Beer in Bavaria and Germany

Germany and the Beer

2011-07-30T00:04:00.000-07:00

Today I will try to give you a short overview on Germany and it fabulous beers because I think it's time for some important information before we continue sampling.

As you probably know, Making beer in Germany is highly regulated. The brewers must adhere to something called "Reinheitsgebot". This is a so called "purity law" that dates from 1516. They must use only water, hops and barley malt when they are making their beer. The law has been updated. Yeast can also be used now since it wasn't discovered in 1516!

For German brewers, no preservatives or chemicals of any kind are allowed. Now you know why it's so good.
There are many different German beers to try when in Germany. There are light beers and dark beers, wheat beers and bock beers, pilsners, lagers and ales. Most beers have between 5-6 percent alcohol, but beware of some of the bock beers, 16 percent alcohol can be too much!

Of Germany's 1,300 or so breweries, the highest concentration is in Bavaria. And they have the greatest variety of beer styles. You can spend several lunches and dinners exploring the beer halls of Munich. Surely you've heard of the Hofbrauhaus. The other biggies are Lowenbrau, Augustinerbrau, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, and Spaten. And of course, there is always the Oktoberfest! Here you can try all of the above.
By the way, for American readers, "light" beer or "helles beer" means only that it's light in color. it doesn't refer to the calories or the alcohol in it. There are beers that are lower in calories and alcohol and they are "leicht" beers, not "helles" beers.

However, you should always beware of drinking and driving. The legal limit for blood alcohol in Germany is .05 grams of alcohol per liter of blood. You can be forced to submit to a blood test so save enjoying those beers for days when you won't be driving or for the evenings once you're settled into your hotel.

Prost! Here's to German Beer and to Germany!

The Hefeweizen Experience!

2011-06-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm sitting on my porch in the shade enjoying a great evening in June. Sun is shining and the temperature is simply perfect...perfect, for a perfect Hefeweizen by Gutmann from Titting which is...of course a village in Bavaria.

The family owned business has been brewing beer since 1855 (although the brewery itself apparently opened in 1707)...anyway, who cares about history when you have a beer to pour next. Clean glass? Check! Brezen? Check! Let's see...

By the way, many of you may already be familiar with Schneider or Erdinger. These Hefeweizen beers are light, fresh and somehow spritzy.

My Gutmann Weizen here is actually quite the opposite! Gutmann has actually low carbonation and is rich and creamy.

Pouring a glass of Hefeweizen yourself is a matter of practice and patience. You shouldn't forget to pour all the yeast from the bottom of the bottle into your glass! Gutmann's yeast is sinking to the bottom slowly and is a superb spectacle to watch.

The head of a Hefeweizen is one of those things Germans love about their beers. Gutmann's is great and creamy. The taste of the beer is fruity and banana-like. The alcoholic content of 5.2% by volume makes this beer quite strong and not quite the best partner for a diet...

Anyway, I shall finish my Gutmann now and you should try it yourself next time you are in Bavaria. And...by the way, no orange please!

Americans like German Beer...

2011-05-23T04:34:00.000-07:00

My experience with Americans and German beer is a bit...let's say...special. Americans tend to prefer Belgian Beers and I think this is mainly because of their intense, floral flavor.
German beer however is different and tends to be a bit of a challenge for the American palate. However I can assure you that once you start drinking more German beer you'll learn to appreciate it. My American wife is the living proof for this!

Today, I'd like to start with one of my favorites! The name of the brewery is HELD Bräu and it is situated in a beautiful little village called Oberailsfeld near Nuremberg. My favorite is the so-called HELLES (engl. Lager) which may be the BEST lager I have ever tasted...and I'm German!!! The Held is smooth, almost sweet and has a long very refreshing aftertaste. Right now weather is very hot here and I think the time is right for "ein Helles". Prost!

Let's get Started!!

2011-05-23T04:07:00.000-07:00

I was sitting here thinking about how great Bavarian Beer is and how little people know about the microbrews here. Beer fans in Bavaria love to discover unknown and hidden breweries and you'll be surprised how many of those there are. In this blog I intend to present the ones I like and also the ones I will discover in the course of the next months.
Let the journey begin! PROST!!