Beer

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From the beginnings of beer brewing to industrial production

Beer is probably one of the oldest alcoholic beverages. Historians believe that the Sumerians were the first people to master the art of brewing beer. The invention of beer is probably due to the fact that fermented dough was to be used. There were soon some recipes for the beer that was initially sacrificed as a drink for the gods. By 2000 BC, there were probably a dozen different types of beer. In ancient Babylon, there were said to be more than 20 different types of beer. Romans, Greeks and Germans also enjoyed beer several centuries before Christ. Beer amphoras found in the Kulmbach region from the 8th century BC prove this.

The beer we know today dates back to the Middle Ages, when mainly monks acted as brewers and added hops to the drink, apart from water and barley malt. Duke Wilhelm IV is responsible for the so-called purity law: On April 23, 1516, he issued the law that has since stipulated that German beer may only contain "barley, hops and water". The Pilsner, which is now well represented, was brewed and served for the first time in 1842. The Frenchman Louis Pasteur discovered the involvement of yeast in the brewing process in 1860. He recognized the decisive role of microorganisms in the conversion of malt sugar into carbonic acid and alcohol. Thanks to the refrigeration machine, which Carl von Linde invented in 1871, bottom-fermented beers could be brewed all year round. From the artisanal beer breweries, opportunities arose during the industrialization to produce, bottle and store larger quantities of beer relatively easily.

The most popular bottom-fermented beer: Pilsner

More than half of all beers sold in Germany belong to the Pils subcategory (in 2008 it was 55.2 percent). A clear north-south divide is remarkable here: around 70 percent of Pils beers are sold in northern Germany and only 30 percent in southern Germany. A Pils is characterized by its comparatively bitter taste due to the hop aroma, light malt, and bottom-fermenting yeast. The original wort content is a maximum of 12.5 percent.

The name Pils or Pilsner goes back to the Czech city of Pilsen, where Pilsner Urquell has been brewed since 1842. The use of Saaz hops grown in northern Bohemia is also important. Since 1898, Pilsner Urquell has been a registered trademark. From 2004 to 2011, Pilsner Urquell was temporarily brewed outside of the Czech Republic - in the Polish city of Tychy. Since the brewery in Pilsen has been expanded, the beer has only been brewed in Pilsen since 2011. In our range you will find both the original Pilsner Urquell from the Plzeñsky Prazdroj brewery and numerous other brands.

Beer mix drinks of all kinds

"The" beer mix drink par excellence is probably the Radler, which Franz Xaver Kugler created in 1922 in a tavern on the Kugleralm (20 kilometers outside Munich). He came up with the idea of serving a drink that consisted of half beer and half lemonade when the beer ran out. He quickly offered the "Radlermaß" to a large number of cyclists who took a trip to the Kugleralm from Munich. He allegedly told the guests that it was a drink specially developed for cyclists so as not to consume too much alcohol. Since the "Radlermaß" was quickly well received in southern Germany, the fashionable drink made its way to northern Germany some time later. There it was called "Radfahrerliter".

Originally, the Radler consisted of dark full-bodied beer and clear lemonade. Nowadays it is common to mix light beer with lemonade. In the northern German area, the name "Alster" or "Alsterwasser" is common for this mixed drink. In the Rhineland and the Ruhr area, this name is used for the combination of Pils and orange lemonade. There are a variety of names for the mixture of beer and cola - for example, Diesel, Moor Water, or Cold Coffee. Our shop offers you the opportunity to make beer mixes yourself by purchasing beer and lemonade or syrup. In addition, you will find various ready-made mixed drinks in bottles and cans in the subcategory of beer mix drinks.

Special varieties for beer connoisseurs

If you would like to try other types of beer than Pils, you are also in the right place. Whether it's an Irish, a Spanish, or a special bock beer: the range is extensive and also takes into account very specific beer wishes. Bock beer has its origins in Einbeck, Lower Saxony. In the Middle Ages, the Einbeck brewers brewed their top-fermented beer with a very high original wort content to make it last as long as possible. The beer was accordingly high in alcohol. The term Bock beer has existed since the beginning of the 17th century. Double bock was originally only offered during Lent. While Bock usually has at least 16 percent original wort, double bock has at least 18 percent.

That good beer is not only brewed in Germany, but also in other countries, you can see for yourself if you decide on a foreign beer type. How about offering San Miguel or Guinness at the next party? It is also worth discovering the subcategory of wheat beers, which includes naturally cloudy, clear, and non-alcoholic varieties.

Enjoy non-alcoholic beers

Not only drivers, but also other groups of people like to drink non-alcoholic beer as a thirst quencher. There is hardly any difference in taste to the corresponding alcoholic varieties, but the lack of alcohol definitely has a positive effect on your reaction time. Most non-alcoholic beers are considered isotonic and are quite suitable for quickly compensating for water and mineral losses. Finally, the subcategory of malt beer also offers children beer that is anything but bitter. Because malt beer is made from barley malt, hops, sugar, caramelized sugar, and carbonic acid; alcoholic fermentation is avoided by adding yeast at 0 degrees Celsius.

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