The Germans are known for many things; one of them is beer. Beer is an important part of their culture and heritage, with over 1300 different breweries spread across the country. As far as per capita beer consumption, the German people are only behind the Czechs and the Irish. The history of German beer goes back to the beginnings of the country when monks began to experiment with brewing around 1000 A.D. Eventually, brewing became very profitable for the monks and the country's leaders began to legislate the production of the beer. The most famous and influential factor to effect German brewing came in 1516 with the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot, or the purity requirement. The Bavarian Reinheitsgebot was ordered by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria to help ensure that Bavarian beers were only of the highest quality. The regulation states that beers should only be made of barley, hops, and water. The Reinheitsgebot is the oldest regulation put on food in the world and has not been changed in nearly 500 years. The only addition to the act is the adding of yeast to the list of vital ingredients. Brewers in the past before that had just used the yeast found naturally in the air. Because of the strict code of quality followed by the purity requirement, Bavarian breweries were soon considered the superior producers of beer. As the news about the Bavarian breweries spread across the country other manufacturers began to adhere to the act as well. As a result of the Reinheitsgebot, German beers have a long-standing reputation of making quality beers made from only the purest ingredients. As time went on and Germany began to export beer, some cities became famous brewing spots. The city of Bremen had over 600 breweries in it by 1500 and was the leading exporter of beer to Holland, Scandinavia, England, and even as far as India. Einbeck and Braunschweig were two more famous brewing cities. In modern Germany, most of the nation's beer-drinking citizens still prefer fabbier, or draught beer, over bottled beer because of it's robust taste and perfect amount of head foam. Used still today, German beer steins came into use about the time the purity requirement came along in an effort to prevent further outbreaks of the bubonic plague.

During the time of the black plague, Germany started many laws to prevent its citizens from getting sick. Large amounts of infected flies would land in people's food and spread the disease. This led to the stein, a beverage container with a hinged lid that could be operated with the thumb so a person could prevent disease and still be able to drink with one hand. As people began to realize the plague spread in unsanitary conditions with stagnant water, beer consumption went up exponentially. German beer steins were originally made of stoneware with pewter lids. As the pewter guild grew, steins began to be made entirely of pewter and stayed that way for over 300 years. Eventually, porcelain and silver steins were introduced and are still manufactured today.The Germans are known for many things; one of them is beer. Beer is an important part of their culture and heritage, with over 1300 different breweries spread across the country. As far as per capita beer consumption, the German people are only behind the Czechs and the Irish. The history of German beer goes back to the beginnings of the country when monks began to experiment with brewing around 1000 A.D. Eventually, brewing became very profitable for the monks and the country's leaders began to legislate the production of the beer. The most famous and influential factor to effect German brewing came in 1516 with the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot, or the purity requirement.