Monday, February 16, 2015

All About German Beer

By Chris Carr


Consumption of beer is a popular pastime in Germany, enjoyed by thousand of resident and visitors alike. Germany has over 1,000 breweries situated throughout the country, which allows them to boast that they have more breweries than any other country in the world.

The brewers are obliged to follow the purity rules, which originated in 1516 that dictates they have to use certain ingredient in the brewing of the beer. Hops, barley malt and water are the fundamental ingredients used. This rule protects the consumer from poor standard and potentially lethal beverages. Over five hundred years ago the quality of the water was extremely poor so the people drank copious amounts of beer to quench their thirst. Over the years the quality of the beer has been refined to make it the most palatable quality beer that has a distinct taste and leaves little or no after taste.

The German beer Altbier is a dark ale that is fermented in the lower regions of Germany. It presents with a yellow colour with a taste rich in hops. Rauchbier has a smoky flavour and colour. These beers are an extremely popular beer throughout Germany.

Pilsener is one of the most popular and familiar beers, both in Germany and throughout the world. The Pilsener beer has less malt and more of a hop taste on the palate. It is a fairly dark lager that is quite popular all over the world in particular in North America, where is it sold in the many bars and restaurants.

Around 4,000 brands of beer are produced throughout Germany by several different companies, such as some of the better known ones, Beck, St Pauli, Warsteiner and Krombach. All situated in North Germany. In the southern region of Germany, there are many more breweries, however they are locally owned and operated. The Benedictine Abbey, also situated in Southern Germany was established in 1040 and beer was brewed there by the Benedictines monks, making it one of the oldest breweries in the world. It is still brewing beer to this day.

Germany is home to the Oktoberfest, held every year in Munich. It usually commences in late September and continues for two weeks ending in October. German beer is celebrated by as many as five million people from all over the world during this period, making it one of the largest celebrations of beer in the world.

Those attending learn about the different German beer while they are sampling the brew. Dancing and singing are also part of the beer drinking at Oktoberfest

Because of the success of Oktoberfest many other cities around the world try to mimic this festival, and hold their own versions around the same time as Germany. However Germany still holds the best Oktoberfest in the world supplying good quality German beer that is unrivalled anywhere in the world.




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