If you like to drink beer, there's a good chance that many of the great brews you like come from Germany. Oktoberfest enjoys a long history as an important event for tasting all the quality drinks which the country has to offer, so if you're planning on going to an American version of the celebration, or are going to be visiting Europe in the near future, here's some information about German beer which will help you understand exactly what you're drinking.
There are actually in excess of 1,000 breweries in Germany, which is a clear indication of how important the beverage is there. Only America has more breweries than Germany, and many of the American formulations for beer have originated in that region. Only the Czechs and the Irish drink more brew per capita than Germans.
Beer producing facilities in Germany are isolated from the rest of the world owing to a German standard known as Reinheitsgebot, meaning 'purity order.' Brewers need to guarantee that German beer is made from the freshest and most reliable ingredients, and this process goes way back to the 16th century. Barley malt is the key ingredient in most German beer, and those that don't include barley malt have to be top-fermented. Water and hops are the only other ingredients used in most classic and modern German beer.
There are a number of kinds of beer brewed in Germany which you'll want to try should you have the opportunity to check out a brewery, however, you can also taste them at some of your neighborhood pubs and bars. The top fermenting beers include the Altbier, a dark colored beverage that is known for its rich taste. You might also want to try the Kolsch, which is a pale light-bodied beer that can only be brewed within the German region of Cologne. If you want to try a German brew that has a hearty flavor, you might want to check out the Weizen variety, which is a dark wheat beer having a strong taste.
German bottom fermenting brews include Helles, which is a pale brew having a malty flavor, and Schwarzbier, a dark lager that has a taste similar to chocolate. A German beer known as Export is getting to be rare lately, however, the beer was a great favorite during the 50s and 60s and is known for its full, malty flavor.
Brewing your own beer from a home beer brewing kit can save you some money, but it's also an enjoyable pastime. Discover what you need to get started at Beer Brewing Supplies.
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