The Beer Route Around The World

The most consumed alcoholic beverage in the world, preferred by the British and the most sought after in any bar, pub or restaurant in any destination.

It is also the drink that most unites people at a bar table, regardless of nationality and preferred style. Pilsen, Ale, IPA, Stout, Burgundy, with coffee, bread, wheat aromas... the wide range of beers is perhaps second only to the range of juices.

That Germany is the reference when it comes to beer, especially Munich, you must have heard. But what if I told you that destinations like Prague, Brussels, Dusseldorf and even Denver, in the United States, are also excellent beer destinations?

Brief history of beer

The history of beer is millenary, going back more than 7 thousand years with the people of Mesopotamia, a region known today as part of Iraq, who produced a very rudimentary version of the drink. At the time, the liquid was very dark, viscous and solid pieces remained as a result of fermentation.

However, it was during the expansion of the Roman Empire, between 800 and 500 BC, that the drink began to gain more popularity, when it was consumed by legionaries. By the way, it was the Romans who brought beer to the United Kingdom.

In the Middle Ages, already in the 12th century, beer began to be consumed on a larger scale in countries of Northern and Eastern Europe, where the cultivation of grapes for wine production was very difficult or inappropriate.

However, the way in which we consume beer was only established centuries later. More precisely in 1487, when Munich established the law of purity in beer production.

Thus it was established that only three ingredients could be used in production: water, barley and hops. Beer that deviated from this composition was confiscated and discarded.

In 1516, after the unification of Germany, the law began to cover the entire region of Munich and became known as the Bavarian Purity Law.

After the foundation of the Weimar Republic, with the outbreak of the first world war, the Purity Law was applied throughout Germany. Even adopting the law across Germany was a prerequisite for the Bavarian region to accept being part of the new constitution of the German state.

The base ingredients and their rules have been strictly followed throughout Germany until modern times. Over the centuries, the law began to be relaxed and other ingredients were adopted.

Outside of Germany, other countries made their own mixtures and adopted different recipes with ingredients such as: wheat, oats, as well as yeasts that give different aromas to the drink.

Some countries, like Belgium, have created their own recipes. In Brussels, for example, it is common to find more full-bodied and flavored beers. If you are in Prague, in the Czech Republic, pilssens (light and less full-bodied beers) gain more space.

Munich beer tour

History has already provided a beautiful introduction to our first stop between beer and travel. It was in the former Bavarian region of Munich that the purity law began.

And if you like beer, I won't even need to talk about Oktoberfest. Held from September to October, this is where the tradition of the purity law is maintained and celebrated to this day. It is the biggest party in the world in celebration of beer.

Water, barley and hops. Just it. With just these 3 ingredients, the brewmasters of the only six breweries that can participate in the party use all their creativity and expertise to create flavors and striking differences in their labels.

Marzen beer is the recipe traditionally consumed during Oktoberfest. With a historical taste in an event with more than 200 years of longevity.

Dusseldorf beer tour

The Dusseldorf brewery school can be classified as a blend, as it is within Germany, where the tradition of the Purity Law has always been highly respected, and close to Belgium, where the addition of other ingredients was the flagship. Ingredients such as coriander seed, fruits, honey and other spices that could add flavor to beer could be used in the Belgian beer school.

Despite being a German city, here the “globalization” of beer gains more strength and gives a different nuance to trips to this city.

The breweries mix the styles of the brewing schools and make a visit around the city a full dish for admirers of the drink.

Prague beer tour

Even today in Prague, many beer producers in the country have chosen not to automate production and have maintained traditional methods with wooden barrels and different mechanical processes. Thus, Prague beer is very traditional and one of the most famous and produced labels in the Czech Republic is Czechvar.

in addition to the traditional labels, it is common to find beer tours that pass through the main local producers in Prague. From beer hotels to places where Bill Clinton celebrated democracy, the Czech Republic is another essential stop for anyone who loves beer and its history.

Brussels beer tour

We finally arrived in Belgium.

The Belgian school of breweries bets not only on the addition of yeast, but also other ingredients and seasonings, in the composition of the drink. Thus, it is common to find a certain nuance of smells, from flower aromas to raspberries, on different labels.

Belgian beers tend to be full-bodied and vary in terms of color, ranging from the lightest (white beers) to the darkest. One of the best known and most popular brands in Belgium is Trappist beers.

What are Trappist beers? These are beers produced by monks inside distant monasteries in Belgium. The production is counted, as they are made only to pay for the maintenance of the space where they live. All surplus profits are donated to charity.

The practice began in the Middle Ages by the Trappist Order and is still carried out today by the most traditional religious in the country.

Although there are 171 monasteries of the Trappist Order. Only 11 of them are authorized to mark their beers with the Trappist seal of authenticity (ATP). Best for lovers, who can taste a rare and traditionally Belgian beer.

Despite the popularity and the constant presence of tourists, bars in Brussels always have a list of beers in the best Belgian style.

Denver beer tour

Leaving Europe and exploring the United States a little. Denver, Colorado is one of the beer cities worth mentioning.

The tradition of producing labels in the city is recent when compared to European breweries. Many producers started making the drink between the 70s and 90s.

But that's what makes American breweries unique. They all tend to have a modern look and are not afraid to try some mix, often daring, to give a taste, aroma and appearance very different from what we are used to.

Incidentally, Denver is home to the Great American Beer Festival, one of the largest beer festivals in the United States, which takes place annually, bringing together thousands of producers from across the country.

Now that you've got all the tips, all you have to do is set up the itinerary, choose the accommodation using BITBOOK.NET, pack your suitcase and throw yourself into the charm of this amazing place.

I have no doubt that you will have unforgettable days. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and we'll be happy to answer them!