Paul Kushner
German beers are renowned for their rich history and diverse range of flavors. From the crisp, refreshing pilsners to the malty, complex bocks, there’s a beer for every palate. Whether you’re a seasoned beer enthusiast or just starting to explore the world of brewing, German brewing offers something for everyone.
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If you appreciate well-crafted beverages with a touch of tradition, then these beers might be right up your alley. The recipes have been perfected over centuries, and the attention to detail in their production is truly impressive. Whether you’re unwinding after a long day or celebrating a special occasion, the distinct character of German beers is sure to enhance the moment.
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier
Weihenstephaner is a Bavarian beer brewery, specializing in wheat beers (weissbier in German). Their Hefe Weissbier is a pale wheat beer with a high level of foam and refreshing carbonation. The aroma consists of banana and clove, transforming into a flavor palate that is creamy and light with notes of malt, banana, and clove.
Gaffel Kölsch
Gaffel Kolsch is a longstanding German brewery in Cologne that has been continuously operating since 1908. Gaffel Kolsch is a light beer, utilizing a historic brewing method unique to Cologne. The Kolsch recipe follows guidelines that date back to the 16th century. It has an aromatic fragrance, a very pale hue, and a refreshing, well-balanced palate that’s perfect for a hot summer day.
Köstritzer Schwarzbier
“Schwarz” means black in German, and this Kostritzer Schwarzbier is as black as night. It’s a dark beer made with roasted barley to install a distinct flavor profile and a dark hue. It has good carbonation and a lasting foamy head, with intense aromas of honey, roasted chestnuts, and sage. The flavor profile has intense toasted and bitter notes with a malty-sweet finish.
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier encompasses a range of smoked beers, from highly alcoholic dark beers to summer-time lagers. Each beer is aged in a distinct type of wood barrel, instilling different flavor profiles. However, all rauchbiers have the same smokiness on the palate. Their year-round, original Rauchbier is a Marzen, aged in oak barrels and tapped directly from the barrels.
Paulaner Salvator
Paulaner is a German beer brewery that has been in operation since 1634 when Paulaner monks invented the now-famous bottom-fermented beer. Paulaner Salvator follows this same nearly 400-year-old recipe. The brown-hued beer has a delicious chocolate flavor with a nice balance of malt and hops at the finish.
Spaten Optimator
From the revered Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau brewery in Munchen, Spaten Optimator is a doppelbock beer and a popular choice both domestically and abroad. It has a fairly high alcohol content of an ABV of 7.6%. Doppelbocks are dark beers, and this Spaten beer is a deep brown hue with a skunky aroma and a sweet fruity, malty palate. You also get a nice earthiness to balance the malt and fruit.
Augustiner-Bräu Edelstoff
Augustiner-Brau is another Munchen-based brewery, with a vast array of German beers. Their Edelstoff is a refreshing, light lager with a pale yellow hue and a foamy head. Augstiner-Brau uses the finest barley malt and hops from Bavaria to create this summer beer. It has high carbonation and tastes fresh and bright with a delicate sweetness and subtle bitter hops at the finish.
Bitburger Premium Pilsner
Bitburger Premium Pilsner is one of the most popular year-round beers in Germany. Pilsners use the bottom fermentation method, creating a hops-forward aroma and palate. If you’re a fan of bitter beers, you’ll love this Premium Pilsner. It has a pale yellow hue with a bitter hops aroma and a very bitter taste with a light body and delicate foam.
Schneider Weisse Aventinus Eisbock
This Aventinus Eisbock debuted from the Schneider Weisse brewery in 2002, using a combination of wheat and barley malt openly fermented. It has one of the highest alcohol content of all German beers at a whopping 12% abv. The aromas contain spicy notes of plum, banana, and clove while the palate is a seductive blend of marzipan and bitter almond.
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen
Named for the Bavarian town in which it lies, the Ayinger Brewery has been a staple Bavarian beer brand since 1817. Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen is a seasonal lager most popular in late summer and fall. This Marzen has a copper-colored hue with a foamy head. The aroma contains notes of baked honey-wheat bread, toffee, and walnut. The palate has a light body with a malty and peppery flavor that goes down easily.
Rothaus Pils Tannenzäpfle
One of Rothaus brewery’s staple beers, the Pils Tannenzapfle is a pilsner that debuted in the 1950s. Rothaus sources spring water from the Black Forest and local barley for their proprietary malt. This Pilsner is a solid and simple taste of summer, offering a bitter and spicy palate with a delicate and refreshing body.
Erdinger Kristall
Erdinger Kristall is a delicious wheat beer made using a top-fermented process. It has a very bubbly, light mouthfeel that is refreshing and elegant. It has a light golden hue that’s crystal clear, thus earning its name. Upon popping open a bottle, you get aromas of fruit, hops, and flowers. The taste is rich in malt and fruit flavors with a mild bitterness on the finish.
