German Beer

1. Despite the month implied by its name, Munich's annual 16-day Oktoberfest actually begins in mid-September and ends on the first Sunday in October.
2. Beck's is not only Germany's top export beer, it also accounts for 85% of all German beer exports to the United States.
3. The original text of the Reinheitsgebot only had three ingredients: barley, hops, and water. Yeast wasn't mentioned for another 35 years.
4. In Bavaria, beer is legally defined as a staple food.
5. In Germany, some pubs charge a flat hourly fee for customers to drink all the beer or wine they want.