As fall approaches, many people begin to turn their attention to cool nights, changing leaves, and bonfires, but others start thinking about Oktoberfest, and as Oktoberfest Celebrations begin, People often associate Oktoberfest with beer and many people wonder, why is beer so popular in Germany? Beer seems to be such an integral part of German culture that it has become a part of the German Identity. What is the big deal about beer in Germany?
Beer is popular in Germany because it has a rich traditional history to their culture and is readily accessible. Germans have historically used beer as a substitute for clean drinking water and even as a nutrition supplement. As the craft grew, Bavarian counties, now Germany, took great pride in their beer, even going so far as to write the Beer Purity Law in 1516 that is still active today. Beer has been a staple of German life and society for centuries as a part of tradition and culture.
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Like many great European countries, Germany luxuriates in its past and its history. With its strong Bavarian roots, and its penchant for passing down traditions, it is no wonder that the art of crafting beer in Germany has stood the test of centuries. It’s only been recent that new forms of beer have become more common in Germany and even those are slow to take hold.
History of Beer in Germany
Though beer wasn’t invented in Germany, it was very popular because it was safer to drink than water because of diseases and other contaminants. Several monasteries produced beer for Mass consumption beginning in the southern regions of Germany and Bavaria. The oldest of these, Weihenstephan Abbey, is still in operation today.
Many of the monasteries began beer production to study the science behind the process. It was also a great way to bring in money for The Cloister. The monasteries would set up taprooms to sell beer to customers to go or they would trade it for other goods and services.
Beer became such a staple in Germans’ lifestyle that the Beer Purity Law of 1516, started under the rule of Bavarian Duke Wilhelm IV, was adopted. It only allowed water, hops, and malt to be used in beer, but later included yeast. These regulations are still in use today and most breweries and the vestiges of these old traditions do not seem to be moving along any time soon, not that we are complaining!
What Are Germany’s Most Popular Beers?
Though Germany is known for its beer, the type of beer you’re likely to find in an establishment can be heavily based on the region you find yourself in. Just like in the United States, where certain foods are common to certain areas, certain beers in Germany are common to certain regions. Not are all beers created equal in the eyes of all German citizens. Each has its own particular preference and each region has a beer that it is known for.
If you were to visit Germany, it would be advisable to try the beer that is most popular in that region. The art of brewing beer in these regions has been practiced for centuries and they are Masters at their craft!
- Pilsner – Popular in the Northern Western and Eastern regions Pilsner beer has a light golden color in a dry, hoppy aroma. Pilsner is considered the world’s first pale lager in the original Pilsner Urquell is still produced today.
- Wheat beer – Wheat beer originated in the south of Germany and is also known as white beer. It has a fruity flavor and is popular in the summer months.
- Lager – Lager is a slightly sweet beer and is filtered clear. It’s called a Bavarian Light beer, though it can also come in amber or darker varieties
- Kolsch from Cologne and Alt from Dusseldorf – These are specialties in the Rhineland. The Kolsch beer is fermented similar to a pilsner but then finished like a lager, at colder temperatures. Kolsch has a smooth taste like a lager, with the robustness of a stronger flavor. Alt beer is fruity and clean, with a copper color. It is a light-bodied beer native to the area of Dusseldorf, and popular in that region.
Though these are some of the most traditional types of beer, there are over 7,000 different varieties of beer brewed in Germany.
Craft Beers
For centuries, the Beer Purity Law held breweries to the traditional way of processing beer. However, in recent years craft beers have been on the rise in Germany and breweries are popping up all over the area. Smaller breweries are finding innovative ways around the traditional Beer Purity Law, including marketing their craft beers as “beer mixers”.
These craft beer brewers are taking advantage of a younger Market looking for something different. with their newer take on old favorites such as loggers and pilsners, are also introducing their versions of IPAs and imperial porters. Craft Brewers are also reviving older styles, such as sour beers by adding fruits to the mix giving it a new spin.
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is probably the most well-known Folk Festival worldwide in the last 16 to 18 days in Munich Germany. The celebration begins in mid to late September and runs to the first Sunday in October. Each year more than 6 million people around the world attend, with other cities around the world holding smaller Oktoberfest celebrations modeled after the original.
Oktoberfest has been an important part of Bavarian culture since 1810 when it was first held as a celebration of the marriage of King Ludwig I to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. In 1819 City fathers took over management of the festival and decided that it would become a yearly tradition. from that point every year it grew larger and larger some years having to be canceled due to mitigating circumstances but for the most part, continuing is an annual event
Even though the festival celebrates Bavarian culture as a whole, it is known worldwide for the consumption of beer. In Munich, at the original Oktoberfest, only beers brewed inside Munich city limits, that conform to the Beer Purity law of 1516, are allowed to serve beer at Oktoberfest. This list consists of only six breweries.
- Augustiner
- Hacker-Pschorr
- Hofbräu
- Löwenbräu
- Paulaner
- Spaten
These six breweries are the only breweries that fit the criteria to be able to call their beer Oktoberfest Beer.
Beer Culture in Germany Today
Though Germany has ranked highly as one of the top beer-consuming countries in the past, in the late 1990’s beer consumption began to lessen somewhat. Though the amount of beer consumed has lessened somewhat, the culture surrounding beer drinking is still alive and well. Social traditions ingrained in their society are still seen every day and are commonplace.
It is not unusual to see people drinking publicly, in the places where it is legal, in the park or walking down the street, even on the bus. The tradition of an after-work beer is still very common and not seen as taboo as it is in other societies. Where in the US we would stop at a bar and have a drink with friends, then go home, it is commonplace in Germany to get a beer to take with you to drink on the way home.
The drinking age in Germany is much younger than in the US as well, though the US does have one of the highest legal drinking ages on record at 21. In Germany, in most areas, it is legal to drink beer at age 16. Historically, it wasn’t uncommon for small children to be given beer because of its preference over contaminated water and its nutritional value.
Even superstitions still have their place. Each new glass of beer should begin with a toast. Don’t forget to make eye contact with those you’re toasting with, though. It’s bad luck!
There’s been around for over a millennium, and nearly every civilization on Earth has had their form of beer. However, the history and passion for beer in Germany are unsurpassed. Germany has held so tightly to its tradition but it still follows a law that was set forth over 500 years ago and still going strong today.
Beer in Germany is not popular, it’s a lifestyle, it’s a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. For centuries it’s been a staple in German food stores. It’s been a nutritional substitute. It’s been a way of life that they’ve embraced and that’s become an identifying marker of their society to the rest of the world.
What the rest of the world sees as the popularity of beer has been the cultural heritage that Germans have kept alive despite hardship, strife, war, and famine. Despite outside influences, German beer makers have been able to sustain a long tradition that is embedded at the roots of their very culture. Very few societies can boast such a long-standing devotion to a craft that has left it nearly unchanged for centuries, especially in a country as diverse and progressive as Germany in the Modern Age.
If you or someone you know loves German beer, check out our review of the International Beer Club by Microbrewed, which features many great German beers delivered directly to you!
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