Bavarian Lager/light beer and export
Lager and light beer are so-called "full beers". This category covers the majority of beers brewed in the state and includes all beers with an original gravity measure of between 11 and 16%. This measure denotes the percentage of ingredients from malt which mainly comprises malt sugar but also the malt related minerals and vitamins, in the beer before the fermentation process begins. Bavarian light lager is known as "Helles".Bavarian Bockbier
These range form a “bock“ beer brewed at Christmas through lent brewed strong beers to the bock brewed for May day. In the cooler seasons of winter and spring beer drinkers like to turn to the stronger beers produced by the southern German vats. For example a bock beer has an alcohol content of over 6 % and a double bock over 7%. Some of the particularly strong bocks such as the ice bock can even go as high as over 10 %. In comparison a normal beer has a strength of around 4.5 to 5.0 %. The name "Starkbier" or "Bockbier" denotes that it has an original gravity of at least 16%. A double bock goes even further as it must have an original gravity of over 18%.Bavarian Wheat beers
Wheat beer that is often also called "Weissbier" is really trendy at the moment. It is a traditional top-fermented Bavarian beer and is available in a range of brews:There are light, crystal clear brews i.e. clear beers with no yeast clouding. The beer has a high carbon dioxide content and when served in the traditional tall glasses the wealth of bubbles rising through the drink give it an appearance that is not dissimilar to sparkling wine giving rise to its popular name of champagne wheat beer.
The most popular type of wheat beer at the moment are the yeast wheat beers – both light and dark. Consumers believe that the presence of the yeast makes the beer particularly easy to digest. The cloudy look of the beer is seen as a sign of its purity and its naturalness.
The surge of light beers being consumed today has also had its impact on the wheat beers. A light wheat beer has 30 - 40% less alcohol and fewer calories than a normal beer. Proof of the popularity of light wheat beers lies in the statistics: some 1.5% of all wheat beers drunk are light ones. This is a far higher percentage than for most other beers. Alcohol free wheat beers are increasing in popularity and are available now everywhere in Bavaria.