German Bier ist wunderbar!

It's true!!!!  My family joined me recently on a trip to Germany at Christmas time.  For my wife and I, it was important to visit family whom I haven't seen in years.  For my two sons (aged 18 and 22), their goal was entirely different. - Try as many German beers as humanly possible.

Well, I can tell you that we had lots of differnt beers and every one of them was outstanding.  The Germans of course think their beers are the best in the world.  That can be open to debate and that debate could last years.

One thing I can recommend is to try regional beers and not be so concerned with the 'Big' German brands we are so accustomed to over here.  Here's a list of all the beers we had;

• Paulaner Pilsner and Dunkelweiss
• Zwickau Brauhaus Rauchbier (this one was amazing) - they even had a Bierschapps (also very good)
• Hasseroeda
• Radeberger
• Ur-Kostritzer
• Wernesgruner
• Klumbacher Pils
• Shussenrieder Hefeweissen and Schwarzbier
• Alpersbacher Pils
• Rothaus Marzenbier
• Hofbrau Pils and Hefeweissen
• Malteser Pils and Hefeweissen
• Berg Original and Ulrichsbier
• Gold Ochsen Original
• Kaiser Winterbier
• Stuttgarter Hofbrau Pils

A good time was had by all and truly, every beer we had was great.  Could it have been the company, the country or something else?  It really doesn't matter that much - it was just very memorable.

Here's a little snippet of info not normally found - in the former East Germany (you know, the one with the wall), it was common practice to not use hops in the brewing of beer.  Instead, they used the gall bladders of cows to provide bitterness.  Why you ask?  They sold all their native hops in order to increase their GDP.  Thank god for reunification.

Prosit