Germany is the only place in the world that has a strict law in place, as far as brewing beer goes. It shows how passionate Germans are when it comes to their fine brews. The purity law ensures that beers are made in Germany using only four main ingredients, namely hops, malt, yeast and water. The purity law has been in place ever since the early 16th century.
Although the main ingredients used to brew the beer is consistent throughout, the beer scene in Germany is pretty diverse. In Germany, you have the option to taste from about 5000 different types of beers crafted by over 1200 breweries. Crafting beer in Germany is more than manufacturing a beverage, it is an art form.
Let’s witness the art of beer in Germany’s finest breweries that offer tours and beer tasting.
HOFBRAU BREWERY TOUR, MUNICH:
The Hofbrau Brewery in Munich is arguably Germany’s most famous brewery. In a unique tradition it opens its doors to visitors each week to share secrets from their world-famous brewery. It is a national treasure for the country and its people. Each year it attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world. In a tour of about 60-90 minutes, they take you through every detail of their complete brewing process.
MONASTERY BREWERY ANDECHS, BAVARIA:
This vintage brewery is located on the holy mountain in Bavaria. The Andechs Monastery has been a renowned site for beer culture since the middle ages. This place features a brewpub, restaurant, distillery, an organic farm and even a church. The tour mainly features a detailed look at the brewing process along with a look at the state-of-the-art facility.
WEIHENSTEPHAN BREWERY, FREISING:
Located close to Munich, this is the oldest known working brewery in the world. Monks used to make beer at the Weihenstephan Brewery as early as 1040 A.D. A visit to this glorious brewery takes you back in time. The most famous beer here is the earthy wheat beer called Weizenbier. The tour offers you a peek into their thousand-year-old brewing process.
ROSTOCKER BREWERY:
Located about two hours from Hamburg, the Rostocker Brewery sits along the northern coast of Germany. Visitors here can enjoy a tour at the brewery starting April through October every Thursday. The brewery offers its visitors a 90 minutes ride through the 750-year-old brewing technique. The tour also takes you through a brief history of Rostocker along with their guide for making the best brew using four natural ingredients.
BECK’S BREWERY, BREMEN:
As one of the world’s most renowned beer, Beck’s is manufactured in northern Germany. Beck’s and Haake Beck’s have both been brewed in Bremen since 1879. A tour at this world-famous brewery gives you a look into its behind-the-scene activities. It offers the visitors a chance to explore the brewing area, malt silos and fermentation tanks. The tour also educates you in the craft of brewing great beer along with sampling some great refreshing brews.
Germany has a diverse beer scene and is on the rise. A tour at some of these epic breweries is not to be missed if you’re a beer aficionado.
