German Beer Day
German Beer Day is a day that began as an observance in Germany to celebrate the country’s finest beers but has since become a holiday celebrated by lovers of German beer all over the world. It was first celebrated almost 500+ years ago with the passage of the Reinheitsgebot—a German law that set purity standards for beer—and has been celebrated ever since. This day is observed on April 23rd every year and is the perfect time for anyone who loves beer to grab one. Probably the best thing about this holiday is that you don’t have to be German to enjoy it. Anyone can grab a German beer on this day and enjoy it. Just be sure to drink responsibly.
Germany (Observance)The History of German Beer Day
To understand German Beer Day, we first have to travel back 500+ years to when the German purity law known as the Reinheitsgebot was passed on April 23, 1516. This series of regulations limited the ingredients that could be used in beer in Germany and other areas of the former Holy Roman Empire. In the duchy of Munich in 1487, the first law setting a purity standard for beer was introduced, and when Bavaria was reunified, the law was adopted throughout Bavaria on April 23, 1516.
According to the 1516 Bavarian law, the only ingredients that could be used in beer were barley, hops, and water. According to the strict letter of the law, nothing more was allowed—but of course, yeast would have also had to be used, or it wouldn’t have been possible to brew the beer. This law did more than just mandate how beer was brewed; it also limited the profits that innkeepers could make, set the price of beer, and established confiscation as the penalty for making a beer that didn’t meet the code’s requirements.
Interesting Facts About Beer
Beer is a unique and fascinating beverage with a storied history that goes back over 5,000 years. That’s why we’ve decided to list some of the interesting facts that we’ve learned about beer and would like to now share with everyone reading this article.
- The earliest evidence of beer made from barley dates to about 3,500 B.C. and was found in Godin Tepe in the Zagros Mountains of Western Iran.
- Over 50 billion gallons of beer are consumed all around the world every year.
- One of the most famous beers in the world is Budweiser.
- China is the world’s largest beer producer.
- China also consumes the most beer in the world.
- The two major types of beer are ale and lager.
- The biggest beer festival held in the world is Oktoberfest, held in Germany.
- Of course, Germany isn’t the only country with Oktoberfest celebrations. They are observed all around the world.
- The beer holiday that’s common in the U.S. is National Beer Day—observed on April 7th.
Observing German Beer Day
The best way for a person to enjoy German Beer Day is to take the time to celebrate it. This can be done by taking a few moments to grab a German beer and enjoy it at some point during the day. While you’re enjoying your beer, and maybe some traditional German foods such as bratwurst, schnitzel, and sauerkraut, don’t forget to use the hashtag #GermanBeerDay on your social media accounts.
Germany (Observance)
