On our Europe vacation, once we hit Germany the beer and beer gardens were everywhere. It was pretty awesome.
But, wait, why did it all start?
Well, our awesomely cute and smart tour guide gave us the low down.
Beer actually became popular for a very practical reason. See back in the day, Europe's water was not what you would describe as clean. And Europeans needed nourishment. Combine those things and you have beer. During the brewing process the hops disinfect the water. Clean water-check. Then they needed the nourishment. Yep, beer has calories. Nourishment-check.
And a biergarten in Germany has several characteristics, which are practical... who knew. I just think of a beer garden as a lovely atmosphere.
Usually the beer was stored in the cellar right below the garden above. In order to keep the beer cool in the cellar, they needed trees. Trees that provide a lot of shade (because of large leaves). And the cellar is right below the trees so said trees need shallow roots. Which trees do you think typical biergartens use? I'll give you a second to think this one over.
Chestnut.
Yep, chestnut trees shading the people and (possibly more importantly) the beer below in the cellar.
All this fun knowledge, but really it's a laid back atmosphere that I could hang out in all day!
But, wait, why did it all start?
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| Kelheim |
Well, our awesomely cute and smart tour guide gave us the low down.
Beer actually became popular for a very practical reason. See back in the day, Europe's water was not what you would describe as clean. And Europeans needed nourishment. Combine those things and you have beer. During the brewing process the hops disinfect the water. Clean water-check. Then they needed the nourishment. Yep, beer has calories. Nourishment-check.
 |
| Kelheim |
And a biergarten in Germany has several characteristics, which are practical... who knew. I just think of a beer garden as a lovely atmosphere.
Usually the beer was stored in the cellar right below the garden above. In order to keep the beer cool in the cellar, they needed trees. Trees that provide a lot of shade (because of large leaves). And the cellar is right below the trees so said trees need shallow roots. Which trees do you think typical biergartens use? I'll give you a second to think this one over.
Chestnut.
Yep, chestnut trees shading the people and (possibly more importantly) the beer below in the cellar.
 |
| Nuremberg |
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| covering glasses is typical...lots of bees |
All this fun knowledge, but really it's a laid back atmosphere that I could hang out in all day!
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| Weltenburg Abbey brewery |
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