Who drinks the most beer, then? And did you know that beer wasn’t even invented in Europe? Here are seven fascinating beer facts to impress your friends…

Beer has inspired countless intriguing stories. For instance, in the UK, it’s estimated that around 93,000 liters of beer are lost annually because they get trapped in men’s beards.

In the U.S. state of Oregon, a brewery once crafted a beer using wild yeast from the brewmaster’s own beard.

Meanwhile, in Munich, you can find ice cream flavored with Weissbier or Helles beer.

Here’s another odd fact: If your beer smells like cannabis, it’s not a mistake—hops and cannabis belong to the same plant family.

Let’s dive into more surprising beer facts that will make you the star of any conversation.

1. The World’s Oldest Brewery is in Bavaria

If you consider yourself a beer purist, a visit to Bräustüberl Weihenstephan is a must. Located in Freising, near Munich, this monastery brewery holds the title of the oldest continuously operating brewery in the world.

A bit of history: In 1040, Benedictine monks received official brewing rights from the city of Freising, giving birth to the Weihenstephan Monastic Brewery. However, records suggest they had already been brewing long before that.

In fact, as early as 768 AD, documents mention that hops were cultivated in the monastery’s gardens—likely for brewing beer.

Today, Weihenstephaner Berg is a hub of modern brewing. It houses both the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan and the Brewing and Food Technology School of the Technical University of Munich.

Bavaria is also home to the highest density of breweries in the world, particularly in the Franconian Switzerland (Fränkische Schweiz) region. The small town of Aufseß holds a world record: four breweries for just 1,400 residents, making it the city with the most breweries per capita.

2. Who Invented Beer?

While the world’s oldest brewery is in Germany, beer itself wasn’t invented there.

According to the Guinness World Records, the earliest written mentions of beer date back to 5,000 BC in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq).

In the ancient city of Uruk, laborers were often paid with beer instead of money.

Though no one can pinpoint the exact inventor, historians believe that the Sumerians were the first to brew beer. Their recipes, written on clay tablets, provide evidence of early brewing techniques.

In Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, beer was a staple drink, enjoyed by all social classes. It was even used as payment or a wedding dowry.

3. How Much Beer Do Germans Drink?

At Oktoberfest 2011, the world’s largest beer festival, attendees consumed 7.5 million liters of beer.

However, Germany isn’t the world’s top beer consumer. According to Brewers of Europe, the top beer-drinking nations per capita are:

• Czech Republic – 135 liters per person
• Austria – 100 liters per person
• Germany – 95 liters per person

In Germany, beer consumption has actually declined from 92.4 liters per capita in 2020 to 89.4 liters in 2021.

4. Germany’s Strongest Beer

The most potent beer brewed in Germany is called “Strength in Numbers”, boasting an alcohol content of 57.8%.

A 40ml bottle of this extreme brew costs €29.90, which equates to an astonishing €747.50 per liter.

5. How Many Types of Beer Exist?

Germany is home to over 1,500 breweries producing around 7,000 different types of beer.

The main categories include:

• Pils, Helles, Export
• Weißbier, Kölsch, Alt
• Lambic, Gueuze

6. Germany’s Most Popular Beer

The most popular beer in Germany is Pils, which holds a dominant 50% market share.

Other favorites include:

• Helles (10%)
• Beer mixes (Radler, Cola-Weizen, etc.) (7.6%)
• The best-known German beer brands are Krombacher, Beck’s, and Warsteiner.

7. The Most Expensive Beer Ever Sold

The priciest bottle of beer ever auctioned was a Löwenbräu Lager from the Hindenburg airship that survived the disaster in 1937.

It was sold at auction for a staggering €11,000.