Guide to German beer: What to know about Oktoberfest & the best beer to try in Germany

Oktoberfest by the numbers

• Six million people attend Oktoberfest every year
• The festival grounds cover the size of about 16 soccer fields
• There are 19 tents in total—14 big tents and 15 small tents
• About 7.9 million liters of beer are sold (this doesn’t include wheat beer, wine, or soft drinks)
• Not a beer drinker? No problem! About 95,000 liters of wine are sold (there are also wine tents that exclusively sell wine)

What to know about beer in Germany

Various reports list Germany somewhere around second and fourth in the world when it comes to per capita beer consumption. Germany produces over 5,000 brands of beer out of 1,300 breweries, and the highest density of breweries in the world is reportedly found just outside Bamberg. From the 16th century until 1987, beer in Germany was strictly regulated by a purity law, the Reinheitsgebot, which stated that water, barley, hops, yeast, and sugar were the only ingredients that could be used in German-style beers. Today, regulations are a bit more lax—but that doesn’t mean that Germans are any less serious about their brewing.

How do you order German beers at Oktoberfest?

The most important question to ask. Here are some things to know about ordering at Oktoberfest:

• Beers typically cost about €11.40
• Most tents accept cash only (but there are ATMs available)
• Tipping is encouraged and typically rounded up (tip €12 for an €11.40 beer)
• If you’re with a group, you can tip in advance (you’ll have the same waiter or waitress the entire time you’re at your table)
• Once you finish your glass, leave it at the table (you can’t take the glass out of the tent!)

Famous German beer traditions at Oktoberfest

Warm up those vocal cords! One of the biggest Oktoberfest traditions is singing Ein Prosit, which translates to “a toast to coziness.” Ein Prosit gets sung about every 10—20 minutes and always ends in a cheers (so pace yourself!). When going in for a cheers, be sure to hold the beer with your fingers completely wrapped around the handle. If you have your fingers on the glass, you might accidentally hit them on your cheers partner’s glass.

Here are the best beers to try in Germany

Helles

Always wondered what people were drinking in those giant mugs (called steins) at Oktoberfest? It most likely is Helles, one of the top German beers at Oktoberfest. Helles is brewed specifically for the event and is from Munich breweries only. It even has a little bit more alcohol than normal.

• Produced in: Munich, Germany
• Pairs well with: Pretzels, samosas, colby cheese, baklava
• Tasting notes: Light sweetness, toasty finish, spicy hop flavor
• ABV: 5.6–6.2%