The variety of German beer with its more than 5000 different beers, brewed in about 1200 breweries is unique and unmatched in the world. The German “Reinheitsgebot” (purity law), introduced by Duke Wilhelm the VI in the year 1516, is the oldest food regulation in the world that is still valid in its original form. Germany does export about 1.5 million U.S. barrels of beer yearly to the United States. Beer is best served in a temperature between 44 and 48°F (7 to 9°C).
To list all German beers would probably make this one of the biggest blog posts ever, but also a waste of your time. Simply because most of the 5000 German beers are local and not exported.
Here is a German beers list of 20 well known and generally popular German beers:
Now I hope the list includes one or two beers you haven’t known yet. It is likely that you can find most of these German beers in countries around the globe. I have found quite a few of these during my travels in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The United States are one of the biggest consumers, Germany exports beer to. I am sure the choice of German beer in America is much better than in Asia or Oceania.
In case you ever visit Germany, the best thing you can do is to ask in a restaurant or pub for a local beer. There are a lot of smaller breweries all over the country, which make fantastic beer that can only be found in the specific local area, where the beer is made. Many Germans prefer a local beer above all others.
Don’t miss out on area specific specialty beers that are one of a kind. For example, when in Berlin you should try a “Berliner Weisse”, when in Cologne ask for a “Kölsch” and when Bamberg ask for its “Rauchbier”. Germany has without a doubt a beer for everyone. You just need to find your personal favorite.
Last but not least, here are a few accessories for people with a love of beer.