BEER in Germany and the U.S. In this Blog, I`m going to talk about the difference between German beer and the beer in the U.S. Also, I want to talk about the different laws for drinking alcohol. In Germany, we have a law about how to brew a Beer which is called: “German Beer Purity Law” (Rheinheitsgebot). This law is about the ingredients permitted to use for German Beer. For example, you are not allowed to brew a German Pils without bottom fermenting yeast and the other ingredients are only barley malt, hops and water. The same applies for German Weizen. You are not allowed to brew it without top fermented yeast but for German Weizen you are permitted to use other malt varieties, cane, beet and starched sugar. But normally you are not allowed to brew with sugar or for example cinnamon spice. If you want to brew with other ingredients you are not allowed to call it “Beer” (Bier) One reason for this law is because the people who made the law wanted to save the good and more valuable wheat and rye for the bakers. In the U.S., it is totally different. I visited three Craft-Beer Brewery’s (WYOLD West Brewery in Powell, Millstone Brewery in Cody and the Red Lodge Ales Brewery in Red Lodge MT) and the small breweries called craft-beer-breweries are very common in the U.S. all this small breweries also have eating facilities. So, you don’t go to this kind of Brewery because you want to get drunk, no, most of the times whole families go to have lunch and the children can play in a special room so that the parents can try or enjoy the different kinds of Beer. One day, my friends’ family from two friends invited me to have lunch and to try the different kinds of Beer with them in the Millstone Brewery in Cody WY. The father of my two friends showed me a special Beer for the cold days, it was a Beer with cinnamon and Christmas taste. Another day the same friends took me to the Red Lodge Brewery in MT and again we ate something and tried different kinds of beer. I tried a Beer which is called Coconut Porter and it is brewed with coconut shavings and almonds. It was good. You can also see where the Brew-Master is working, and they can give you a little tour of the brewery. Basically, here in the U.S. you can brew beer with all the ingredients you want to, there are no rules. In Illinois, they brew beer with a special pizza taste and a lot of beers here contain honey as an additional ingredient. Some States have different laws as far as brewing beer is concerned, for example here in Wyoming you are not allowed to brew a beer which has more than eight % alcohol, and if you brew a beer which has a higher alcohol level you must serve it in some smaller glasses. I also want to talk about the different laws concerning the consumption of alcohol. In the U.S. in contrast to Germany you are only allowed to drink when you are 21 years old. The same law is valid for going inside a bar. That is why most breweries have restaurant facilities inside so families can go together and have a good day. In Germany, you can go into a bar when you are 16 years old and you can drink wine and Beer there. If you turn 18 you can drink all kinds of alcohol. Furthermore, in Germany, you are allowed to drink outside, for example in the park or at a street festival, here in the U.S. you have to stay inside the bar or a private home in order to be allowed to drink beer or alcohol. I think it is interesting how different the laws and conditions are.
A Forest Service worker photographed a fire burning inside a tree. He said there is no filter on the photo, rather, the fire is so hot this is its actual color.
This shot was a winner of a weekly National Geographic photo contest. Taken by Wayne Wetherbee.
While on safari in Africa, on the Okavango Delta, Botswana photographing wildlife, this leopard had made a kill and brought it to her cub high in a tree. While her cub was safe feeding, she made her way back down the tree through some heavy grass toward me with her head down. For a brief moment she lifted her head and I was able to get the shot. Her damaged eye did not effect her ability to hunt. After reviewing the shot it was almost as if this magnificent cat had an eye on the Universe.
