This boozy parochialism is one reason why so many smaller breweries have survived here, but the main reason is quality. What makes German beer taste so good? It all dates back to 1516, and a tongue-twisting regulation called the Reinheitsgebot (Purity Law) which stipulated that only four ingredients were permitted for brewing beer: water, barley, hops and yeast. Over 500 years later, that medieval edict still stands.
The other thing that makes German beer so special is the places where the Germans drink it. From cavernous bierkellers and leafy biergartens to cosy kneipen and stuben (pubs and bars), in any part of Germany you’re sure to find a convivial spot to do your drinking.
People of all ages mingle in these jolly places. The service is gruff but affable, and the house style is refreshingly informal. Sharing a trestle table with strangers is a great way to make new friends. Germans certainly like getting tipsy but you hardly ever see them steaming drunk, partly because most bars serve proper food. The dishes are hearty – sausages, sauerkraut, herrings, dumplings, all the usual Teutonic staples – and the portions are huge.
But surely German beer is all the same: lager, lager and yet more lager? Not at all. Most of that stuff is made for export. If you fancy a change from pilsner, order a weizen (a fruity wheat beer) or a dunkel (a dark, aromatic ale). If you like Guinness, order a Schwarzbier – it looks and tastes a lot like stout.
Every region has its own specialities, and if you’re here for the Euros, like me, you’ll find loads you’ve never tried before. To wet your whistle, here are a few of my old favourites, and some of the best places to sample them. Cheers! Or, as the Germans say, prost!
Altbier, Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf’s signature beer is top fermented, rather than bottom fermented like most modern industrial beers. This gives it a fresher, more complex taste. It has a rich, malty flavour, a bit like Newcastle Brown Ale – look out for Sticke, a stronger variation brewed only once or twice per year. There used to be dozens of Altbier breweries in Düsseldorf’s lively Altstadt (Old Town). Only a handful have survived, but they’re still all very popular. My favourites are Zum Schlüssel and Uerige, which featured in the classic Anglo-German sitcom, Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Both places are just a stone’s throw from Düsseldorf’s scenic Rhine promenade.
Source link : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/germany/why-german-beer-is-better-than-ours-best-places-to-drink/
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Publish date : 2024-06-18 12:30:00
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