No Berlin trip is complete without tasting its different varieties of beer. Like conjoined twins fused together, Germany and beer are one entity. It would be a bloody mess once one is separated from the other. Like me, I can never enjoy my trip without enjoying a mug of strong beer every afternoon while relaxing inside my room or sitting in a pub watching a football match. A glass of beer is every man’s best friend while socializing in different places. Since I’m in Berlin and beers here are almost synonymous to water in terms of price, where else could I enjoy this beverage but in various bierhaus (beerhouses) and biergarten (beer gardens) scattered all around the city.
My first and favorite of all biergarten is the Prater Garten. The master and father of all beer gardens in Berlin with popularity dating back to 1837, it’s a melting pot of beerlovers all over Berlin. Local beers like Prater Pils or light lager or a dark beer known as Prater Schwarzbier are served in mugs almost at the same size as a regular pitcher. Everyone must try the light lager or the Prater Pils of 0.4L beer for only €3. It has a refreshing light grassy aroma that when poured over creates a clear lemony white head that once you gulp in creates a foamy moustache. Tastes crisp and clean, with a sweet malty brew. A typical taste of standard pils beer.
Berlin comes in full bloom at dusk when everyone can have a bit of stress release after some strenuous day’s work and the best place to hang around is in Golgatha. Opens at around 7 in the evening, Golgatha attracts busy Berliners who just wanted to have a quick chill out. Free wireless internet is available in the area so for those traveler’s who aren’t in the mood to socialize and would rather opt clicking their pads, this place is a hit. For a taste of another German beer, I picked Bavarian Hefe Weizen (wheat beer) served in a narrow glass almost a 15 inches tall Weiss glass. Asking the waiter for its purpose, he told me that it was designed for beers to produce their white foamy head when poured. Now that’s beer drinking in German fashion.
Finally, my last stop for another beer tasting is in Brachvogel. Widely known for the locals as a green haven on the bank of Kreuzberg’s canal, it is a perfect place to dine, drink and meet people. A welcoming atmosphere of cedar trees awaits everyone lining for a cold glass of beer and some hot sausages. It offers a wide variety of food, so either you’ll munch in some sandwiches or just have some pretzel there’s always a special space for you. As for the last time, I wanted some Oktoberfest beer to have a glimpse of what Oktoberfest feels like and so a Berliner suggested I should taste Maerzen. Maerzen was created in Munich to match the Vienna style lager and has been loved by the Germans for almost two centuries. Served in huge mugs, it has a broad but light taste of malty characteristics and best coupled with any sort of seafoods for a more enjoyable drinking spree.
For a tourist spending even a long weekend in Berlin or even someone hoping to move to the Capital, beer tasting and beer garden hopping in Berlin seems never-ending. But in a place where beer consumption is part of everyday living, my sole advise is this: Drink moderately!
This Berlin travel article was written by Hannah from BerlinCityGuide.net