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That Germany is a great beer country is indisputable. This is the country of Pilsners and Kellerbiers, Kolschs and Weissebiers. It’s where beer is served in foaming steins at tables of thirsty drinkers. The cornerstone of brewing is the Reinheitsgebot, a Purity law that celebrates its 500th birthday in 2016. It dictated that only water, barley and hops could be used - yeast was added when we knew what it was. But far from being restrictive, the variety of German beers is astonishing and occasionally bizarre. Here are the most important...
Four Essential Beers
Mittenwalder Edel Marzen / 5.3%
A fantastic example of the Marzen/Oktoberfest style.
A legendary dark and aromatic German beer with a rich and powerful smokiness.
Schlosser Alt / 4.8%
The quintessential Dusseldorf Altbier: a well-balanced, bitter (yet malty) German ale.
Sion Kolsch / 4.8%
Sion Kolsch is light and crisp with a slight herbal bitterness and sweet grainy pale malt.
Adrian Tierney-Jones - The World Beer Awards chair on Germany's defining contribution to brewing
What makes German beer so special?
History, heritage, a seriousness towards brewing, beer as part of the community, no Anglo-Saxon guilt - it's beer as part of your day-to-day life.
What are the defining characteristics of German beer?
There are so many a Helles with its softness, a Pilsner with its lemony sharpness, a Rauchbeir, a Bock, a Doppelbock, an Icebock, a Kellerbier, an Alt, a Kolsch, a North German Pils, a Bavarian Weizen, a Berliner Weisee - German beer might be categorised as just lager, but the best German beers have a crispness, a soaring chorus of refreshment as well as a depth of flavour, but you have to hunt them out.
What are your favourite styles of German beers, this time of year?
If you've ever been to Oktoberfest then festbiers are a necessity in the autumn; they are smooth, some slightly fiery in their alcoholic strength, nutty, full-bodied, but remain refreshing. Or go to beautiful Bamberg, which is the home of Rauchbier, one of the best beer styles in the world. It's a beer that has the nose of an old wooden box that once held smoked fish, but this smokiness is deftly counterbalanced by a malt sweetness.
Then, of course, Bocks and Doppelbocks are pretty immense for this time of the year. Or you might want a Weizenbock, a strong wheat beer - but whatever you do, take pride in these beers. They are worth respecting.
Father’s Day, 19th June 2022, is the special date in the calendar when we celebrate and give a nod to the Dads in our lives. It’s an excuse to spoil them with a little something to say thank you for being awesome. If you’re looking for inspiration for a craft beer-loving Dad, then check out our top 7 Father’s Day beer gifts.
Every year, Beer Hawk releases a lineup of limited edition craft beer mixed cases for the holiday season. This year's lineup of festive Christmas beer gifts is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face.
Remember the childhood excitement of opening a new door on your advent calendar every day in the run up to Christmas? It gave each day a little sparkle of festive magic, even though those tiny chocolates behind the doors were always a bit rubbish. How would you like to recapture that childhood magic, but with bottles of delicious beer instead of powdery chocolate? Sounds amazing, right? In that case, you need to get your hands on our Craft Beer Advent Calendar.
Pairing beer and food together isn’t all rules and science. That would make for a terribly boring dinner party! Instead, it’s the art of taking a good beer, some good food and partnering them together to make something even better. It’s the adventure of discovering what works, what doesn’t and what you like. It’s you taking a bite, taking a sip and then declaring your undying love for that imperial stout and chocolate cake.
Barrel-ageing beers is not a new thing, but it is getting more and more popular, and has probably never been as inventive. Adrian Tierney-Jones explores the new wave of ageing beer in wood
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