Holiday destination: Beer tradition

What for some is the wine, for others is the beer: tourist regions come up with their old breweries and invite you to rediscover the barley juice. However, this requires a lot of “preparation”: A centuries-old local beer tradition. Nobody can just stomp that out of the ground. Anyone who has this tradition can boast about it. And suddenly the visit to the inn becomes a cultural trip.

Brief facts on the subject

• Beer traditions differ regionally in styles, ingredients, serving and accompanying cuisine.
• Brewery visits and tastings often require reservations and fixed times.
• Anyone who tries alcohol should organize a return trip or driving service in advance.
• Folk festivals and brewery events can shorten accommodation early.
• Non-alcoholic offers and regional food make it possible to go on holidays without consuming beer.

The beer is a trademark and local speciality

Unimaginable are trips to Budweis or Pilsen without their world-famous barley juice directly in the brewery to taste. What would the Carnival in the Rhineland be without the old dispute over Altbier or Kölsch? Franks called They are “home to the beers”. And house breweries are booming everywhere, where the locally brewed beer is also “tasted” right there. The local beer is brand and tradition for the region where it produces will.

A Little History of Beer

Beer has been around for a long time. Already in the Codex Hammurapi, a code from Mesopotamia, about 1800 years ago (!) Christ, rules for brewing beer became law. Egyptians, Romans, Celts – even in the early days of History allowed grain to ferment in water and gave a refreshing, slightly alcoholic drink that had to be consumed quickly, otherwise it would become bad. Everywhere beer was brewed, developed Regional peculiarities and tastes, where the connoisseur can taste the origin of a beer to this day.

German Purity Law

The German Purity Law for Beer from 1516 is regarded worldwide as one of the great quality features for beer. At that time, it was decided what a beer could contain: hops, malt and water – nothing else. Thus Food quality should already be guaranteed in the Middle Ages. As today in many countries of the world, the beer was previously in Germany also all kinds of herbs or spices for the taste or Preserved – you could never be sure what was really in the brew sold. And so already in 1516 quality standards were set, which for centuries the beer quality not only in Germany guaranteed. If today other drinks can also be called “beer” according to the EU decree, you can still use the ingredients for beers brewed according to the purity law. Speaking of guaranteeing quality.

The big beer countries

Even if you don't believe it at first, The country of beer drinkers is not Germany but the Czech Republic. Nowhere in the world is more beer drunk per capita than in the country of Pilsener Urquell and Budweiser (the original). However, Germany is at the forefront of beer production worldwide.

The beer cult(ur)places in Europe

In many regions of Europe, people are proud of the local beer. Anyone who wants to embark on a journey through the beer traditions as a tourist does not really know where to start.

Munich and the Oktoberfest

Every year in September, hundreds of thousands of visitors gather at the Munich Oktoberfest“Wiesn” for an event known in Germany as “Oktoberfest”, but abroad as “Fest des Bieres” (e.g. France: “La fête de la bière”). Advertised as "the largest folk festival in the world" Oktoberfest regularly takes place on the Theresienwiese ("Wiesn") in the Bavarian state capital Munich. Undisputed star of the Oktoberfest are the festival tents of the Munich breweries Spatenbräu, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu and Löwenbräu – and of course their beer.

Rituals such as the entry of the “Wiesnwirte” and breweries or the fassan engraving of the respective mayor give the Wiesn a history, in addition to which the more than 80 showrooms at the festival become a minor matter. At Oktoberfest, the Munich breweries Spatenbräu, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu and Löwenbräu are represented with festival tents. According to the company regulations of the festival, only Munich beer of the Munich traditional breweries which comply with the purity requirement are served. Munich is completely booked in the days of the Wiesn when it comes to accommodation. Who a hotel room or even a cheapApartment in MunichIf you want to get hold, you have to search and book a year (or longer) in advance.

World famous brewing houses in Munich

Even without Oktoberfest, the Bavarian metropolis is worth a visit. For the day visit, of course, the world-famous Hofbräuhaus in Munich, one of the oldest brewing houses in Munich (beer brand: Hofbräu). The Various Munich beers can also be tasted in the many beer gardens of the city.

Breweries in Upper Franconia, the “home of beers”

Franken describes himself as the “home of beers”. The Franconian regions in Upper Franconia and Central Franconia with a distinctive beer culture have the name “Beer Franconia” – in contrast to the wine regions of the Lower Franconian “Weinfranken”.With more than 200 breweries, Upper Franconia has the highest brewery density in the world.

Together, but also the many municipalities and sub-regions in Franken, the beer (brewing) tradition is marketed. So has the Kur & Tourismus ServiceBad Staffelsteinthe “Brewery Guide Bad Staffelstein”. In addition to an overview of the ten breweries in the urban area of Bad Staffelstein, they provide suggestions for hiking and cycling tours around the city. Barley juice manufacturers of the city. NeighboringKulmbach“Hops and Malt – Kulmbach erhalt’s”. The historic city of Kulmbach offers beer lovers a not-quite-beer-serious musical tour around the beer of the local breweries.

Czech Beer

The world-famous Czech beers are among the best beers in the world - and among the beers, with the oldest traditions. Around 50 different beer brands are known in the Czech Republic, to which are added recently There are still some mini breweries with an attached tap room, which, however, still have to prove themselves "historically".

Pilsis - when it comes to the subject of beer - certainly the most famous Czech city: here the world-famous Pilsener Urquell is brewed. Hardly less delicious, but a little less known is the second big beer brand in Pilsen - the Gambrinus. Both breweries in the heart of the city of Pilsen can be visited, there is even a beer museum. And of course no restaurant and pub in Pilsen without local beer.

Also includedBudweiss(České Budějovice) is a beer city: German immigrants founded the Budweiser Bürgerbräu brewery in 1802, the original Budweiser Budvar has been produced here since 1895. The Pilsener beer of the brand Budvar brewed according to the original recipe and sold in over 60 countries of the world - and must not be confused with the US brand of Anheuser Busch.

Beer brewing in the Czech Republic has been around since 12. It is a privilege of selected cities and monasteries – and there the right of free citizens. The last brewery owned by a municipality is the DUDÁK brewery inStrakonice, in which the “bagpipe” beer is brewed since 1649.

Beer from the Monastery: Belgian Beers

Not only since reading Asterix and Obelix, you know (n) that Belgians love their beer. In hardly any other country are there such diverse beers. Especially in the monasteries of Belgium traditionally beer brewed. Real Belgian Abbey can still be found, for example, in the brewery Val-Dieu atAubelenjoy – in the Versperstube or during a brewery tour. Although small breweries continue to die a great deal in Belgium, there are still around 140 Belgian breweries, which together account for around 1000 make various beers (some only seasonal).

One of the many special beers is the so-called “Trappist beer”. Trappist beer is a beer brewed by or under the supervision of Trappist monks. The largest breweries for Trappist beers in Belgium are the Abbey of Notre-Dame de ScourmontChimay, Henegau Province and Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van het Heilig Hart Abbey in Westmalle,Province of Antwerp.

Guinness, Kilkenny and Beamish – export hits among Irish beers

They are found worldwide in Irish pubs: the well-known Irish beers Guinness, Kilkenny (actually Smithwicks) and Beamish. The most important distinguishing feature besides taste is the low carbon content of Irish beers.

German beer drinkers often do not taste Irish beer so much – but what is lacking in taste is often replaced by the lively pub tradition. The culture of the “Irish Pubs” includes live music and Communication, they are not only in Ireland as important places of socialization in Irish society, so important places of social life. An annual highlight is the Irish Pubs to St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.

WhoeverDublinHe must not miss a guided “pub crawl”. Around Fleet Street in Dublin there are numerous pubs with live music.

Irish breweries include the private breweries O’Hara’s Brewery in Bagenalstown and the Dungarvan Brewery in the coastal town.Dungarvan. A special treat for Lord of the Rings fans is the Roadside Tavern & Brewery in Lisdoonvarna, which has been run by family since 1865. Here – and in the immediate vicinity around the Gortaclare Mountain – Tolkin got his inspiration for his books. In the cozy bathroom, you can imagine how the stories about the beer-loving hobbits came about.

Beer brands and beer traditions for tourism marketing

Local tourists would be foolish not to rely on these brands and traditions of beer for their tourism marketing. Examples of successful strategies in Germany are tourist roads such as the Aisch Gründerr Bierstraße and the Bayerische Bierstraße, which develop the tourist marketing of beer and breweries.

Frequent questions

Which regions are suitable for a trip around beer?

Destinations with breweries, regional beer styles, restaurants and good transport links are particularly practical. The selection should also suit the kitchen and other excursions.

Do you have to reserve brewery tours?

Often yes. Visiting times, language, minimum age and tasting should be checked directly at the company.

How to plan the way back after a tasting?

Public transport, taxi or a sober driver should be determined in advance. Alcohol and driving do not go together.

Is the trip also suitable without alcohol consumption?

Brewing culture, regional cuisine, museums and alcohol-free offers can also be the focus.

When is accommodation particularly in demand?

Folk festivals, brewery festivals and weekends with events can significantly increase demand. Dates and accommodation should be agreed early.