Is German beer really THAT good?

Then the fact there's an overall decline in US beer consumption is pretty much irrelevant to what's going on in Germany since as you've pointed out many times the two countries are not comparable in terms of beer culture, etc., etc.

 

Yea...that was the joke.

 

Sounds like someone needs to take a trip to Austin, TX and get themselves some Live Oak Hefe.

 

Ahhh, sometimes the smiley doesn't communicate the point of the joke.

 

But the cans are different.

 

I just saw a Miller Lite commercial on TV which features the retro cans:

 

As a transplanted Austinite who has been in Germany for nearly a decade now, I can tell you that Live Oak is as close to authentic German beer as I have had in the States. But if I made a top 10 list of my favorite Weizens, I doubt it would even make the list: Ladenburger, Weihenstephaner, Ayinger, Andechser, Weltenburger, Unertl, and Nesselwanger are all superior, just to name a few off of the top of my head. And let's not even talk about Weizenbocks or Doppelbocks...

 

You need to get your hands on some of Hofbrau Traunstein's Weizens. The Gastro Weisse is probably my favorite Weizen in Germany/the world. Still want to get my hands on some Live Oak someday, though....

 

We were not looking for bad beers. The first was recommended by friends, the second was in the European Beer Guide, and the last was in the Beer Dinkers Guide To Munich. Yes we often do ask the locals about beer, wine, food, good places to explore, etc.

The oxidized Helles was the wife's, I had a pretty tasty Export.

 

I think German beer is great. It's just not very fucking exciting.

 

Not really much of an expert here, but I would assume if you could get 7 day old or so German brews this question wouldn't have to even be asked.

 

Opinions like yours are quite refreshing. The norm I experience is people who have never been to Germany to thereby have at least an (experientially) informed opinion on the matter, yet they write that the pro-German crowd must not have had American attempt XYZ for this or that German style. The hubris is astounding sometimes.

 

I'm not a fan of german beers for the most part. I could drink a lager but I much prefer american beer by far

 

I'm always excited to find a good, well-made German beer on the shelves amongst the dozen or so APAs, IPAs, and DIPAs.

Um, you realize there are American lagers too, and German brewers don't make lagers exclusively?

 

Beautifully simple. If you don't like lillies, then do not go foraging for the best Lilly of the Field.

 

I think I'd miss American beer if I were in Germany for an extended period, but that is by no means a slam of German beer. I love the classics. But just like I don't eat BBQ every day, I don't want the same thing from my beer every night.

That said, you'd be surprised at the variety of German brewing, if you do a little hunting. There is more to German beer than a Hefe or Marzen. And some that reach the double digits in ABV, too.

 

The Live Oak Oaktoberfest I had last week was very good. Had the Pils a few years back and loved it.

 

Yes.

 

My first 6 months of living in Germany I really missed American beer... but after that I acclimated.

Last month was my first time back in USA in a year and a half and while I found the availability of 'craft beer' easy to come by* in Wash DC, but was quickly reminded that quantity does not necessarily equal quality - neither in Germany nor the US. That being said, then German bier gets boring, we hop in the car and head to Belgium.


*I was happy to pick up a 6er of Left Hand's Milk Stout NITRO at the grocery store. I do miss stouts (Ten Fiddy etc).

 

And exactly what form of hubris is it when Germans who have not been to America make even LESS informed comments about American beer. They make the comments without having ever tried a German-brewed Pale, IPA etc., nor an imported one. Granted, it's WAY easier to find imported German beers in America, than it is to find imported beers in Germany (unless it's imported Mexican or Asian or Czech industrial fizzy yellow beers...those are VERY easy to find from Berlin to Munich).

Whenever making a statement, try flipping it the other direction to try it on and see how it floats.

I am in Germany now. I have been around the country quite a bit (though not exhaustively by any means). I have been around the US quite a bit (much more exhaustively), and I can tell you that there are literally AMAZING German style versions of beers being brewed all over. The World Beer Cup will tell you that as well. Germany makes amazing German style beers. America makes amazing German style beers. Germany makes very very very scant few amazing versions of American style beers. Today that is. Tomorrow, that won't be the case as there will be a lot (whether or not Stone ever opens in the country).