When you think of stereotypes about Germany, one of the first that comes to mind is probably beer, Oktoberfest in Munich and strangely dressed Bavarians drinking barley juice from large jugs in quantities that are far from small. However, it is said that even the ancient Germanic tribes were very fond of "liquid gold", as told by the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus in his Germania. According to his account, they drank for days and nights, with horns full of drink in their hands and lying on bear skins because they could put up with the cold, but not with thirst. So Tacitus had the original idea that the Germanic tribes could be defeated not by the strength of arms, but by simply supplying intoxicating beverages. However, it is not known whether or not Romans followed this beautiful idea. In any case, the findings of archaeological tombs show that beer was brewed with fermented bread in the soil of present-day Germany from 800 BC at the latest.

There are currently about 6000 different types of beer in Germany, making the Federal Republic the largest producer of beer in Europe. To guarantee quality, the Purity Law has been in force since 1516, according to which only hops, malt and water can be used in the production process. Interestingly, the Purity Law does not mention fermentation agents, such as yeast, without which the fermentation process cannot start, and so no alcohol is produced.

In 1881, Otto von Bismarck aptly described the Germans' great desire to spend their time drinking beer: "We Germans kill so much time with something so small as drinking beer." The most popular beers are Pilsener, Helles, Export, Kölsch or wheat beer, among others. However, despite the stereotype, the Germans are not the first in Europe in terms of consumption, but have to admit defeat to the Austrians and, above all, the Czechs. Within Germany, the most beer is drunk in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.

Bavaria is also home to the world's oldest monastery brewery, which is still active.  Monks have tirelessly brewed beers in the Weltenburg Abbey since 1050, with names as rich as Barock Dunkel, Asam Bock or Winter-Traum. It is said that the Bavarians have a very special love for their national drink. The Catholic theologian Johann Baptist Metz expressed it in few words: "The Bavarian has an earthly relationship with religion and a mystical one with beer."

There are some rules for drinking beer that many Germans follow for the most part. Do not just bring the glass to your mouth and let the cold drink slide down your throat. Instead, you should toast each other and - very importantly - look each other in the eye. If you don't, you risk having seven years of bad sex, as the saying goes. Before taking a sip, the glass should be put on the table for a moment and only then can it be drunk.

Just how much the enjoyment of beer is an integral part of German culture is also clear in the language. For example, if you want to say that you have nothing to do with a matter or that you don't want to know anything about it, you can say, "That's not my beer." If you want to point out that beer is simply a staple, you can succinctly say, "Beer is bread."

So, cheers!