Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lager as an Alster, Radler or Diesel (mixed with Fanta, Sprite or Coke, respectively) is a
popular thirst quencher.
Beer has been brewed in Berlin since the Middle Ages, reaching its peak in the 19th cen-
tury when there used to be hundreds of breweries, especially in Prenzlauer Berg. Today, the
www.schultheiss.de
;
Indira-Gandhi-Strasse 66-69; tours €5, with beer tasting €7; 10am,
2pm & 5.30pm Mon-Thu; M13 to Betriebshof Indira-Gandhi-Strasse), which produces
the Berliner Pilsner, Schultheiss, Berliner Kindl and Berliner Bürgerbräu brands. For a
behind-the-scenes look, book a guided tour (in German) - preferably followed by a beer
tasting - via its website.
In recent years the craft-beer trend finally reached a tipping point in Berlin, with numer-
ous boutique brewers now in business and craft-beer festivals luring thousands to quaff
homemade IPA (Indian pale ale), pilsner, wheat beer and other classic and novel varieties.
Local brands to look for include Rollberger, Heidenpeters, Vagabund, Flessa Bräu and Bier-
fabrik. Brewpubs include
Pfefferbräu
in Prenzlauer Berg,
Hops & Barley
and
Schalander
in
Friedrichshain and
Brauhaus Georgbräu
near Museum Island.
Other German and imported beers are widely available. There's plenty of Beck's and
Heineken around but for more flavour look for Jever Pilsener from northern Germany,
Rothaus Tannenzäpfle from the Black Forest, Zywiec from Poland, and Krušovice and Bud-
weiser from the Czech Republic. American Budweiser is practically nonexistent here.
BEER VARIETIES
The most common brews include the following:
Pils
(pilsner) Bottom-fermented beer with a pronounced hop flavour and a creamy head.
Weizenbier/Weissbier
(wheat beer) Top-fermented wheat beer that's fruity and refreshing.
Comes bottled either as
Hefeweizen,
which has a stronger shot of yeast, or the filtered and
fizzier
Kristallweizen
.
Berliner Weisse
This cloudy, slightly sour wheat beer is typically sweetened with a
Schuss
(shot) of woodruff or raspberry syrup. It's quite refreshing on a hot day but few locals drink
it.
Schwarzbier
(black beer, like porter) This full-bodied dark beer is fermented using roasted
malt.
Bockbier
Strong beer with around 7% alcohol; brewed seasonally. Maibock shows up in
May, Weihnachtsbock around Christmas.
