Lyla Lindsey
Austria is known for its wine, but Austrians actually drink more beer than wine. There are 360 distinct brands of beer produced by 66 breweries, including large breweries like Stiegl and Ottakringer, and small breweries like the hand brewery in Kalsdorf. If you're drinking beer in Austria, it's important to know the local customs, like how to say cheers (Prost!) and the fact that you shouldn't start drinking until you've said Prost! to everyone at your table and they've returned the compliment. Now, if you want to order a beer, you can say Ein Bier, bitte (One beer please).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to say beer in Austrian German | Ein Bier |
| How to say cheers in Austria | Prost |
| Beer drinking ritual | Clink glasses with each person at the table, maintain eye contact, and wait for them to return the compliment before drinking |
| Number of distinct brands | 360 |
| Number of breweries | 66 |
| Most common beer | Märzen |
| Most popular beer that isn't owned by Brau Union | Stiegl |
| Vienna's big local brewery | Ottakringer |
| Oldest brewery in Vorarlberg | Mohrenbrauerei |
| Largest tavern and brewery in Austria | Bräustübl |
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What You'll Learn
Common beer types: Märzen, Stiegl, Weizenbier, and more
When it comes to beer, Austria has a lot to offer. With 360 distinct brands produced by 66 breweries, the country is a great place to enjoy a cold one. Here are some of the most common beer types you'll find in Austria:
Märzen
Austrian Märzen is a filtered lager that holds about 60% of the market share. It's important to distinguish it from Bavarian Märzen, which tends to be malt-accented and has an ABV between 5.5% and 5.9%. In contrast, Austrian Märzen is more like a Munich Helles, with a golden-yellow colour, a balanced blend of malt and hops, and a milder ABV that typically stays below 5%. This beer style is so significant that nearly every Austrian brewery produces its version. Stiegl, Austria's largest privately-owned brewery, offers a popular Märzen called Stiegl Goldbräu, the country's top-selling bottled beer.
Stiegl
Speaking of Stiegl, it's one of the most common and well-known beer brands in Austria, founded in 1492 in Salzburg. They brew a variety of beers, including a helles (light lager), a Weissbier (Hefeweizen), and several specialty beers like grapefruit Radler and Stiegl-Keller. Stiegl's brewery in Salzburg features a beer hall/restaurant with stunning views and diverse dining options.
Weizenbier (Wheat Beer)
Weizenbier, or wheat beer, is the most popular type of beer in the western regions of Austria, particularly in Salzburg. Stiegl, Augustiner Bräu, and Edelweiss are among the breweries offering this style.
Regional Specialties
Austria has a decentralised brewing industry, with many small, regional brewers. Here are some popular beers from different regions:
- Upper Austria: Kaiser, Zipfer, Kapsreiter, and Freistädter Bier (a unique brewery owned by the residents of Freistadt).
- Styria: Gösser, Puntigamer, and Murauer.
- Carinthia: Hirter, produced in the town of Hirt.
- Lower Austria: Egger, Zwettler, Schwechater, and Wieselburger.
- Tyrol and Vorarlberg: Falkenstein, Frastanzer, Mohrenbräu, Starkenberger, Zillertaler, Fohrenburger, and Der Wilde (Wildschönau Brewery).
Vienna
In Vienna, Ottakringer is the beer of choice, especially in the eastern states and provinces. It has achieved cult status, with one of its canned variants named "16er-Blech," reflecting the fact that Ottakring is Vienna's 16th district.
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How to order a beer: Ein Bier, bitte
Ordering a beer in Austria is simple. All you need to say is "Ein Bier, bitte", which means "One beer, please". This will likely get you a Märzen, the most common beer in Austria and a light lager with 5% alcohol content and a mildly bitter taste.
Austria has a rich beer history, particularly in Vienna, which is known as the origin of the Viennese lager. The Schwechat brewery, located halfway between Vienna and Vienna Airport, is still one of Austria's largest breweries, though the beer they produce today differs from the original Viennese style.
There are 66 breweries in Austria, producing 360 distinct beer brands. Many of these are small breweries that focus on providing alternatives to the larger breweries' offerings. Some notable small breweries include the "hand brewery" in the village of Kalsdorf, south of Graz, and the "1516 Brewing Company" in Vienna's inner city.
When drinking beer with Austrians, it's important to follow the behavioural rituals associated with saying "cheers", or "Prost". It is considered rude to start drinking before saying "Prost" to everyone at the table and having them return the compliment. You should also look each person in the eye as you clink glasses with them.
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The Prost ritual: Say Prost!, clink glasses, and make eye contact
The Prost ritual is an important aspect of drinking culture in Austria, and it is considered rude to start drinking before completing this ritual. The ritual involves saying "Prost!", clinking glasses, and making eye contact. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Saying "Prost!": This is the Austrian equivalent of saying "cheers". It is customary to say "Prost!" as a toast before taking your first sip of beer. Make sure everyone at the table has their drink, and then say "Prost!" with enthusiasm and a ready, willing, and brave heart.
- Clinking Glasses: As you say "Prost!", clink your glass with each person at the table who is within reach. It is important to avoid clinking glasses over or under another pair of clinking glasses. Wait for a free space to clink glasses, and if someone joins the table late, it is polite to apologize before clinking glasses with them.
- Making Eye Contact: When clinking glasses, look each person directly in the eye. This is an important part of the ritual, as it is a sign of declaring your readiness and willingness to share a drink with them. It is not a time for modesty, so make sure to maintain eye contact as you say "Prost!" and clink glasses.
Remember, the Prost ritual is a fun and social way to connect with others and show your enthusiasm for the drink. So, the next time you're out with Austrians, impress them with your knowledge of their drinking rituals and don't forget to say "Prost!" with confidence and a smile!
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Popular breweries: Ottakringer, Stiegl, Gösser, and more
When it comes to popular breweries in Austria, there are several notable mentions. Let's take a closer look at Ottakringer, Stiegl, Gösser, and a few others.
Ottakringer
Ottakringer is a well-known brewery based in Vienna, Austria. It is particularly prevalent in the eastern states and has gained a cult following over the years. Ottakringer is known for its innovative marketing strategies, such as providing chilled "Ottarocker" cans at rock festival campsites in Austria, enhancing its popularity among festival-goers. The name "Ottakringer" is derived from Ottakring, the 16th district of Vienna, and the beer has earned a dedicated fan base.
Stiegl
Stiegl, founded in 1492, is another prominent brewery in Austria. It boasts the highest market share among private breweries in the country. Stiegl brews a variety of beers, including a helles (light lager), a Weissbier (Hefeweizen), and specialty beers like a grapefruit Radler. The brewery also has a large museum dedicated to beer and beer-making on the outskirts of Salzburg, making it a popular destination for beer enthusiasts.
Gösser
Gösser is a significant brewery in the southern region of Styria. Along with Puntigamer and Murauer, it represents the Styrian breweries in Austria. Gösser is part of the Brau Union Österreich AG, a larger brewing company that owns several popular beer brands in Austria.
Other Notable Breweries
In addition to the above-mentioned breweries, there are several other popular breweries and beer brands in Austria. Here are a few more worth mentioning:
- Puntigamer and Wieselburger are recommended by Austrian beer enthusiasts and are part of the Brau Union Österreich AG.
- Schwechater and Zwettler are brewed in Lower Austria and have a presence in the Austrian beer market.
- Freistädter Bier is a unique brewery in Freistadt, Upper Austria, owned and operated by the residents within the city walls.
- Egger is a notable brewery in Vorarlberg, with a separate brewery of the same name in Lower Austria, leading to an agreement between the two regarding the use of the name.
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Vienna's beer scene: Lager, craft beer, and beer festivals
Vienna, and Austria in general, has a very strong beer culture, with the average Austrian consuming over 100 litres (176 pints) of beer per year. In fact, only the Czechs drink more beer than Austrians per head in Europe. Austrian beer is also of very high quality, as brewers must meet the requirements laid out in the Codex Alimentarius Austriacus, which includes strict rules on the use of chemical preservatives and artificial flavourings. This means that beer remains an entirely natural product.
In Vienna, beer generally comes in two sizes: a "Krügel" or "grosses Bier" (large beer) of 0.5 litres (0.88 UK pints), and a "Seidl" or "kleines Bier" (small beer) of 0.3 litres (0.53 UK pints). The vast majority of beer in Vienna is Märzenbier, a full-bodied lager, but you can also find the usual array of Pils, Weizenbier (wheat beer), and their organic versions. In recent years, light (Leichtbier) and alcohol-free (alkoholfrei) beers, as well as shandies (Radler), have grown in popularity.
Vienna also has a thriving craft beer scene, with numerous brewpubs and beer festivals to choose from. 7Stern Bräu, for example, offers fast service and great bar food in a casual and cosy atmosphere, while Salm Bräu is a popular wheelchair-accessible brewpub that offers takeaway, dine-in, fast service, and live performances. Beerlovers, meanwhile, is a premier beer distributor located in Vienna that offers a vast selection of craft beers from around the world, as well as delivery and wheelchair-accessible services.
If you're looking for a beer festival to attend, Vienna has plenty to offer. The Super Bier Fest, for example, is a two-day celebration of beer that features numerous breweries and a wide variety of beers, from standard IPAs and lagers to exotic fruit-based sour beers and vintage beers. The Vienna KRAFT Bier Fest, meanwhile, is a craft beer festival that features 60+ craft beers, including IPAs and lagers. Other festivals include the Ottakringer Bierfest, which features both mainstream and craft beer lines, and the Wiener Bierfest, which takes place on Am Hof square in the centre of the city and features a mix of large-scale and craft breweries.
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Frequently asked questions
"Ein Bier, bitte" or "one beer, please" in English.
Some popular Austrian beers include Stiegl, Ottakringer, Schwechater, Gösser, Puntigamer, and Murauer.
The Schwechat brewery, halfway between Vienna and Vienna Airport, is the birthplace of the Viennese lager.
Austrians have a set of behavioural rituals when saying "cheers", which is "prost" in Austrian German. It is considered bad form to start drinking before saying "prost" to everyone at the table and clinking glasses with them.
