Germany Beer

Germany *is one of the largest beer brewing countries in the world, both in terms of the production and consumption of this beverage. The varieties of *German beers are endless; currently, there are more than 5,000 different types of beers in the Germanic country.

According to data from 2016, beer consumption in Germany was 110 litres per inhabitant. It is the second largest beer-consuming country in the world just behind the Czech Republic, with a consumption of 143 litres per capita.

History of German beers

The origin of beer in Germany dates back thousands of years. History places it in the 6th century BC; at that time some Germanic tribes that lived in the south of the country already consumed it. The first brewing company in the world did not arrive until the year 766; It was the monastery of St. Gallen in Geisingen, next to the bank of the Danube.

In the Middle Ages, hops began to be added to the formula of brewing beer. A curious fact is that in the sixteenth century Prince William IV approved the so-called "law of purity", which forced all breweries to use no more than four ingredients to make the drink. A law that extended throughout the German Empire in the year 1906.

The three most popular types of German beer

Pilsner: it is known by this name because it has its origin in the city of Pilsen, in Bohemia. A blonde beer with a somewhat bitter taste and an alcohol content between 4 and 4.8 percent.

Weizenbier: a beer that is made with barley yeast at high temperatures; Its flavour is somewhat special, with fruity accents. It has a very high fermentation and its alcohol content is between 5 and 5.4 percent.

Dunkel: a dark beer that was born between Bohemia and Bavaria. It is one of the most popular types of beer in the world; All German beer companies have at least one Dunkel beer in their product portfolio.