What's new

What are your favorite German beers?

Warsteiner, Lowenbrau, Spaten, Hacker Pschorr were great off the tap 10 years ago. Better go check 'em again for me ;)
 
I know this doesn't follow the topic, but could you do me a favor? Since you're drinking beer, can you try heinekan on tap and let me know if it really is THAT good.
 
Was stationed there three years...had beer all over the country.

There is no German beer like the monk brewed Andechs beer about an hour west of Munich (maybe a bit more...memory is a bit hazy from the time spent in their beergarden). See here for their website.

Absolutely, hands down the best beer in the area (IMHO, YMMV, your results may differ etc).

Their wheat beer, specifically the dark (Dunkleweizen auf Deutsch) is mind blowingly amazing. Think Willy Wonka in the chocolate factory....only beer.

.....And yes, I've seen that Family Guy episode (for those who are not FG fans...a must see episode where Peter goes into a Willy Wonka beer factory) :lol:

Enjoy your trip...I'm already envious! :ouch1:
 
Last edited:
One of my absolutely favorite German styles is Schwarzbier. Its a rather light (as in body/alcohol) malt forward black lager. Absolutely delicious. I've never been to Germany, so I don't really know how readily available it is there though.
 
I am vacationing in Germany and plan to put the time to good use :biggrin: List 'em please!


The answer depends on where in Germany you are going. For example, I am going to Dusseldorf next week for work. My plan was to have whatever the local beer was and I'm glad I did the research. Dusseldorf is the home of Altbier. Altbier is an ale which was popular in Germany until Lagers became popular in Bavaria. Alt means 'old' in German and the label is intended to tell folks that they're using the old style of brewing meaning brewing ales.

So in Dusseldorf, look for Füchschen, Schumacher, Schlüssel and Uerige all of which make Altbiers. Whatever you do, don't ask for Kölsch in Dusseldorf because that's Cologne's style of ale and the cities have a brewing rivalry.

I trust that there are other stories like this all over Germany so you've got to do your research.

And for the record, I agree with one of the posts above - Celebrator is excellent!
 
The answer depends on where in Germany you are going. For example, I am going to Dusseldorf next week for work. My plan was to have whatever the local beer was and I'm glad I did the research. Dusseldorf is the home of Altbier. Altbier is an ale which was popular in Germany until Lagers became popular in Bavaria. Alt means 'old' in German and the label is intended to tell folks that they're using the old style of brewing meaning brewing ales.

So in Dusseldorf, look for Füchschen, Schumacher, Schlüssel and Uerige all of which make Altbiers. Whatever you do, don't ask for Kölsch in Dusseldorf because that's Cologne's style of ale and the cities have a brewing rivalry.

I trust that there are other stories like this all over Germany so you've got to do your research.

And for the record, I agree with one of the posts above - Celebrator is excellent!

Was stationed in SW Germany and Altbier was the beer of choice there...another excellent pick! :thumbup1:
 

Rudy Vey

Shaving baby skin and turkey necks
Depends what you like and where you go. My favorites are:
Jever (a really hoppy(?) Pilsner)
Uerige (Altbier, in Duesseldorf)
Schneider Dunkles Hefeweizen (but you get this one in good liquor stores here in the US as well)
Andechser (already mentioned Monk brew, but there is also one in the Rhoen, Kloster Kreuzberg)
Koestritzer Schwarzbier
And something very special: Schlenkerla Rauchbier in Bamberg, acquired taste, though.
 
Crap!!! Another beer thread.

Okay, I'm going to agree with many of the above posters. All of the brands you've heard listed are great brands but, that is NOT how to do this, IMVHO. I spent 6 years all over Germany and did most of my beer drinking in places which tourist never see.

German beers are, like Sam Adams and micro breweries, a group of styles of beers which you'll find there are more difference between the styles than you will between different manufacturer of that style. In most regions of Germany, you will not walk into a bierstube and find Becks, St. Pauli Girl and Heinecken (which is a Amsterdam, Netherlands brewery) or any of the "popular" German export brands. The beers at the local stube will be from the local, regional breweries. In SW Germany, near Landstuhl and Ramstein AB, the local brewery is Park and all of the local places had Park on tap, and on tap is where it's at.

So, you're real question, in my mind at least, is "Which STYLES of German beer should I try?" because the brewery will be mostly determined by where you are.

My favorite styles are:

1. Doppelbock (Double Goat --- has more to do with the time of year, not the animal) the names for Doppelbock all end in "tor" i.e. Curator, Perminator, Celabrator.
2. Alt bier
3. Helles Bock
4. Schwarz (black) bier
5. Pils (where the term Pilsener comes from, actually from Pilzen, Czech Republic)
6. Dunkleweizen
7. Hefeweizen (Hefe is yeast, Weizen is wheat.) The beer, with the remnants of the yeast left unfiltered and bottle conditioned is cloudy but very tasty. I cannot stand American Wheat beers even the usually excellent Sam Adams, but the Germans invented this style and do it right.
8. Maibock (May Bock)
9. Octoberfest (the style, not the event)

Another curious thing to try is a "Radler" which is 50/50 beer and lemon lime soda (think Sprite or 7Up). It's better than it sounds especially on a hot and sweaty day.

Have FUN!!!!
 
Last edited:
I lived in Germany for three years (1983 - 86). There are SO MANY local brews in Germany, it's impossible to give you a recommendation. It really depends on where you go.

Try a wheat beer (kristallweizen or a hefeweizen).

Germany also has some excellent wine that is not exported. If you are in the state of Baden-Württemberg, they have an excellent dark Reisling or schwartz reisling wine.

Baden-Württemberg is home to Stuttgart and Heidelberg. Both ciries are recommended.

Finally - if you are in Germany in September, Stuttgart has the second largest beer fest, second only to Munich. Highly recommended.
 
Top Bottom