mistake” in a modern controlled facility. Thus, the Aventinus Eisbock is reborn sixty years later.
Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier
This is the highest rated smoked beer in the world and is made especially for Lent — released from Ash Wednesday throughout Easter. The Original Schlenkerla Lentbeer is an unfiltered smoked beer, brewed according to the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516. Bottom-fermenting yeast gives
the reddish brown lent beer natural cloudiness. Its smokey aroma is already noticeable in the smell, combined with a fine hoppy note. In the drink, the full-bodied, highly drinkable lent beer shows its strong malty flavor, rounded up with the smokey taste and light bitterness. Due to the nourishing yeast, the Original Schlenkerla Lentbeer has the “Brotzeit already included” (the German word for afternoon snack).
Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel
The world famous bock from Bavaria’s Holy Mountain is meant to be savored slowly. As solid as a rock, Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel presides over the evening meal with a color reminiscent of dark copper. It’s soft roasted accents and hints of dried fruit, cameral will leave you olfactory senses satisfied. The flavor of this beer is unmistakable — velvety and strong, yet pleasantly malty, with a powerful robust body. Concluding with a powerful punch, this beer departs with a lingering aftertaste of quality plain chocolate. This is very drinkable and has an alcohol content of 7.1%.
