An introduction to German beer

Many of the best-known German beer brands have long belonged to international corporations. But true charm can be found among the numerous small operations dotting the country. There are more than 1,350 different breweries and 5,500 unique brands in Germany. Producing more than 95 million hectoliters a year (over 2.5 billion gallons), Germany is the biggest beer producer in Europe.

In terms of production volume, Oettinger and Krombacher are neck-and-neck in the race for first place. The graphic uses data made available in 2014. According to recent preliminary calculations, Krombacher now has the slight edge, thanks to its more robust sales abroad.

The main brand of a family business bearing the same name, Oettinger is one of the most successful brands in Germany. The company works according to the discount principle: high quality, low price, direct distribution and no marketing. In addition to its headquarters in the small Swabian town of Oettingen, Oettinger beer is brewed in the towns of Gotha, Mönchengladbach and Braunschweig.

Germans have been drinking less and less beer over the past few decades. At its height in 1980, per-capita consumption was nearly 146 liters (32 gallons) per year. In 2015, it was just 106 liters. In comparison, citizens of the Czech Republic consumed an average of 144 liters last year.

Founded in 1803, Krombacher has belonged to the Schadeberg family since 1922. It gets its name from the part of town where its brewery is located in Kreuztal, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia. Krombacher Pils is the most-sold Pilsner beer in Germany, and its alcohol-free beer is a category leader as well. Krombacher is a Bundesliga and Formula 1 sponsor.

When it comes to the sheer volume of beer consumed by different world regions, Asia lies clearly at the top, owing in part to its vast population. Asia consumes less beer per capita though compared with Europe.

The Bitburger brewery was founded in 1817 by Johan Peter Wallenborn, whose descendants still own the company today. Its famous slogan "Bitte ein Bit" (A Bit' please), was first used on October 8, 1951, at a food sellers convention in Cologne. Today the beer is distributed to 60 countries and is the third-largest brand on the German market.

The graphic shows that German brewers are mere pipsqueaks in comparison to international beer corporations. The leader on the world market, Anheuser-Busch inBev, is close to a $100 billion deal with its closest competitor, SABMiller. The EU's competition oversight committee will decide on the legality of the merger by May.

Veltins was founded in 1824. Its headquarters are located in Meschede-Grevenstein in northwestern Germany. Susanne Veltins has been the sole owner of the company since 1994. Veltin's beer "mixes" are market leaders in Germany. It became the main sponsor of the soccer team FC Schalke 04 in 1997.