How to Celebrate International Beer Day Around the World

August 7^th marked International Beer Day, a holiday established for the purpose of celebrating beer – and those responsible for brewing it – with friends from all over the world. But depending on where or with whom you spent this blessed day, there likely exists more than a few local customs unique to the country in which you're drinking. Fortunately, Master Beer Sommelier Marc Stroobandt shared with us some of the most common and notable beer drinking customs and rituals from around the world.

Head

In many European countries, a beer's head (or foam) is just as important to the pour as the beer itself. Stroobandt reveals that Belgians will not accept a brew without a properly formed head. The same goes for Germans, who are especially sticklers for this rule at Oktoberfest, their internationally popular folk festival held in Munich each year. But even in the United States, most ales or lagers, such as Goose Island IPA or Stella Artois, for example, are best served with a head of about 1" to 1-1/2", while a few styles, such as a witbier like Hoegaarden, should be poured with a slightly fluffier top.

 Glasswear

Whereas most American beer drinkers are content to drink pretty much any beer in a standard pint glass, Belgians very much expect different styles to be served in the appropriate, corresponding container. "If you go to a bar in Belgium, don't be surprised if they refuse to serve a beer because they don't have the correct glassware," warns Stroobandt. In Cologne, Germany, you'll find a similar loyalty to glass shape – Kolsch – a hybrid beer brewed like a lager, but made with ale yeast – is only ever served in a long tube-like glass called a Stange.

Ordering

An American bartender wouldn't pour a pint of Budweiser without asking. But Stroobandt explains that when ordering a Kolsch in Cologne: "You don't order a Kolsch – the beer will just be put in front of you. And when your glass is empty, they will give you another one. When you're finished, you put your coaster on top of your glass, which means 'I've had enough,' and they will present you with the bill."

 Taste Experimentation

Historically, Eastern Asia has had no concept of different beer flavors. "Ten years ago, beer was something the Chinese and Japanese drank to quench thirst, and it was very difficult for them to comprehend the different beer styles and ingredients," says Stroobandt. But these days, all types of Western beer – especially Budweiser, the third most popular beer in China – are exported to or even brewed in Asian countries, where eager beer fans are finally experimenting with many different styles as Americans and Europeans have been for decades.

 Regional Beverages

A Busch beer would be a common find in Omaha, Nebraska, for example, where no Anheuser-Busch brewery exists. But in Europe, some beers are only meant for consumption in the areas in which they are produced. "In Belgium, the Flemish Red is very much associated with the beach," Stroobandt offers as an example. After buying a bag of shrimp from a fishmonger, one would "go to a bar and order a Flemish sour. The bar will give you a little tray lined with newspaper, and you can peel your shrimp with your beer. But you would not do this on the other side of Belgium."

Meanwhile in Germany, Rauchbier – a smoked beer -- is produced solely in Bamburg, while bocks come from Einbeck, and Kolsch is only enjoyed in Cologne. And throughout all of France, wine is cheaper than beer, which is "considered more of a thirst quencher; an aperitif…it's never ordered as the main event."

 Seasonal Drinking

Seasonal timing is equally important when drinking beer in Western Europe. As delicious as a Goose Island Bourbon County Stout may be, ordering one in the summertime would get you laughed out of a bar overseas. Fruit and wheat beers would be more summer appropriate abroad – while darker colored stouts, porters, or Trappist beers are meant for the colder weather in the winter.

Meanwhile, inhabitants of Eastern European countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Croatia don't seem to drink any beer at all outside of the summertime. "In the winter, when brewers reduce production to 5% of regular capacity, locals only drink wine," Stroobandt reports.

 Volume

These Eastern European nations have another notable drinking tradition: bar customers will order his own giant, two-liter bottle of beer, "which I thought was to share," admits Stroobandt, upon witnessing this firsthand. "But no – you buy one bottle for yourself and you're done for the night." This is quite different from the United States, where imbibers prefer smaller pours.

 There are also differences between Western European countries when it comes to size. For example, Belgium pours smaller portions than England does. "The UK has big pints, but they drink them as quickly as Belgians drink smaller beers. English people take six months to drink the same quantity of beer Belgians drink in a year." This is partially because the bars and pubs in England traditionally close relatively early, at 11 o'clock.

 Toasting

Finally, every country seems to have its own toasting custom. While we may clink in the U.S., Hungarians "will never touch glasses when saying cheers," Stroobandt explains. Legend has it that when Hungary was defeated by the Habsburgs in 1848, the Austrians celebrated by clinking their beer glasses together, and in protest, Hungarians vowed never to clink again.

Stroobandt also claims that in certain regions of Belgium, you'll want to "hold your beer glass up to a drinking buddy's cheek and say, in Flemish, 'I drink to your face.'"

To that, we say Prost, Sláinte, Kanpai, and Cheers!

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