Beer in Germany: history, traditions and breweries
The land of the purity law. In 2025 there were 1,415 breweries, around 40 percent of them in Bavaria.
History
Monasteries such as Weihenstephan and Weltenburg have been brewing for almost a thousand years. In 1516 the Bavarian dukes issued the Reinheitsgebot, and in 1553 Bavaria banned brewing in summer. That is how the cool, bottom-fermented way of brewing took hold.
In the late Middle Ages beer became an export. Hanseatic towns such as Hamburg, Bremen and Einbeck shipped hopped beer as far as Flanders and Scandinavia; Hamburg had hundreds of brewhouses and was known as the “brewhouse of the Hanseatic League”. The strong beer from Einbeck was so popular that it was copied in Munich – and over time “Ainpöckisch” became “Bock”.
Wheat beer was long a privilege in Bavaria: from 1602 only the Bavarian dukes were allowed to have wheat beer brewed, and the monopoly earned the state a lot of money. It was only loosened around 1800. In 1872 Georg Schneider bought the right to brew wheat beer from King Ludwig II – the origin of the Schneider wheat beer brewery.
In the 19th century Gabriel Sedlmayr of the Spaten brewery and Carl von Linde with his refrigeration machine made Munich the centre of brewing technology. Every region has kept its own beer culture: Kölsch in Cologne, Alt in Düsseldorf, Weisse in Berlin, Rauchbier in Bamberg.
After the Second World War East and West brewed separately. In 1987 the European Court of Justice ruled that Germany could no longer ban foreign beer just because it was not brewed according to the purity law. German breweries still follow it voluntarily today. Since the 2010s a craft beer scene has been growing, especially in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.
Traditions and drinking culture
Beer gardens, Oktoberfest and the regulars’ table (Stammtisch) are part of the culture. In Bavaria people drink from the one-litre Mass (about 34 fl oz), in Cologne from the small Stange, which the waiter, the Köbes, keeps replacing unasked until you put a beer mat on your glass.
23 April, the anniversary of the purity law, is celebrated as the Day of German Beer.
Fun facts
- Only the six big Munich breweries may serve at Oktoberfest: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten.
- At the Diet of Worms in 1521, Martin Luther was given a jug of Einbeck beer.
- Robert Sputh from Dresden patented the cardboard beer mat in 1892. In Bavaria it is still called a “Bierfilzl” – after the older coasters made of felt.
- In Cologne the Köbes carries the Kölsch to the table in a “Kranz” (wreath): a round carrier with a handle that holds the slim glasses.
- Upper Franconia around Bamberg is said to have the highest density of breweries in the world: around 200 mostly small breweries brew in a small area.
- Napoleon’s soldiers are said to have called Berliner Weisse the “Champagne of the North”.
Typical beer styles
Beer cities and their stories
Munich
The Hofbräuhaus was founded in 1589 as the ducal brewery. Oktoberfest has been held since 1810 and is now considered the largest folk festival in the world.
Bamberg
The city of smoked beer. At the Schlenkerla, first mentioned in 1405, the Rauchbier is served straight from the wooden cask. Upper Franconia around Bamberg has the highest brewery density in the world.
Cologne
Under the 1986 Kölsch Convention, Kölsch may only be brewed in Cologne and a few places nearby. The waiter (Köbes) keeps bringing new glasses until you put your beer mat on top.
Düsseldorf
In the old town, “the longest bar in the world”, brewpubs such as Uerige brew their own Altbier and serve it fresh from the cask.
Dortmund
In the 1960s and 1970s Dortmund was considered the biggest beer city in Europe. The “Dortmunder U”, once the fermenting and storage building of the Union brewery, is now a cultural centre.
Einbeck
In the Middle Ages this Hanseatic town supplied beer to many cities in northern Europe. “Ainpöckisch Bier” became the word “bock”.
Freising
The Weihenstephan brewery traces itself back to 1040 and is considered the oldest brewery still operating in the world. Brewing science is also taught here at the Technical University of Munich.
Leipzig
Gose, a sour beer with salt and coriander, comes from Goslar and became so popular in Leipzig that it is still brewed here, for example at the Bayerischer Bahnhof brewpub.
Berlin
Napoleon’s soldiers are said to have called Berliner Weisse “the champagne of the north”. It is often drunk with red raspberry or green woodruff syrup.
Hamburg
In the late Middle Ages Hamburg was the “brewhouse of the Hanseatic League” and shipped its beer across the North Sea and the Baltic. Today the city is a centre of the craft beer scene.
Kulmbach
Legend has it that at the end of the 19th century a brewery apprentice here left a barrel of bock outside in winter. The water froze, and what remained was a strong, concentrated beer – the Eisbock. Every summer the town celebrates the Kulmbach Beer Week.
Breweries and their stories
Weihenstephan
The Bavarian State Brewery traces itself back to a document from 1040 and is considered the oldest brewery still operating in the world. It sits next to the campus of the Technical University of Munich, where brewers from all over the world study.
Known for: Hefeweissbier, Vitus
Weltenburg Abbey Brewery
Benedictine monks have been brewing here at the Danube Gorge for almost a thousand years. Their Barock Dunkel has won international awards.
Known for: Barock Dunkel, Asam Bock
Augustiner-Bräu
Munich’s oldest brewery hardly advertises and is still one of the most popular. At Oktoberfest its beer is still served from wooden barrels.
Known for: Lagerbier Hell, Edelstoff
Hofbräu München
Duke Wilhelm V founded the Hofbräuhaus because beer from Einbeck was too expensive for him. Today the brewery belongs to the Free State of Bavaria, and the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is one of the most famous beer halls in the world.
Known for: Original, Dunkel
Schlenkerla
The tavern is first mentioned in 1405. According to legend, its name comes from the “dangling” walk of a former brewer.
Known for: Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen
Uerige
Brewpub in the old town whose robustly hopped Altbier is served straight from the wooden cask.
Known for: Uerige Alt, Sticke
Einbecker Brauhaus
Traces itself back to 1378 and still brews bock in the town that gave the style its name.
Known for: Einbecker Ur-Bock
Bayerischer Bahnhof
The brewpub in the oldest surviving terminal station in the world brought Leipzig Gose back into the spotlight.
Known for: Original Leipziger Gose
Schneider Weisse
In 1872 Georg Schneider bought the right to brew wheat beer from King Ludwig II. Today the family brews in Kelheim on the Danube.
Known for: Tap 7 Unser Original, Tap 6 Aventinus
Timeline
- 1040Freising
Weihenstephan near Freising traces itself back to a document from this year and is considered the oldest brewery still operating in the world.
- 1378Einbeck
The Einbecker Brauhaus traces itself back to this year. The Hanseatic town ships its beer to many cities in northern Europe, and “Ainpöckisch Bier” turns into the word “bock”.
- around 1400Hamburg
Hamburg is the “brewhouse of the Hanseatic League”: hundreds of brewhouses brew beer for export across the North Sea and the Baltic.
- 1405Bamberg
The Schlenkerla in Bamberg is first mentioned. To this day its smoked beer is served straight from the wooden cask.
- 1516Ingolstadt
On 23 April the Bavarian dukes issue the purity law in Ingolstadt: beer only from barley, hops and water.
- 1521Einbeck
Martin Luther is given a jug of Einbeck beer at the Diet of Worms.
- 1589Munich
Duke Wilhelm V founds the Hofbräuhaus – legend has it because beer from Einbeck was too expensive for him.
- 1806Berlin
Napoleon’s troops march into Berlin. His soldiers are said to have called Berliner Weisse the “champagne of the north”.
- 1810Munich
The first Oktoberfest takes place for the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese – back then with a horse race.
- 1862Düsseldorf
The Uerige brewpub is founded in Düsseldorf’s old town. Its altbier is still served fresh from the wooden cask.
- 1872Munich
Georg Schneider buys the right to brew wheat beer from King Ludwig II.
- 1873Munich
Carl von Linde’s refrigeration machine starts working at the Spaten brewery. Lager can now be brewed all year round.
- late 19th c.Kulmbach
Legend has it that Eisbock is born in Kulmbach when a barrel of bock freezes in winter.
- 1960sDortmund
Dortmund is considered Europe’s biggest beer city. Its strong “Dortmunder Export” is drunk all over the country.
- 1986Cologne
Cologne’s breweries sign the Kölsch Convention: Kölsch may only be brewed in Cologne and a few nearby towns.
- 1987whole country
The European Court of Justice rules that Germany may no longer ban beer from abroad just because it is not brewed according to the purity law.
- 2000Leipzig
The Bayerischer Bahnhof brewpub opens in the world’s oldest surviving terminus station and brings Leipzig’s gose back to fame.
- 2010Dortmund
The Dortmunder U, once the fermenting and storage building of the Union brewery, becomes a centre for art and creativity.