GERMAN BEER - THE TRADITION CONTINUES.

German beer is an important part of the Germany's culture. An old German
saying "Beer turns thirst into a beautiful thing" really fulfills this.
Germany has been offering oldest beer tradition with multitudinous flavors
and varieties in the world. The German breweries cross about 1250 in
numbers. Popularity of the German Beer is not restricted to the European
Union but also has reached to overseas including North America. The city of
Dortmund in the state of North-Rine Westphalia and the capital Munich
produce more than 5 million hectoliters of beer yearly.

The Munich Oktoberfest is the best example of beer-cultured Germany. In this
festival, around 6000000 liters of beer is served on the long tables every
year.

The History of Geraman Beer

The history of the German Beer goes as back as 6000 years! There are
evidences which prove that the brewing tradition began at that time. The
oldest known civilization on earth Sumerians found the fermentation action.
They discovered it upon a bowl of bread dough. Later they start something
called 'brewing'.

The greatest works of literature, The Epic of Gilgamesch (3000 BC) also
mentioned that the beer and bread played a large role in development of the
tribes into cultivated people. However, the oldest archeological evidence of
brewing in Germany is an Earthenware Amphora (800 BCE, founded in 1935) in a
Celtic burial mound in small northern Bavarian Village of Kasendorf which is
just 12 km from Kulmbach. Here it is to be mentioned that the Bavarian
Reinheitsgebot, an oldest regulation put on food in the world, was
authorized by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria giving assurance of serving the
highest quality of beers.

German Beer - Simply Stylish

What makes German beer amazing is its composition. It is made up of just
four ingredients; hops, water, malt and yeast. From mild to strong,
seductive to matter-of-fact, elegant to earthy etc. whatever the category
beer is made for, it tastes splendid. You may wonder that Germans rarely
order the brand of beer. They just ask for the beer by its style designation
like a Kolsch, a Helles, a Pils, and an Alt etc.

Some people believe that certain variety such as Bockbier is a broad style,
which has many classifications like stronger Doppelbock and much stronger
Eisbock. Where as many of people consider each of these brews as a different
style. The same thing happens with Altbier and its stronger version called
the Sticke Alt. in the same manner broad family of the yeast-turbid German
wheat ales, known as Hefeweizens or Weissbiers has clear and filtered member
- Kristallweizen. The stronger is Weizenbock which is again believed to be
separate in style.

There are so many other varieties like Berliner Weisse, Pilsener, Export,
Dunkel, Rauchbier, Bock, Eisbock, Marzen etc which are ready to make your
mood anytime you want.

German Beer - No Confusion

German breweries many times use prefixes or adjectives to highlight the
brands and its content. For example, ungespundet refers to a low-frothiness
beer, which is fermented to the finish in a fermenting container that is not
pressurized.

Another word is helles or hell! Don't get confused or get afraid of this
word. It means 'light'. The light means in color and not the beer's calorie
contents or alcohol presentation. If the beer shows you urtyp or ur, take
this as unfeigned or original, which shows its authenticity of production.
In the same fashion, edel refers to 'noble'.

The German beer is substantive part of Germany's ancestry and tradition.
With the wide range of varieties the beer has become people's choice of
drink. The presentation and serving of the German beer makes it more
valuable to beer-lovers.