Beer.
It’s the reason you’re here and the reason you want to visit Germany.
So let’s not mince words and let the pint glass get warm: order up rounds of the best German beers and craft German beer brands on your next trip to Germany.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Westend61
Bier here
What to know about German beer before you visit Deutschland.
How do you say beer in German?
The German for a beer is ein Bier (Biere for beers). To say, “one beer, please”, you’d say, “ein Bier, bitte”.
Is Heineken a German beer?
Heineken is not a German beer. Heineken was founded in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, and is brewed in Zoeterwoude. You can take a train from Berlin to Amsterdam in roughly 6 hours if you’re keen to sip from the green bottle at the Heineken Experience, among other things.
When is the German beer festival?
Which one? The “famous” German beer festival is Oktoberfest in Munich. Oktoberfest takes place between September and October throughout Germany, not just in Munich. Oktoberfest is far from the only German beer festival: Berlin International Beer Fest, Munich’s Starkbierfest, and Nuremberg’s Franconian Beer Festival are just the tap of the keg.
What are the oldest German beer brands?
German beer brewing dates back to the 10th century. Weihenstephan calls itself the world’s oldest brewery as this Bavarian State Brewery has a history dating back 1,000 years. Augustiner-Bräu is the oldest independent brewery in Munich, brewing since the 1300s. Sternburg is a “young” old brewery, dating back to 1822.
What are the best German beers?
Trying to name the best German beers is impossible. Some of the best German beer brands sold in the USA—that is, most likely to be found at your liquor store—are Beck’s, Paulaner, Bitburger, and Hofbräu. Some of the best German beer styles preferred across Germany are pilsners, Berliner Weisse, wheat beers, and Kölsch.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Westend61
The best German beers
Whether you’re settling into a pub, checking out a craft beer bar, or cornering outside a Späti, keep an eye out for some of the best German beers worth sipping on.
Vagabund Brauerei | Berlin
Main train station: Berlin HBF
This craft brewery boiler house, located in the Wedding neighborhood, is housed in Germany’s first light bulb factory. Vagabund brews everything from Helles and IPAs to American-style beers, so the beer lover in your group will dig the Day Party hazy IPA while you stick to a more traditional Capital Helles.
Cölner Hofbräu Früh | Cologne
Main train station: Cologne Central Station
Früh is a name that’s been in Cologne’s pint glasses since the 1800s. This brewery somehow avoided destruction during WWII and its Kölsch became a coveted beer. You can find bottles of its famous top-fermented beer around the world, though we think it’s best imbibed in its place of origin, right across from the Cologne Cathedral.
Gröninger Privatbrauerei
Main train station: Hamburg HBF
A brewpub and cellar dating back to the early 1700s, Gröninger Privatbrauerei is one of the oldest in Hamburg. Locals know that this is the place to go when you want a small plate of suckling pig to eat with your pilsner or helles. This beer is unfiltered, FYI; if you’re not down with that, try an Alster Water Orange that’s half-pilsner, half-orange soda.
Hausbrauerei Altstadthof
Main train station: Nuremberg HBF
Don’t let its 1984 birth year fool you: Hausbrauerei Altstadthof is dedicated to the revival of Nuremberg’s old fashioned craft brewing. Raw, organic ingredients and brewing equipment from days gone by. Stop in for old-school Franconian red beer and make sure to try their award-winning whiskey.
Image Credit: Getty Images, kzenon
The best German beers to try if you like…
- Grapefruit German beer: Schofferhofer Hefeweizen Grapefruit Beer
- Traditional Radler (not grapefruit German beer): Bitburger Radler
- Dark German beer: Kostritzer Schwarzbier
- Easy drinking German beer: Krombacher Pilsner
- A local favorite German beer: Münchner Hell
Don’t drink and drive (or fly)
Let’s get from the pub to the biergarten as safe as possible, shall we? Download the Trainline app and rely on Germany’s extensive railway network to get you around the country safely without losing your buzz.
Need a place to sleep it off? Check into Berlin’s coolest boutique hotels. Need some classic German street food when walking between bars? Here are the best currywurst spots in Berlin.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, fotojog