More than 500 years old, the Beer Purity Law was brought into effect in 1516 in Bavaria, under the rule of Duke Wilhelm IV. However, almost all German brewers make their beer using just four ingredients, as laid out in the Deutsches Reinheitsgebot (the German Beer Purity Law). German Beer Purity Law ( Deutsches Reinheitsgebot)īrewers around the world use a diverse range of starchy grain as a base for malt to make beer, such as barley, emmer wheat, rye spelt or even maize. With time, beer became increasingly popular in Germany, especially after the introduction of the Beer Purity Law in the 16th century. The majority of the beer-producing monasteries were in the south of Germany, and some of them are still around to this day! Weihenstephan, located to the north of Munich and founded in 1040, is the oldest brewery still in operation in the world, for example.Īs it was safer for the public to drink beer than water back in the day, due to diseases, the production process and calorific density, it was common to give it to small children as well. The Germans take their beer very seriously and even have a special word for it, Bierernst, which means deadly serious and literally translates as "beer serious." With more than 1.300 breweries producing over 5.500 different types of beer, it should come as no surprise that the glowing nectar is the country's national drink and consuming it is a vital part of the culture. Beer in German cultureĪlthough the Germans did not invent beer, the country holds the alcoholic beverage in very high esteem, as made evident by the German Beer Purity Law. From the infamous beer purity law and Germany's favourite types of beer, to some iconic brewers and the craft brewing phenomena sweeping through cities across Germany, here you can read up on everything you need to know about German beer. Unsurprisingly, Germans come in third place worldwide when it comes to beer consumption, drinking a staggering 106 litres per capita each year - a clear indication of its cultural significance. Rich, stout and dark, light, blonde and refreshing or crisp and sharp - the Germans are known for their wide variety of beer, kept in check by the Deutsches Reinheitsgebot (German Beer Purity Law). Beer is undoubtedly one of the first things that springs to mind when you think of German cuisine.