Beer Capitals of Europe

No one does beer like the Europeans. Sure, you can find fine local brews in Japan, China, Australia, Mexico and the USA, but the heart of beer making (and drinking) beats in the rain-swept cities of Northern Europe.

The world's oldest and most popular alcoholic drink, with a history going back nearly 10,000 years, found its home when it arrived in Northern Europe and made a good night great for Vikings, Franks and Celts. Today's capitals of beer making still lie in the heartlands of these ancient tribes: Germany, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Belgium and Denmark. Any self-respecting beer lover has to try the best these countries have to offer in the place they were made—you've no idea how good Guinness, Leffe or a (real) Budweiser can taste until you've tried it with the locals.

Germany

Munich, home of the legendary Oktoberfest, is the perfect destination if you want giant flagons of beer served by blonde goddesses. The capital of Bavaria in the south of Germany, Munich is a great place to visit at any time of year, and it consistently ranks as one of the best cities in the world to live in. But for the quintessential Munich experience, you need to visit in the 16 days leading up to the first weekend in October.

Oktoberfest really is just like you've seen on TV—men in lederhosen playing ‘oompah' music, women in low-cut dirndls, and the biggest glasses of beer you'll ever see. Having been at this sort of thing for centuries, the Germans have also mastered the art of eating while drinking, so you'll find huge plates of sausages, pork, roast chicken and bretzn (the Bavarian form of pretzels—delicious and huge).

The choice of beer in Munich can be daunting, but try to sample some of the local Weissbiers (brewed using wheat) or the specially brewed Oktoberfest beers. Of course, you can never go far wrong with German lagers—just avoid ordering Colabier by mistake, or you'll find yourself with a mix of cola and lager. There's a good reason that combination hasn't caught on anywhere else just yet. Good brands to try include Erdinger, Weihenstephaner, Paulaner and the Spaten Oktoberfest.

Czech Republic

The Czechs are very proud of their record of drinking more beer than anyone else in the world (they drink an average of 150 liters each every year), and as the home of lager they should know a thing or two about making it.

The most famous Czech beer is probably Budweiser. This is very different from the American beer of the same name. The original is brewed in the town of Ceske Budejovice (Budweis in German) by one of two local breweries: Budweiser Bier Bürgerbräu or the better known Budweiser Budvar. Of course Budweiser is far from the only beer in the Czech Republic. You also have the globally known Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen and the lesser known Velvet, Gambrinus and Bernard. A great place to start your education in Czech beer is Pivni Galerie in Prague, where you can find over 180 different brews. If you're looking for a Czech beer festival—many of which are held in the grounds of major breweries—just keep your eyes peeled for the words “pivni slavnosti.”

Ireland

Ireland is famous for being home to some of the friendliest people in Europe, and that's especially true in Dublin, home of blarney and the black stuff. This is the place to go for those with a taste for Guinness at its finest. Head to Temple Bar for the highest concentration of pubs in a maze of medieval cobbled streets. Here you'll find an endless supply of amazing pubs that help to ensure the Irish keep their place as the second biggest drinkers of beer in the world.

Whether you're looking for a traditional pub with a folk band and Irish dancers in the corner, or want to hang out with the likes of Bono and Colin Farrell in a designer bar, Dublin has it all. And who can resist the charms of the Irish ladies?

Belgium

No-one is more devoted to beer than the Belgians. It's not unusual to find bars in Belgium offering hundreds of choices—so if you're open to new beer experiences, this is the place to come.

The capital, Brussels, is extremely pretty, if not especially glamorous. But you will find beer everywhere you turn. You'll want to spend your time in the heart of the town near the Grand Place, where you'll find the likes of La Bier Circus, La Porte Noir, and Le Cerceuil. Beers to try include lambics (just don't ask what's in them), wheat beers, and the unique Trappist beers brewed only by monks. For a change in mood, you should also try out one of the Liefmans brown beers brewed with fruit. Odd, but delicious.

Denmark

You may not think of Denmark when you think of beer, but the word ‘ale' apparently came to the rest of the world from the land of the Vikings. The capital city, Copenhagen, is home to the Carlsberg brewery, one of the biggest in the world, as well as some of the planet's most beautiful people.

Admittedly, Copenhagen can be breathtakingly expensive, but if you get the chance to visit you'll soon understand why the Danes are officially the happiest people in the world. They can appear a little reserved at first, but scratch below the surface and you'll find they're remarkably friendly and great lovers of beer. Perhaps because of the long, freezing winter nights, the Danes specialize in bars full of Hygge, a uniquely Danish term meaning something like “cozy.” A couple of days spent sampling the best that Copenhagen has to offer should be enough to have you falling in love with this beautiful city.

So if you love beer, you love the idea of traveling to Europe and you're ready to make friends with kindred souls in some of the most amazing places you'll ever see, why not try a tour? After drinking your way across Europe, you'll never see beer in the same way again!