Understanding German Beer
A Guide for Drinking Beer When Visiting Germany
According to Eupedia, an on-line guide to Europe, Germans are second only to the Irish when it comes to consuming beer—in fact, they average approximately 119 liters per person per year, which averages out to .32 liters or just under one can of beer per person per day! The country also has approximately 1,300 breweries making more than 5,000 kinds of beers…it’s no wonder, then, that visitors to Germany are confused by all the choices, but want to understand this famous German export.
Types of Beer in Germany
Although beer is only made from four main ingredients (water, malt, yeast, and hops), the drink still comes in numerous forms—different colors, different tastes, different alcohol levels—depending on the sources of those ingredients , the combination of those ingredients, and the fermentation process. In Germany, the following main types of beer are usually offered on a menu:
Helles (pronounced hellus)—The most common beer in Germany, this beer is a light lager.
Pilsner (pronounced pillsner)—Another light beer from Germany, a pils is a crisper version of a helles and typically served in a .3 liter size glass.
Weißbier /Weizenbier (pronounced vaisebeer or vaitzenhbeer)—A weissbier is made with malted wheat and can be in a crystal clear, light, or dark form. It’s a heavy and strongly-flavored beer. Sometimes a weizen will be mixed with Coke or a sweet syrup.
Dunklebier (pronounced doonklebeer)—Dunkle means dark in German, so a dunklebier is a dark beer and a dunkleweizen is a dark wheat beer.
Radler (pronounced rawdler)—A Radler (known as a shandy in the United Kingdom) is half beer and half Sprite, so it’s a lighter and sweeter version of a helles.
A restaurant or bar will only serve beer from one specific brewery; which brewery is served will be clearly advertised outside.
In Germany, each beer has its own special glass and method of pouring. A pils is served in a .3 liter glass while the other beers are served in .5 liter glasses…unless a maß (pronounced moss) is ordered—the famous drink of Oktoberfest, which is 1 liter. Some restaurants will even offer 2 or 3 liter glasses! The pour is also important as the foam on top is believed to add flavor and texture.
Ordering Beer in German
When ordering beer in a German restaurant or bar, the specific type of beer as listed above needs to be ordered:
“Ein pils bitte,” or “Ein weizen bitte,” etc.
In most situations, a waiter will serve the smaller version, so if a maß is desired, it needs to be mentioned.
Where to Enjoy German Beer
Of course, Munich’s Oktoberfest is the most well-known location to enjoy German beer. The fest only occurs once a year, however, and there are many other opportunities to enjoy beer.
Beer Gardens—These open-air areas provide the opportunity to enjoy German beer, food, and the outdoors simultaneously. Long tables and benches typify a beer garden with typical German dishes of radishes, pretzels, and roasted chicken.
Beer Festivals—Munich’s Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival, takes place every September, while other smaller beer festivals take place throughout the year around the country, including fests in Stuttgart, Hannover, and Bremen. Although some German festivals may not specifically be a beer festival, it is fairly certain that beer will be served at any type of fest in Germany.
Breweries—Many of the breweries in Germany have their own restaurants to enjoy their beers and traditional food. Some breweries also offer tours such as the Beck’s Brewery in Bremen, while others are hotels like the Klosterbräu Hotel Irsee near Fussen.
The German word for "cheers" is "prost" and it will be used frequently on any trip to Germany.
Beer is served.
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An Oktoberfest tent.
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