By Kae Lani Kennedy

Beer. It used to make me scrunch my nose and spit out my tongue. Just the scent on someone’s breath would send me into a rant. But it wasn’t until I lived in Germany, the motherland of fine quality beers, that I became enlightened by the sophisticated culture found beneath the foam.

Many Americans take a pilgrimage across the Atlantic to indulge in German beers. They venture to beer gardens, attend beer fests, and drink steins full of liquid gold. Yet, very often, tourists are unaware of the cultural impact these brews have on their local communities and the cultures that form around these authentic German beers.

To the average German, beer is not just beer. Usually, their favorite brews are symbols of their hometown and heritage and come from breweries that have been around for hundreds of years. Their beverage of choice is a reflection of the social groups, activities, and region they identify with.

When it comes to German beers, it’s more about the process than it is about the ingredients. Since the passage of the Reinheitsgebote in 1516, beers served in Germany are only allowed to have four ingredients; water, hops, malt, and yeast. With only four ingredients permitted, every region has its own unique interpretation and style of beer. Here are four German beer brands and types from the four major areas of Germany, each with their own cultural following.

Hamburg’s Astra Urtyp

Known as a “cult beer”, Astra Urtyp is a brew commonly found in small underground pubs in Hamburg’s Sankt Pauli region, one of the world’s most infamous red-light districts. Needless to say, Sankt Pauli attracts an interesting crowd of punk rockers and anarchists who identify closely with the Astra Urtyp brand. First timers to Astra might not see the fascination with this beer. It is quite average; it tastes like a normal, light pilsner and has an alcohol percentage of only 4.9 percent. But add Astra Urtyp to watching a Sankt Pauli soccer game or to a night on the Reeperbahn, and you’ll understand the social atmosphere that keeps the Astra crowd loyal.

Greizer Bock

There are two delights that East Germany is known for; delicious sausages and bock beers. Even though East Germany borders the Czech Republic, home of pilsner, villagers seem to gravitate towards the bock style beers. Darker and denser than pilsners, bocks have a malty taste that pack a punch with an alcohol content of about 6.5 percent. Bock beer, paired with a Thuringia sausage makes for a smoky tasting East German feast.

One famous bock found in the east is the Greizer, brewed in the small village of Greiz. This is a brand that has bred a culture of enjoying fine meats with neighbors through village folk fests and traditional East German Schlachtfests, celebratory roast pork dinners.

Paulaner Hefeweizen

Disclose to a German that you’re headed to Bavaria and the first thing they’ll tell you to do is to try the Hefeweizen. This wheat ale can be found all over south Germany, and comes in a variety of styles and brands. But one brand that prevails is the Paulaner from Munich. Even the Paulaner brewery has a myriad of Hefeweizens to choose from, but overall, Paulaner is a beer that embodies the lederhosen and beer stein image that most tourists think of when referencing Germany. It is certainly the beer of choice in Bavarian beer gardens and throughout the annual Oktoberfest.

Gaffel Kölsch

The Kölsch is a pale ale indigenous to the city of Köln, known in English as Cologne. A word to describe the indulgent “Cologne-ish” culture, the Kölsch is a beer that is constantly flowing and needs to be enjoyed more than once during a regular outing in Cologne. The most iconic of the Kölsch styled beers is the Gaffel label, brewed right in the city of Cologne.

Drinking a Gaffel Kölsch is more about the experience of drinking a substantial amount of beer than it is about the taste. Gaffel fans huddle in American-like sports bars, watching soccer on big screen TVs while drinking Kölsch after Kölsch after Kölsch. Gaffel drinkers become so engrossed in watching the game that restaurants have come up with a system where customers can order more Kölsch without even speaking. In Cologne, waiters will continue to replenish your beer whenever they see your glass empty. The only way they can tell that you’ve had your fill is if you cover your glass with a coaster or “beer mat”.

About the Writer:

Kae Lani Kennedy is a freelance travel writer based out of Philadelphia (for now). A self proclaimed Renaissance woman, she funds her vagrant lifestyle through a myriad of skills and trades that she’s picked up over the years. You can follow her travel antics, destination discoveries, and tips at her travel website, A Travel Broad.

Photo by: flickr/SteFou!