| It’s simply impossible to separate German drinking culture and the art of brewing beer. Actually, it’s all but impossible to separate German culture and beer, that’s how deeply connected it is to the fabric of the country. Beer — and its presence at the country’s most iconic national drinking event, Oktoberfest — have long dominated global awareness of Germany’s alcohol production, and with good reason. Yet, even with such an emphasis on beer, there’s plenty of other drinking traditions that have been built up in the country. There’s a massive German wine scene, and their traditional rieslings have become internationally acclaimed. In the southern part of the country, an emphasis on fruit brandies that draw from the bounty of the Black Forest is well-established, and during the last few decades, a new generation of local distillers have cropped up to produce gin and other spirits. All of these industries, plus incredible bar scenes in cosmopolitan hubs like Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Cologne, mean that cocktail culture, wine and spirits of all kinds are alive and well in Germany — even if beer continues to be king. To explore all that and more, here’s a deeper look into how these libations define the German drinking identity. | 