German Beer – Different Types & Brands

Germany is a beer country! No other country in the world is comparatively as many breweries as in Germany. In total, Germany has more than 1,500 breweries that collectively brew more than 5,000 different types of beer. Germany is famous for Beer Germans are proud because they does not drink just any beer that tastes good, as many beer drinkers from other countries do. The German has a very strong idea about the quality and origin of beer. According to the Germans, beer must be brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot. Largest Beer Producers Globally, however, the Germans are losing out to China (the undisputed leader in the world rankings), the United States and Brazil, all with a much higher production than the other countries. Germany follows next, along with Russia and Mexico, with numbers that are close to each other. What is Reinheitsgebot? The Reinheitsgebot is considered the oldest commodity law in the world. It’s a regulation about the purity of beer. According to the Reinheitsgebot, beer was only allowed to contain barley, water and hops. Moreover, the commandment does not permit the use of herbs and fruits in beer. According to the Reinheitsgebot, beer was not allowed to contain yeast. This was also not possible, because this micro-organism had not yet been discovered at the time. The Reinheitsgebot, as it was then determined, actually no longer exists, but Germans still prefer beers that are brewed according to the principles of the Reinheitsgebot over other beers. In addition to these principles, local interests in Germany also play a major role. The German likes to drink the beer that is brewed locally, in order to support their own community. Where small breweries were taken over in many neighboring countries, these small breweries continued to exist in Germany, partly due to the (large) decline of the locals. Radeberger This is the largest German beer brand, part of the Oetker Group. Their most famous beer has the same name, so Radeberger. They also produce dozens of other beers, totaling 13 million hectoliters in 2017. They are in 23rd place in the world rankings. Oettinger This is the second largest brewery in Germany. Oettinger is also the name of their best known product. They also make three other types of beer. With about 10 million liters, we find them in 26th place in the same world ranking. Warsteiner Just like the previous one, this brewery is also one of the forty largest breweries in the world. This brewery has come up with something quite unique for the public: you drive a train across their site and through the brewery itself. You can follow the brewing process on screens in the train. This beer producer markets ten different beers. Franziskaner This brewery markets eleven different beers, all white beer, including an alcohol-free beer with blood orange. Veltins This beer brand has existed since 1824. The management has been in the hands of Susanne Veltins since 1994. Their best-known beer is the Pilsener, they also produce some other beers, some of them with fruit flavors and a coffee flavor. Erdinger Finally, another producer of white beer, with its origins in 1886: Erdinger. This brand has a line of eleven types of beer. ABK Beer As others, this beer is also developed under the ancient ‘Reinheitsgebot’ German Beer Purity Laws of 1516. Moreover, ABK beer can even be traced back to the year 1308 representing more than 700 years of Bavarian brewing heritage and tradition. ABK’s unique heritage is what stands them apart from the others. Aktien Brewery always seemed to dominate the world’s beer competitions from the late 1800’s. It has won absolutely loads of awards medals. Generations upon generations have enjoyed the award winning ABK beer. Is it really as good as what everyone says? I urge you too, to find out for myself.