Austrian Beer: Where To Buy The Best Brews

Austria has a strong beer culture, with the average Austrian consuming over 100 litres (176 pints) of beer each year. The country is home to over 300 breweries, producing more than 1,000 different beers in total. The biggest brands in Vienna include Ottakringer, Stiegl, Zipfer and Gösser, but there are also plenty of small and private breweries and specialty beers to choose from. If you're looking to buy Austrian beer, you can find it in stores and online, with some retailers offering free delivery for orders over a certain amount. So, whether you're in Austria or abroad, you can enjoy a taste of Austrian beer culture.

Austrian beer online

Austrian beer comes in a wide variety of styles, from Märzen (the most common style) to pils, bock, and weizenbier (wheat beer). The country is home to around 70 breweries, with many new microbreweries adding to the variety of beer styles available.

Austrian beer is available to buy online from several retailers. Beers of Europe offers an extensive range of Austrian beers, including Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg, Stift Engelszell Trappistenbier-Brauerei, and Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg. Total Wine & More also offers a selection of Austrian beers, including Stiegl and Hirter brands. For those in Australia, Beer Cartel offers an online craft beer store with Austrian beers available. GotoLiquorStore also offers Austrian beer, but requires an address and age verification before displaying product pricing and availability.

Austrian beer is not subject to the same tight restrictions as German beer, which is bound by Reinheitsgebot, a German law that states that only water, barley, and hops can be used in beer production. This means that Austrian beers offer far more variety than their German counterparts. So, whether you're looking for a traditional Märzen or something more unique, you're sure to find an Austrian beer to suit your taste online.

Austrian beer in Vienna

Vienna has a strong beer culture, with the average Austrian consuming over 100 litres of beer each year. The city is home to a variety of breweries, including large, well-known breweries, as well as smaller craft breweries.

One of the most well-known breweries in Vienna is Ottakringer, which has been located in the working-class 16th district since 1837. Ottakringer is considered the local brew of Vienna and offers a range of beers, including their basic canned Helles beer, a craft beer range under the BrauWerk label, and seasonal beers. Their Wiener Original, a Vienna Lager, is a popular choice and can be found in many bars and restaurants throughout the city.

In addition to Ottakringer, there are several other large breweries in Vienna, such as Stiegl, Zipfer, and Gösser. These breweries produce a variety of beer styles, including lagers, pilsners, and wheat beers.

However, if you're looking for something a little more unique, Vienna also has a flourishing craft beer scene. One popular spot for craft beer enthusiasts is the Beer Store Vienna, located in the Meidling district. This store offers a wide selection of beers, with an emphasis on Austrian craft beers. They have a rotating tap list and a comfortable seating area, making it a great place to relax and try new beers.

Another great place to explore Austrian craft beer is the Brew Age shop, located on Mittelgasse. This shop offers a variety of craft beers, including their own brews, which are sure to impress even the most discerning beer palate.

For those interested in a more structured tasting experience, Vienna offers a variety of guided craft beer tours. These tours provide an opportunity to learn about the brewing process, taste a range of beers, and discover some of the city's best beer gardens and pubs.

When it comes to purchasing beer, Vienna offers a variety of options. Supermarkets sell most beer in 500 ml bottles or cans, with prices starting at around €1. Smaller 330 ml bottles are also becoming increasingly popular. For those looking for a wider selection, speciality beer stores such as BeerLovers Craft Beer Store and Craftbeer Shop Wien offer a diverse range of local and imported craft beers.

So, whether you're a fan of traditional lagers or prefer to explore the latest craft beer offerings, Vienna has something for every beer lover. The city's rich brewing history and dedication to quality beer make it a perfect destination for those looking to explore the world of Austrian beer.

Austrian beer in supermarkets

Austrian supermarkets are a great place to buy Austrian beer. Most supermarkets in Austria are licensed to sell all kinds of alcohol, including beer, wine, and spirits. While they stock international beer brands such as Heineken and Corona, they also sell a wide variety of excellent Austrian beers.

Austrian beer comes in many different styles, thanks to the country's many small breweries and the absence of tight restrictions on beer production (unlike neighbouring Germany, which has the Reinheitsgebot law). The most common type of beer in Austria is Märzen, a slightly malty, golden beer similar to German Helles beer but with a less pronounced flavour. Other popular styles include Pils, which is a pale yellow beer with an aromatic hop flavour, and Weizenbier (wheat beer).

Some of the most popular Austrian beer brands include Stiegl, Ottakringer, Zipfer, and Gösser. Stiegl, founded in 1492, is the most popular beer of Austria that isn't owned by Brau Union. It brews a helles (a light lager), a Weissbier (Hefeweizen), and a grapefruit Radler, among other specialty beers. The Stiegl brewery, located on the outskirts of Salzburg, features a large museum of beer and beer-making, and offers tours that end with a beer on the house. Ottakringer, Vienna's big local brewery, has earned a cult status over the decades, particularly with its canned "16er-Blech" variant (as Ottakring is the 16th district of Vienna).

Austrian supermarkets sell beer mostly in 500ml bottles or cans, starting at around €1. Smaller 330ml bottles are also becoming more popular.

Austrian beer in bars

Austria has a very strong beer culture, with the average Austrian consuming over 100 litres (176 pints) of beer per year. Austrian beer comes in a wide variety of styles, with many small breweries scattered across the country. The most common style of beer is Märzen, a slightly malty, golden beer with a less pronounced flavour than its German counterpart, which is usually brewed with caramel malts, giving it a slightly sweeter taste.

In bars, Austrian beer typically comes in two sizes: a "Krügel" or "grosses Bier" (large beer) at 0.5 litres, and a "Seidl" or "kleines Bier" (small beer) at 0.3 litres.

When drinking beer in a bar in Austria, you'll typically find a warm and friendly atmosphere with wooden tables and antiquated decor. If the bar serves food, you can expect hearty dishes like Schnitzel or Würstchen with a generous portion of potatoes on the side. Unlike in some countries where breweries have a monopoly on local menus, most pubs in Austria serve beers from a variety of Austrian breweries.

While Austrian beer is widely available in bars across the country, you can also find it in supermarkets, typically sold in 500 ml bottles or cans. However, smaller 330 ml bottles are also growing in popularity.

Austrian beer festivals

Austria has a very strong beer culture, with the average Austrian consuming over 100 litres (176 pints) of beer each year. Vienna, in particular, is home to various beer-themed festivals, including:

Vienna KRAFT Bier Fest

Hosted in a large food hall, this festival features numerous small craft breweries and a pay-once system.

Ottakringer Bierfest

A summer-long celebration hosted by Ottakringer, Vienna's big local brewery, with live music, street food, and more.

Wiener Bierfest

An outdoor event that brings together big breweries and many smaller ones on Am Hof square in the city centre.

Super Bier Fest

A large event for consuming diverse brews from all over the world, though mostly from Austria and its neighbours.

While not specific to beer, many festivals across Austria also include it very high on their lists of offerings. Town fests, for example, typically feature good music, food, and local beers.

Austria also has over 300 breweries in the country, producing more than 1,000 different beers in total. The biggest brands in Vienna include Ottakringer, Stiegl, Zipfer, and Gösser, but there are also plenty of small and private breweries and specialty beers.

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