Pilsner, Alt, Kölsch, Weizen, Helles, Dunkles – those are just some of Germany's well-known types of beer. Between 5,000 and 6,000 different kinds of beer are brewed in the country. Depending on the region, there are certain types of beer that people like to drink – like Kölsch in Cologne or Altbier in Düsseldorf. Even though both cities on the Rhine are not far from each other, you cannot order Altbier in Cologne, and vice versa. For all its diversity, beer in Germany may only be brewed with malt, hops, water and yeast – as specified in the Bavarian "Reinheitsgebot" (purity order) of 1516.

Germany is internationally known as a beer nation. In 2020, 95 liters of beer per capita were consumed in Germany, putting the country in third place in Europe. But beer consumption is declining, and not just since the coronavirus pandemic. Drinking patterns overall have changed. Heading out for a beer after work no longer goes without saying. People are also paying more attention to nutrition. Despite the decline in beer consumption, however, the number of breweries in Germany has grown. That's because many small craft beer breweries have cropped up, especially in big cities. The craft beers appeal to "beer gourmets" who want something special. Non-alcoholic beer is also becoming increasingly popular in Germany. It now has a 7% market share.