German Christmas gifts: Beer

Beer ()

Just say the word Germany and for many, images of frosty steins in the hands of dirndled maidens are the first thing to come to mind. While it’s hard to beat a cold brew at the Oktoberfest, beer in its bottled form is that portable gift we’ll be focusing on today.

Germany’s brewing tradition began to take off in the 13th century with the introduction of hops to the process. In 1516, to combat the addition of all sorts of nasty ingredients and to ensure grain was used to make bread, Bavarian noblemen codified what ingredients can be used to make beer (water, barley, hops) within the Reinheitsgebot, otherwise known as the German Beer Purity Law. In 1906, the law was modified to set different standards for top-fermented and bottom-fermented beers.

Traditional German styles range from the light and fruity Berliner Weissbeer to dark and malty bocks and double bocks. In between we find Koelsch, Hefeweizen, Gose, Pilsner and other varieties. According to justbeerapp.com, Germany today has over 1300 breweries and 7500 different brands available.

Should the beer lover on your list have an adventurous side, opt for one of the country’s more unusual brews. Bamberg is famous for its Schlenkerla Rauchbier, a beer with a smoky taste some liken to that of bacon. In the Spreewald, a magical region of creeks and canals found south of Berlin, you can pick up a Kirchers Gurkenradler, a pickle flavored beer drink.

Craft beer was a latecomer to Germany, most likely because the beer here was pretty darn good already. But young, creative and adventurous brewers have been doing their thing here for about a decade now. While some do adhere to the purity laws, other more experimental brewers skirt the regulations by marketing their products not as beer but rather as Biermischgetränke, or “mixed beer drinks.”

Travel tip: To pick up a craft or traditional beer or two for that beer lover on your shopping list, here are some shops to visit: