Different Types of German Beer

If you are a beer drinker, you know that many of the quality brews you enjoy come from Germany. Oktoberfest has long been a great event for tasting all the quality beverages that the festival has to offer, so if you are planning to attend an American version of the celebration, or will be visiting Europe soon, here is some information about the different types of German beer that will let you know exactly what you are tasting.

There are over one thousand breweries in Germany, which is a clear indication of how important the beverage is there. Only the U.S. has more breweries than Germany, and many of the American 'recipes' for beer have come from this country. Only the Czechs and the Irish consume more beer per capita than Germans.

Breweries in Germany are isolated from the rest of the world due to a German principle known as Reinheitsgebot, which means 'purity order.' Brewers want to make sure that German beer has the freshest and most authentic ingredients, and this process dates as far back as the 1500's. Barley malt is the chief ingredient in most German beer, and beers that do not contain barley malt must be top-fermented. Water and hops are the only other ingredients used in most classic and modern German brews, and people from all over the world enjoy the savory taste of these beverages.

There are numerous types of German beer, which you will want to try if you have the chance to visit a brewery. However, you can also test these beverages out at many of your local pubs and bars. The top fermenting beers include the Altbier, which is a dark beverage that has a rich taste. You may also want to try the Kolsch, which is a pale light-bodied beer that can only be brewed in the Cologne region of Germany. If you want to try a German beer with a hearty taste, you may want to try the Weizen variety, which is a dark wheat beer with a strong taste.

Bottom fermenting beers from Germany include Helles, which is a pale variety with a malty taste, or the Schwarzbier, a dark lager with a chocolate-like flavor. A rare German beer known as Export is becoming even rarer these days, but the beverage was very popular in the 1950's and 1960's and has a full, malty flavor.

If you want to know more about German beer, you can subscribe to All About Beer Magazine to find out more about the beer varieties that may interest you.