Prost! (cheers)

My number 9 Thing I Actually Like about Germany is... their Drinking culture!

I think Germany is the best drinking country in the world. They make excellent wines, beers and liquors and do not seem to have severe problems with overindulgence. They foster drinking communities through neighborhood Kneipes (like a pub/bar) where groups of friends can claim a Stammtisch, or reserved table. Sure, you may find over-served Germans at these bars, but who cares? A drunk German will just become rosy cheeked and possibly start singing songs about mountains or Austria. A drunk Brit, on the other hand, might try to stab you.

Germans are great at ritual, which is what makes drinking here so satisfying. Here in the 'Furt we drink Apfelwein, not found outside the state of Hessen. So Apfelwein is always served in a dimpled glass out of a ceramic pitcher, or Bemble. We also drink Henniger beer, brewed not 500 yards from our apartment and Rheingauer Riesling, grown one hour north of the city. Each drink has it's own glass, it's own temperature, it's own season, etc. It's orderly and evocative of traditions and merriment that have been taking place long before you turned 21 (or 18, as it is here).

And the Germans show a flexibility and creativity in their drinking culture that is rarely seen in other parts of the country's persona. I have previously written about Diesel (coke + beer), but there is also Jaegermeister tee, mulled wine, spiked cider, and my favorite raspberry beer. The Germans allow their fancies to take over at the tap.