German Beer Appreciation Thread (2026)

Fall like weather in January calls for fall like beer. Ayinger Oktober Fest Märzen 5.8%.
Prost!

 

. Hey, I offered to send you a bear trap, but did you take me up on the offer? Nooooo.

Back to sincerity… your comment has me willing to try this one. I have only ever found old bottles and have been reluctant to give it a try.

 

A Fresh(er) Rothaus Tannenzäpfle

The discussion in this thread concerning Rothaus Tannenzäpfle got me thinking: it has been a while since I have drunk this beer. I am fortunate that my local Retail Beer Distributor has this beer available with the bonus being that the beer is not too old. Rothaus uses a best by dating code and my bottle lists 270226, which means this beer is best consumed by February 27, 2026. Rothaus uses a six month best by duration for this beer so this beer is less than five months old which is pretty fresh for a German import.



I enjoyed drinking this beer.

Prost!

P.S. I discussed Rothaus Tannenzäpfle in a past NBW post within the context of a side-by-side tasting with Von Trapp Bavarian Pilsner:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-weekend-21.651977/#post-7116379

 

I'd drink that all the time if I had access to it. It's been too long!

 

I hope you have a HUGE piggy bank. That sixpack costed over 21 bucks.
Prost!

 

What!?!?! Well, I think it was costing close to $18-$19 the last time I bought it.

 

Welcome to the world of inflation?

Regardless, 18-19 bucks is waaay too high IMO.

You are welcome to your own opinion here.

Cheers!

 

Got an early out from work today. Celebrating with a Weihenstephaner Vitus Weizenbock 7.7%.
Prost!

 

Germany really is in a league of its own when it comes to beer. I have spent time drinking everything from small Franconian Kellerbiers to classic Bavarian Helles, and the consistency is what always amazes me - even a random village brewery can be excellent. The focus on balance, drinkability, and tradition (not hype) is refreshing, and styles like Helles, Pils, and Dunkel prove you don’t need extreme flavors to make great beer. Prost to the breweries that quietly get it right year after year.

 

I just bought a sixer yesterday, the best by date is late February. I hesitated but bought it figuring it would be the freshest i will come across short of going to a remote area of Germany!

 

Wow, the SRM is pretty freakin' close, both beautiful pours!
Jack, I bought the same vintage yesterday for $22.99 at the Appalachian Vintner in Asheville. I assumed it had a one-year best by date, good to know it is six months! As an aside, i have found most of my favorite Belgian and some German brew prices have increased by up to 25% since the Covid onset (looking at you St. Bernardus ABT12!)
Cheers!
Tom

 

A good beer for this blustery, snowy evening.

Ayinger Celebrator 6.7%

 

Are you questioning whether tariffs are the reason for some German beers being so expensive in the US (e.g., $21+ for a six-pack of Rothaus)?

If so, I suspect the answer is no to that question.

At my local Wegmans supermarket, below are prices for Bitburger beers:

“Bitburger 4/16.9oz cans

67.2 fl. oz.

Price is: $8.99/ea”

And:

“Bitburger Pilsner 12/11.2oz Cans

134.4 fl. oz.

Price is: $19.99/ea”

I have a strong suspicion that your prices in Germany are less than those above but from my perspective a four-pack of large cans for 9 bucks is a reasonable price.

Needless to say, but I think differently about my recent purchase of Rothaus. Due to the elevated price this is likely my last purchase of Rothaus.

Unless I am a lottery winner:

 

Wow! Breaking news!!

The below was posted just 3 hours ago:

“President Trump said Saturday that he would impose 10% tariffs on countries that have sent military forces into Greenland amid his push to annex the Arctic island.

Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social post that the tariffs will be levied against Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland and take effect on Feb. 1, 2026. All eight countries are members of NATO.

The tariffs will be increased to 25% on June 1, Mr. Trump wrote, and remain in place "until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland."

Will these 10% tariffs actually get implemented since it is a negotiation tool? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Cheers!

P.S. Tariffs over the past 11 months have not always been reflected as price increases to the end customer. Businesses along the supply chain have absorbed a number (most?) of the tariff costs.

P.S.S. I will not be going out to stock up on German brewed beers. Plenty of German style beers being brewed by my local craft breweries plus I have a batch of Altbier that will soon complete conditioning.

 

I have the feeling my import beer drinking days are over for a while. Sorry Germany.

What a DAMF.

 

If they actually get implemented, yes. May not be reflected in prices right away but the supply chain can only absorb higher prices so long.