Latest news with #Reinheitsgebot
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Only true lager lovers can ace this beer quiz that tests your pint prowess
Do you think you know your ales from your amber, or you lager from your labeorphilist? Although the weather has taken a turn for the worse over the last week or so, people across the UK have enjoyed some sizzling sunshine in recent months, with this being Scotland's sunniest spring on record. And the Met Office has, tentatively, suggested that we might be in for a scorching summer too. So whether or not you managed to get out to a beer garden in May, there will, hopefully, be many more opportunities in the coming months. We all know there's nothing quite like catching up with your mates over a cold pint while sitting in the sun outside your favourite pub. And since that looks like it will be on the cards for many of us, you might want a chance to impress your pals with your pinting prowess. That can come in many forms; from recommending excellent new lagers to try, to being able to showcase your knowledge of the amber nectar. And if you are one who likes to impress others with your wisdom for all things beer, then we've got the quiz for you. Challenge yourself to ace this 10-question test and then use everything you've learned to flaunt the fun facts the next time you're out enjoying a cold one. Read on below to take on our quiz. Good luck! 1. Who said: 'In victory, you deserve beer, in defeat, you need it'? A) Napoleon B) Jack Hayworth C) William Wordsworth 2. Non-alcoholic beers typically contain as much alcohol as which type of fruit? A) Orange B) Banana C) Kiwi 3. Which popular brewer is largely credited with inventing the strain of yeast currently used in many lagers? A) Heineken B) Carlsberg C) Budweiser Budvar 4. What has research found to be used as an ingredient in beer brewed in Ancient China over 5,000 years ago? A) Sichuan peppercorn B) Star anise C) Job's tears 5. What is the oldest beer brand still being produced to this day? A) Weihenstephan B) Augustiner C) Duvel 6. In which year was the beer can introduced? A) 1925 B) 1930 C) 1935 7. When is International Beer Day? A) The last Friday of June (June 27, 2025) B) The first Friday of August (August 1, 2025) C) The first Saturday of September (September 6, 2025) 8. What does a labeorphilist collect? A) Beer labels B) Beer stamps C) Beer bottles 9. Which of these is not one of the four key ingredients of German beer, as ordered by the Reinheitsgebot? A) Sugar B) Yeast C) Water 10. Which country is the biggest consumer of beer per person? A) Czechia B) Germany C) Austria Answers
Local Germany
29-04-2025
- General
- Local Germany
Everything you need know about Germany's sacred 'Biergarten' culture
Germany celebrated its National Beer Day on April 23rd. The day itself commemorates the introduction of a law in 1516 which set out strict regulations for brewing and selling beer in Bavaria. The world's oldest consumer protection law still in use, Bavaria's Reinheitsgebot decreed that beer stopped being beer as soon as it contained any ingredients other than water, barley and hops. Yeast, which had always been present, was added to the list when its role was finally understood, as were certain other grains including wheat – but the wording and application of the law has remained remarkably consistent over time. This commitment to gimmick-free craft over so many centuries has created a legend. Today, German beer is revered around the world; its most important place of worship is undoubtedly the B iergarten – and National Beer Day marked a sort of unofficial opening of Germany's B iergarten season . In recent days, wintery stacks of tarpaulin-covered trestle tables have been unchained, repainted, and set out end-to-end in bright sunshine. Shutters have been rolled up and teams of seasonal workers reminded of what it takes to keep hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of people supplied with drinks and pretzels as swiftly and as efficiently as possible. People across the country can now look forward to sitting outside again, warm in the sunshine with a cold beer in one hand. Locals and long-term residents will doubtless slip into the familiar rhythms without a second thought. More recent arrivals in Germany may benefit from a refresher course. Advertisement The Muntermacher : An afternoon spent drinking in the sun poses a variety of unique challenges. The ability to navigate these challenges with poise and elegance rests on making the right choice for your first drink – the Muntermacher , a German expression which loosely translates as 'the energiser'. Before switching to a standard Hausbier vom Faß , try starting with a Spritz (Aperol, Limoncello, or Japanese, according to taste). Or – if that feels too much like heresy – you could begin the day with a Kristallweißen , a summery version of Wießenbier (wheat beer). Here, the energy will come mostly from the sense of anticipation you feel while the barperson prepares your drink, first rolling the tall bottle back and forth along the counter to shift the sediment, then the gradual pour, and finally a slice of lemon. Of course, it may be wiser to keep your excitement in check initially, in which case a shandy might be a better choice – known as a Radler in the south of Germany or an Alster in the north. A glass of wheat beer stands in the sunshine in a beer garden on Lake Ammersee, Bavaria. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand Pils or Helles? Pils is named after Pilsen in the Czech Republic, where the first pale lager was brewed in 1842. Helles , originally from Bavaria, literally means light (or pale). The ingredients in both beers are identical. The former is generally regarded as crisper and the latter as sweeter. If you're in Bavaria and want to stand out from the crowd, order a Pils – reverse your approach to achieve the same result in the north of Germany. READ ALSO: Germany's lesser-known beers that are worth a try Sich eine (gute) Grundlage schaffen: Don't forget to eat! Typical German biergarten food is designed to help your stomach absorb excessive quantities of beer. In German, this is known as achieving a good foundation ( eine gute Grundlage schaffen ). Advertisement Pretzels are the go-to option for a snack between meals. Schnitzel, Bratwurst and Sauerkraut are staples. Pizza is a relatively recent import but serves the same purpose (as does Flammkuchen in the south of Germany). READ ALSO: 10 regional dishes you have to try while visiting Bavaria Pfandmünzen and Bierdeckel : Wasps love biergartens almost as much as we love biergartens. Guard against the risk of having to perform an emergency tracheotomy by covering the tops of beer bottles with your deposit tokens ( Pfandmünzen ) and the tops of glasses with beer mats ( Bierdeckel ). The deposit on a glass or a bottle seems to get more expensive every year, so try not to lose the tokens – and remember you can only redeem them if you're actually able to produce a glass! People sitting in a beer garden at the Seehaus am Kleinhesseloher See in the English Garden in Munich. Photo: picture alliance / Andreas Gebert/dpa | Andreas Gebert Wegbier or Absacker? There are plenty of places in the world where drinking in public is frowned upon or even illegal. In Germany, drinking a beer while walking is regarded as one of life's great pleasures and an inalienable right – as demonstrated by the sheer number of ways in which it can be described. Recently, the expressions Wegbier, Gehbier, Handbier , and Faustmolle have been joined by Fußpils (a play on the word Fußpilz , or foot fungus). Advertisement If your Wegbier is also your last drink of the day, and not merely a companion on your stroll to the next Biergarten , then it's also your Absacker (or nightcap). If so, then sleep well. Tomorrow is another day – and there are plenty of remedies to get you back up on your feet. READ ALSO: 365 German beers - What I learned from drinking a different variety each day While you British friends might suggest the hair of the dog that bit you, your German-speaking friends are more likely to suggest a Konterbier - in other words, another beer to counter the effects of the last ones.
Local Germany
23-04-2025
- General
- Local Germany
Germany's lesser-known beers that are worth a try
April 23rd is Germany's national beer day. As opposed to international beer day, which is celebrated in August, Germany's beer day is set on this date to commemorate the passage of the Reinheitsgebot (or the Purity Law) on April 23rd, 1516. The Purity Law stated that beer may only consist of water, malt, hops and yeast. Germany is home to around 6,000 different beers, according to a report by RND, and to recommend any of them above the others is sure to invite some serious backlash among German aficionados. As to my own credentials, I won't claim to be an expert, but I have drunk nearly 400 different German beers since I arrived in Germany, and I kept track of the good and the bad with a rating app. READ ALSO: 365 German beers - What I learned from drinking a different variety each day So, based on my own exploration of German beers, here are a few suggestions of some good, and lesser-known, brews that you could crack open to celebrate this special day. When in Bavaria While the whole country of Germany is known for its beer, Bavaria has really done some heavy lifting to build that reputation and keep it alive. Munich's Oktoberfest is the largest beer-drinking festival in the world, and a Lederhosen- wearing German with a litre of Helles in hand is undoubtedly the image that comes to mind for most people outside of the country when they think of German beer. Thanks in no small part to the aforementioned Reinheitsgebot (which originated in Bavaria) the Free State's most popular beers are classic types made by a handful of established breweries. By and large Bavaria is not the place to come looking for innovative, new craft breweries. It's where you come to find pure beer that's been brewed in the same way, and served in the same biergartens for centuries. A perfect, and somewhat lesser-known example of this is Kloster Andechs. Benedictine monks have been brewing beer at the Andechs Monastery since 1455. A more recent up-and-comer is the Giesinger Brewery. Founded in 2007, Giesinger has quickly become a local favourite around the Bavarian capital, but interestingly the Association of Munich Breweries has so far managed to prevent it from being called a 'Münchner Bier' or from being sold at Oktoberfest. Advertisement Not too far to the north, the Franconian region is home to its own collection of breweries. I've heard it said that upper Franconia is home to the highest number of breweries per capita in the world , but I've also seen other sources give that title to other places. One thing that's certain however, is that you could taste beers for a lifetime around here. Nuremberg is famous for its Rotbier (red beer) which get their colour from being stored in old wine barrels. One of my favourite German beers is the Nürnberger Rotbier by Hausbrauerei Altstadhof, which you can visit near the base of the city's castle. The Hertl brewery from this region is also worth a mention. If you are in the mood for something different, try Hertl's 'Schwiegervater's Stolz', which is their take on a smoked beer – a unique type that is especially popular in Bamberg. The classic Bamberg Rauchbier to try is called Aecht Schlenkerla – either the Märzen (Festbier) or the Urbock. READ ALSO: Travel in Germany - Sipping smoked beer and soaking up culture in beautiful Bamberg Advertisement When in Berlin Berlin's classic beers are all pretty plain pilsners, such as the well-known Berliner Pilsener or Kindl. But the German capital is also home to a number of smaller breweries that have started to gain some notoriety – at least in the local scene – and increasingly it's also home to some interesting craft breweries. A glass of beer rests on the counter at Eschenbräu in Berlin's Wedding neighbourhood. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Henrik Josef Boerger BRLO is probably the Berlin craft brewery with the widest name recognition, but for something a little more interesting I'd say head to Eschenbräu or Vagabund - both based in the district of Wedding - instead. These both offer some of their own craft recipes as well as their takes on the German classics. In my opinion these smaller breweries feel a bit more authentic, and serve fresher tasting beers than the larger generic-feeling breweries. Advertisement Fuerst Wiacek is a Berlin-based micro brewery creating the kinds of uniquely branded recipes that would give even the wildest California-breweries a run for their money. This one doesn't have its own brick-and-mortar location, but you can find it at a number of bars and shops in Berlin and elsewhere. Another great Berlin-based brewery is Quartermeister, which has set itself the task of being the first beer 'for the common good', meaning the company is organised as a social enterprise and also supports local projects. Oh, and their beers are all really tasty of course!
