From Becks in the north to Paulaner in the south, Germany’s bigger beers are sold worldwide. But the best beers are only found locally. On Germany’s national beer day, Paul Krantz offers a few local recommendations from Bavaria to Berlin.
April 23rd is Germany’s national beer day.
As opposed to international beer day, which is celebrated in August, Germany’s beer day is set on this date to commemorate the passage of the Reinheitsgebot (or the Purity Law) on April 23rd, 1516. The Purity Law stated that beer may only consist of water, malt, hops and yeast.
Germany is home to around 6,000 different beers, according to a report by RND, and to recommend any of them above the others is sure to invite some serious backlash among German aficionados.
As to my own credentials, I won’t claim to be an expert, but I have drunk nearly 400 different German beers since I arrived in Germany, and I kept track of the good and the bad with a rating app.
READ ALSO: 365 German beers – What I learned from drinking a different variety each day
So, based on my own exploration of German beers, here are a few suggestions of some really good, and lesser-known, brews that you could crack open to celebrate this special day.
When in Bavaria
While the whole country of Germany is known for its beer, Bavaria has really done some heavy lifting to build that reputation and keep it alive.
Munich’s Oktoberfest is the largest beer-drinking festival in the world, and a Lederhosen-wearing German with a litre of Helles in hand is undoubtedly the image that comes to mind for most people outside of the country when they think of German beer.
Thanks in no small part to the aforementioned Reinheitsgebot (which originated in Bavaria) the Free State’s most popular beers are classic types made by a handful of established breweries. By and large Bavaria is not the place to come looking for innovative, new craft breweries. It’s where you come to find pure beer that’s been brewed in the same way, and served in the same biergartens for centuries.
A perfect, and somewhat lesser-known example of this is Kloster Andechs. Benedictine monks have been brewing beer at the Andechs Monastery since 1455.
A more recent up-and-comer is the Giesinger Brewery. Founded in 2007, Giesinger has quickly become a local favourite around the Bavarian capital, but interestingly the Association of Munich Breweries has so far managed to prevent it from being called a ‘Münchner Bier’ or from being sold at Oktoberfest.
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Not too far to the north, the Franconian region is home to its own collection of breweries. I’ve heard it said that upper Franconia is home to the highest number of breweries per capita in the world, but I’ve also seen other sources give that title to other places. One thing that’s certain however, is that you could taste beers for a lifetime around here.
Nuremberg is famous for its Rotbier (red beer) which get their colour from being stored in old wine barrels. One of my favourite German beers is the Nürnberger Rotbier by Hausbrauerei Altstadhof, which you can visit near the base of the city’s castle.
The Hertl brewery from this region is also worth a mention. If you are in the mood for something different, try Hertl’s ‘Schwiegervater’s Stolz’, which is their take on a smoked beer – a unique type that is especially popular in Bamberg.
The classic Bamberg Rauchbier to try is called Aecht Schlenkerla – either the Märzen (Festbier) or the Urbock.
READ ALSO: Travel in Germany – Sipping smoked beer and soaking up culture in beautiful Bamberg
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When in Berlin
Berlin’s classic beers are all pretty plain pilsners, such as the well-known Berliner Pilsener or Kindl.
But the German capital is also home to a number of smaller breweries that have started to gain some notoriety – at least in the local scene – and increasingly it’s also home to some interesting craft breweries.
A glass of beer rests on the counter at Eschenbräu in Berlin’s Wedding neighbourhood. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Henrik Josef Boerger
BRLO is probably the Berlin craft brewery with the widest name recognition, but for something a little more interesting I’d say head to Eschenbräu or Vagabund – both based in the district of Wedding – instead.
These both offer some of their own craft recipes as well as their takes on the German classics. In my opinion these smaller breweries feel a bit more authentic, and serve fresher tasting beers than the larger generic-feeling breweries.
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Fuerst Wiacek is a Berlin-based micro brewery creating the kinds of uniquely branded recipes that would give even the wildest California-breweries a run for their money. This one doesn’t have its own brick-and-mortar location, but you can find it at a number of bars and shops in Berlin and elsewhere.
READ ALSO: Berlin craft scene’s challenge to ancient beer purity law
Another great Berlin-based brewery is Quartermeister, which has set itself the task of being the first beer “for the common good”, meaning the company is organised as a social enterprise and also supports local projects. Oh, and their beers are all really tasty of course!
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