As we get ready for Euro 2024 in Germany, thirsty football fans will be filling the fridge ready for the games. While you may choose a favourite local beer to watch England or Scotland play, you might want to replicate the German drinking experience to feel closer to the action from the comfort of your own sofa. Germany is one of the world’s greatest brewing nations, and while we tend to view it as a land of lager, there’s a regionality to drinking in Germany.
In Munich you find golden helles lager, dark and toasty dunkel lager and cloudy weissbier (a type of wheat beer); in the north you find dry, bitter pils or pilsener; in Cologne you find pils-like kölsch served in small, straight 200ml glasses, while next door in Dusseldorf you get altbier, a bitter brown beer that’s like a cross between a lager and British bitter. Football authorities have already warned fans travelling to Germany that the beer there is a bit stronger than here and, as it tastes so good, supporters need to make sure they don’t overdo it. Thankfully, Germany also makes many great alcohol-free beers, which are available in all bars – and available for us to drink at home too.
Prost! Did you know? Many beers in Bavaria are called hell or helles. The name means it’s pale or light in colour and it’s often on tap next to dark dunkel lagerbiers. German alcohol-free beer is typically great, and Rothaus makes one of the best alcohol-free pils.
It’s hard to tell it’s 0.5% ABV! Great with your .
