Food Guide in Hamburg: Tasting the Culture of Beer

Hamburg's beer culture has developed in a colorful and diverse way over the past 10 years. Along with the well-known large breweries such as Astra and Holsten, more than 30 exciting breweries, brewpubs, brewing projects, beer bars, and beer shops have been set up in this Hanseatic city. Today, you can discover Hamburg's beer culture by taking brewery tours and brewing courses, going to beer festivals and mini beer museums, doing beer yoga, and taking part in tasting events with over 300 different kinds of beer. Today's Hamburg is an exciting culinary and cultural city that is crying out to be explored to its fullest!

1,000 Years of Beer Culture

Hamburg's beer history, which spans more than 1,000 years, goes way back to the Norsemen or Vikings, who drank an early version of our beer — a special kind of fermented ale. From the 12th century onwards, Hamburg rose to prominence as the "home of brewing for the Hanseatic League." No other place produced and exported beer in such lavish quantities as our medieval Hanseatic city. In total, Hamburg exported almost 600,000 hectoliters per year. The success was also due to Hamburg's exposed location on the water: the harbor was an ideal place for trade and transshipment, and Alster River, which was dammed from the 12th century onwards, also provided the fresh water that was needed for brewing beer.

In the mid-16th century, Hamburg had over 500 breweries. Beer consumption per capita was over 500 liters a year (compared to today's 100 liters per capita). The reason for this was that beer was considered a staple food at that time and was much healthier than water, as germs and bacteria were killed in the brewing process. The so-called light beer had a moderate alcohol content of 1-2 %, making it quite drinkable.

It's a little-known fact that the first wheat beer was brewed in Hamburg, not Bavaria! And Hamburg's red beer, pale ale, porter, and stout were consumed well into the early 20th century. However, the 20th century wasn't relevant for the development of Hamburg's beer culture, as wars and brewery closures marked these 100 years. From the 1980s onwards, with the mass production of industrial beers, the consolidation of types of beer began, which favored Pilsener and Lager.

Revitalizing the Diversity of Beer

Since 2012, Hamburg has seen a "Renaissance" of its beer culture with the "Craft Beer" movement, which came to Germany from the USA. The term "Craft" refers to speciality beer that is made in independent breweries. "Craft beer breweries" tend to be breweries that distance themselves from the mega-brewery corporations and instead choose to hone their craft by brewing beer that is made with fresh, high-quality raw materials and genuine passion.

For example, over the past 10 years, more than 15 small and medium-sized breweries and brewing projects have been founded in Hamburg. In the respective home breweries, brewpubs, and the breweries' taprooms, which often also have inviting outdoor areas, you can taste the beer brewed on-site. Beer really doesn't get any fresher than this!