Beer in Germany

According the Reinheitsgebot (German beer purity law), only water, hops, yeast and malt are permitted as ingredients in its production.

[2][3] In 2020, Germany ranked third in Europe in terms of per-capita beer consumption, trailing behind the Czech Republic and Austria.

Originating in Germany, the glass is narrow at the bottom and slightly wider at the top; the width both releasing aroma, and providing room for the often thick, fluffy heads produced by wheat beer.

It tends to be taller than a pint glass, and generally holds 500 millilitres with room for foam or "head".

Steins may be made of stoneware (rarely the inferior earthenware), pewter, porcelain, silver, glass, or wood.

[19] The Maß (pronounced [maːs]) is a term used in German-speaking countries for a unit of volume, now typically used only for measuring beer sold for immediate on-site consumption.

As a Maß is a unit of measure, various designs are possible: modern Maßkrugs (Maßkrüge in German) are often handled glass tankards, although they may also be in the form of steins.

It is commonly believed that a general somewhere promised his troops to drink beer from his boot if they were successful in battle.

At gatherings in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, beer boots are often passed among the guests for a festive drinking challenge.

Oktoberfest is a 16- to 18-day festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October.

Only beer which is brewed within the city limits of Munich with a minimum of 13.5% Stammwürze (approximately 6% alcohol by volume) is allowed to be served in this festival.