Welcome to German Beer 101! You may be new to Germany or just curious to learn more about its long-standing history and major relevance to German culture. Here we will go over some of the most popular beers in Germany and where to try, find and buy them.

Since the Purity Law of 1516 was enacted stating that the only ingredients allowed to be used in beer production are barley, hops, water and yeast, Germany has had 500+ years to perfect their brewing methods and create different styles of beer.

You can learn more about the purity laws and the history of breweries that are allowed to participate at Oktoberfest here.

Supermarkets all over Germany like Rewe, Globus and Edeka have large beer sections with some regional specialties, however the Getränkemarkt is where you will find all things beer, plus many more varieties. You can purchase individual bottles to sample, or buy entire crates with a pfand, or small deposit fee. When you return the crate and recycle the glass bottles, you will get your pfand back and a small rebate.

Classically clear and golden with the taste of hops and notes of bitter, this spicier version of a lager is the most widely consumed beer in not only Germany but also, the entire world.

Pilsner is also known as Pils, named after the Czech city, Plzen (Pilsen) where in the mid-19th century Josef Groll, a Bavarian brew master introduced a new, high-quality recipe his father developed for bottom-fermented beer. This created a more refined taste compared to the top fermented beer previously being made in Czechia.

Today, popular brands to buy fall under three distinct styles:

Czech

• Pilsner Urquell (the original)

• Radegast

• Staropramen

• Svijany

European-style

• Juliper

• Stella Artois

• Heineken

German

• Beck’s

• Bitburger

• Warsteiner

Where to try: Take a guided tour with Bitburger Erlebniswelt where after learning about the world of beer and going through a historic brewhouse, you can enjoy a Bitburger Pilsner in the Bit Lounge. For more information, visit bitburger.de.

Light in color, delicate, hoppy and slightly fruity with a relatively low alcohol percentage, Kölsch is considered a beer hybrid in that it is a pale ale produced in the same way lager beers are made. It is the only beer in Germany to have special protected geographical status. A true Kölsch must be produced within 30 miles of its namesake city Köln, although the style is loved well beyond city limits. In its native town, it’s served in a Stange which is a tall, thin glass that holds only 0.2 liters in order to keep loss of carbonation to a minimum.

“There is a saying in Köln: “Kölsch is the only culture that you can drink.” ”

There is a lot of pride around Kölsch and therefore a few customs and rules to note when drinking:

• It is customary to cheers from the bottom of the glass, not the top.

• Köbes (Kölsch servers) come with refills as soon as you are nearing the bottom of the glass, unless you indicate you are finished by placing your coaster on top of your empty glass.

• Kranz are specialty trays to collect Stange glasses.

Popular brands to buy include:

• Reissdorf

• Gaffel

• Früh

• Schreckenskamme

• Zünft

Where to try: Brauerei zur Malzmühle is a family-owned brewery just outside of the old town of Köln with a cult-like following. Their Kölsch beer has a richer flavor focused more on hops and malt. For more information, visit brauereizurmalzmuehle.de.

A cloudy copper beer with dense foam and notes of fresh baked bread with peppery spice, Zwickel, also referred to as a Keller (cellar) beer, is a lager low in carbonation. Because it is an unfiltered beer with yeast and sediments from the brewing process remaining in place, it’s considered healthier than other beers.

Originally, a brew master would take a small amount from the barrel with a special siphon called the Zwickelhahn to taste if the beer was ready yet or not. Another method to take a beer sample was by turning the Zwickl tap with a 2 pfennig coin. That’s why today, you may hear a 2-euro coin referred to as a “Zwickl.” Zwickel Beer is unique in that it is “unspun,” meaning the spigot during formation in a keg remains open, letting more carbon dioxide escape.

Popular brands to buy include:

• Aktien Zwick’l

• Alt-Bamberg Zwickl

• Aufsesser Zwickl.

• Kurpfalzbräu Kellerbier

• Hofbräuhaus Traunstein Zwickl

Where to try: Zwikel is commonly served straight from the tap or from a barrel at beer gardens.  The Hofbräuhaus München offers a guided tour in German and English languages where you can sample beer straight from the fermentation tank. For more information, visit hofbraeu-muenchen.de.

Hefeweizen meaning “yeast wheat” is a light, amber-colored wheat beer with the yeast filtered out. It rose to popularity despite the German purity laws. It is soft and creamy with notes of banana and clove. Because this Bavarian beer is brewed with wheat, it has hardly any bitterness from hops. It is traditionally fermented in bottles, making it rich in carbonation.

Hefeweizen is best served in a tall, slightly curved glass to allow some carbonation to escape during pouring. Hefeweizen’s are made with small amounts of roasted malts, making it great to pair with classic Bavarian snacks like, pretzels with sweet mustard and wursts. Dark Hefeweizen pairs best with hearty dishes and dark sauces.

Popular brands to buy include:

• Paulaner Hefe-Weißbier Naturtrüb

• Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

• Ayinger Bräuweisse

• Andechser Weissbier Hell

• Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier

Where to try: At Bräuereigaststatte Leibhaftig in Berlin, master brewer Marcus Wanke focuses on pairing regional dishes with seasonally crafted beers. Here you can try Wanke Weizen, or other beer styles featured on this list like, Wanke Pils or Wanke Doppelbock. For more information, visit leibhaftig.com

Try specialty seasonal extra dark versions of this beer (weis’nbier) at Oktoberfest.

The German word for “dark” refers to the color of this beer which ranges from amber to dark reddish brown and comes about from the type of yeast used to make it. Dunkel is known for having a full-body mouthfeel that tastes richly reminiscent of toasted bread with notes of chocolate and caramel. Originating in Munich, their malty flavor comes from a special brewing technique in which a portion of the grains are boiled and returned to the mash. Other flavors present in a Dunkel are oftentimes described as coffee or toffee.

Popular brands to buy include:

• Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel

• Kloster Kreuzberg Dunkel

• Dunkel Bierstadt Lagerhaus

• Flensburger Dunkel

• Wolf Urtyp Dunkel

Where to try: The Weltenburg Abbey Brewery, “the oldest abbey brewery in the world” in Klosterschenke serves Weltenburger Barock Dunkel which has retained its original flavor for generations. It also travels along a pipeline from the brewery’s rock cave directly to tap. For more information, visit klosterschenke-weltenburg.de.

Soft and mellow, this malt forward beer is pale with subtle floral and spicy notes. It was created  in the 19th century as a response to the Czech Pilsner as Germans and Bavarians feared losing their reputation to it. Along with Pilsners, Helles are one of the most commercial styles of beer sold around the world. When served correctly, a Helles will have a significant amount of foam.

Popular brands to buy include:

• Löwenbräu Munich Helles Lager

• Erdinger Brauhaus Helles Lagerbier

• Hofbräuhaus Munchen Helles

• Burschen Helles

• Hacker-Pschorr Munchener Hell

Where to try: Königlicher Hirschgarten is the largest beer garden in the world and located in Munich. They serve a rotating menu of regional food specialties and, of course, plenty of Helles’ from leading brewery companies to try. For more information, visit hirschgarten.de.

Often referred to as liquid bread, it is said that this robust, full-bodied malty and slightly sweet beer was created to help quell hunger back in the 1600s during Lenten fasts for Paulaner monks as it is dense and calorie rich. “Dopple” in German means double, referring to the stronger, more intense flavor of this beer. It is also argued that Dopplebock was created for “Feast Day” and used for celebrations and fests.

Popular brands to buy include:

• Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock

• Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

• Andechs Doppelbock

• Klosterbrauerei Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel

• Schmucker Doppelbock

Where to try: Bräustüberl Kloster Andechs, “the old brewery” is steeped in tradition nearby the Holy Mountain of Bavaria, where the monastery’s brewmasters were responsible for serving beer and maintains its tradition as a pilgrim restaurant. The monastic daily rhythm determines the serving times. You can try the Andechser Doppelbock dark here. For more information, visit andechs.de.

For more of Germany’s top beer gardens click here.

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