The Tradition of German Beer

Throughout Germany, beer is very popular with the culture.  Germany contains well over 1,000 breweries, which is more than any other location in the world.  All beer that is manufactured in Germany must follow the purity law, which lets manufacturers know what ingredients can and can't be used.  Basically, the only ingredients allowed to make beer in Germany are water, hops, and barley malt.

Due to the strict purity requirements, you can easily notice German beers by their overall level of quality.  They have a distinct taste, with little to no aftertaste.  Some styles of German ale include Koelsch, Weizen, and Altbier.  Some types of German lagers include Bock, Pilsener, Dunkel, Helles, and Maerzen.  Keep in mind that the taste, aroma, and color can vary, although all can be identified as being true German beers.

The German beer Altbier is a very common dark ale, that is top fermented in the lower regions of Germany.  The beer proposes a yellow color, with a taste that is rich in hops.  Another ale, Rauchbier, is known to have a smoky flavor with a smoked color.  These beers taste great, and happen to be very popular throughout the regions of Germany.

German lagers are also very popular, and happen to be popular in other areas of the world as well.  Pilsener is one of the most popular and most familiar of all German beers, providing you with more hops and less malt. Pilsener can be found for sale all over the world, and happens to be very popular throughout North America as well.  Several bars serve it as well, as it happens to be one of the most popular dark lagers out there.

Throughout Germany, there are several different companies, produce over 4,000 different brands of beers.  Some of the more well known and larger companies of north Germany are Beck, St. Pauli, Warsteiner, and Krombach.  In the southern region of Germany, there are more breweries, although most of them are smaller, as they are locally owned and operated.  Southern Germany also contains the Benedictine Abbey, which is one of the oldest breweries in the world.  This brewery started producing beer in 1040 - very impressive indeed!

Germany is also home to Oktoberfest, which is held every year in Munich.  Oktoberfest starts in late September and carries on for two weeks, ending in early October.  During Oktoberfest, beer drinkers from all over the world will travel to Germany and celebrate German beers.  Each and every year, over 5 million people attend the event, making it one of the biggest beer celebrations in the world.

During Oktoberfest, local breweries in Munich are the only breweries allowed to serve beer in the bigger tents.  There are six breweries in total, producing a variety of different beers.  By attending this yearly event, you can learn more about German beer, sample the different varieties, and enjoy the rich bold flavors that make German beer so very popular.

Due to the success Oktoberfest gets each and every year, other cities around the world try and mimic this event.  Even though they have success, their level of success isn't near as much as the original Oktoberfest - Germany.  German beers are very popular around the world, with Oktoberfest helping to prove that very claim. If you drink beer but have never experienced what beers from Germany have to offer, you really should give them a try.  Once you do, you'll quickly realize why German beers are so very popular - and why the taste simply can't be duplicated with any other beer.

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Three Traditional German Recipes

German cuisine has become very popular not only in Europe, but all over the world. Most of their food is comprised of beef, poultry, fish, or pork—pork being the most popular choice of meat. Most German foods are not spicy, although mustard is an extremely popular condiment for sausages (the form in which most of their meat is prepared). Roasted meat and stews are also very popular ways to prepare meat. In this article, I have included three of my favorite traditional German recipes. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Kielbasa and Sauerkraut

Ingredients:
6 apples (peeled, cored, and chopped)
2 lbs kielbasa sausage (sliced)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 (32 oz) package sauerkraut

Directions:
In a large skillet, heat the apples and sauerkraut over a medium heat. Let this mixture simmer for about 10 minutes or until the apples have turned soft. Add in the brown sugar and sliced kielbasa and mix well. Cook for an additional five minutes, or until the sausage meat is heated all the way through.

Rye Bread

Ingredients:
3 1/4 cups rye flour
2 1/2 cups bread flour
2 packages active dry yeast
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp butter
1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup molasses

Directions:
In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. In a large bowl, mix together the salt, sugar, and milk. Beat in the molasses, butter, 1 cup of rye flour, and the yeast/water mixture. A blender works best for this part. Mix in the remaining flour using a wooden spoon or plastic baking spatula. Fold in the white flour until the dough begins to stiffen. Knead on a floured surface until the dough is smooth. If the dough is sticky, add flour to it. Cover the dough with a wet towel and let it rise for an hour and a half (or until it has doubled in size). Punch the dough a few times, then divide it in half. Shape each section into a loaf, then place them on a greased cookie sheet to rise again for another hour and a half. Bake at 375 degrees F for about half an hour.

Apple Cake

Ingredients:
4 cups of apples (peeled, cored, and diced)
2 cups sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs

Directions:
In a bowl, mix together the eggs and oil until the mixture is creamy. Add in the sugar and the vanilla extract and beat thoroughly. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Slowly add the egg mixture into this, mixing until well combined. Fold the apples into the mixture. Spread the mixture into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 45 minutes. Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack before serving.

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