While it hasn't been my turn yet to introduce and boast to friends some of the best stuff Belgium has to offer, from the classic chocolate favorites & signature fries to fluffy waffles & wide beer selection, it was my personal high time to properly get introduced to the German drinking culture. I'd say this was quite overdue already, given my border obsession tendencies when it comes to drinking as of late. I had been to Düsseldorf and Berlin in the past, but I had practically zero knowledge of the alcohol I was consuming. So props to this unexpected chance to learn a thing or two about the fundamentals of German beers 😂 Here we go..
Germany has a longstanding reputation when it comes to the art of brewing beer, deeply rooted-from & transpiring-through every unique taste in every glass. Beer has been a fundamental element of their culture, evolving into the social customs and heritage. Seriously, Germans take the craft very seriously. As a matter of fact, there is a law on restrictions when it comes to the brewing process i.e. only water, hops, barley (and yeast) were allowed for use, taking standardization to a hell new level.
For this visit to Cologne/Köln, I managed to tick off my list the city's very own Kölsch, presented in distinctive, slim glasses reflecting the city's unique attitude toward brewing. Then in the next 3 days, I was able to try pilsner, helles, and dunkel, all beaming with pride in their own distinct ways, paired with some typical German dishes over some catch-up talks over the good old days. In the end, there's just so much beer to look forward to in the years to come, especially since Köln has forever changed my perception of the whole beer narrative. From hereon, Köln will be more remembered for gustatory reasons. Such new learnings should come in handy, especially for someone who has found real joy in consuming European beers over the last 2 years. With this in mind, I'm now looking forward to Oktoberfest to try more.
Prost!
