German Beer In London: Where To Buy?

London has a number of spots dedicated to German beer, from permanent Bavarian beer halls to pubs and restaurants. If you're looking to buy German beer in London, you can visit one of the many Bavarian-style drinking halls, such as Bierschenke, Octoberfest Pub, or Katzenjammers, which offer a range of German beers on tap and by the bottle. For a more traditional pub experience, Zeitgeist, The Priory Arms, and Greenwich Union all offer a selection of German beers alongside their usual offerings. You can also buy German beer online from retailers such as Beer Merchants, Beer Hawk, and Beers of Europe, or from larger companies such as Amazon.

Bierschenke: an authentic Bavarian beer hall experience

Bierschenke is a Bavarian beer hall located in the heart of London, offering an authentic German experience to its patrons. With two locations in the city, one near Liverpool Street and the other in Tower Hill, Bierschenke is the perfect spot for those seeking a taste of Germany in the UK.

As you step into Bierschenke, you will be transported to a traditional Bavarian beer hall. The interior is adorned with wooden panelling and northern European minimalism, with furniture imported directly from Bavaria and installed by German carpenters. Long wooden tables fill the hall, creating a communal and festive atmosphere. The staff, dressed in dirndls and lederhosen, complete the immersive experience.

The beer selection at Bierschenke is exceptional. They offer four beers on draft and three bottled options, as well as signature beers brewed exclusively by the 18th-century Bavarian craft brewery, Müllerbräu of Neuötting. The signature beers provide a unique and authentic taste of Bavaria. In addition to their beer, Bierschenke also imports all their meats and sausages directly from the region, ensuring an authentic German culinary experience.

The food menu at Bierschenke is a meat lover's paradise. Their Bierschenke Platter for two includes a variety of German specialties such as schnitzel, Bratwurst, Nürnberger, Frankfurter, Debreziner, hunter sauce, chips, and Sauerkraut. The schnitzel is perfect, and the Bratwurst is soft and deliciously citric. The Nürnberger sausages, seasoned with marjoram, have a distinctive sweet pine flavour. The Debreziner, heavily spiced, is a luscious treat. The hunter sauce, crispy chips, and tangy Sauerkraut round out the platter, creating a true German feast.

Bierschenke also offers a range of other German specialties, such as the Currywurst, a Krakauer sausage with homemade curry ketchup and chips. The Pork Knuckle, a Bavarian favourite, is slow-roasted and served with sauerkraut, potato dumplings, and gravy. For those with a sweet tooth, the Apfelstrudel, served with vanilla custard and raspberry sauce, is a must-try.

Whether you're a German expat feeling homesick or a Londoner looking for a taste of Bavaria, Bierschenke is the place to be. With its authentic atmosphere, delicious food, and exceptional beer selection, Bierschenke provides an immersive and memorable experience that will leave you feeling like you've stepped into a Bavarian beer hall. So, grab your stein and prost to a wonderful time at Bierschenke!

Octoberfest Pub: a Fulham pub celebrating the famous beer festival

London has a number of spots dedicated to German beers, and the Octoberfest Pub in Fulham is one of the best. The pub brings people a taste of the most famous Bavarian beer celebration of the year.

Beers

The Octoberfest Pub has an impressive selection of German beers, with no fewer than 86 on the menu, from weissbier to pilseners. According to the venue, there’s nowhere else in the UK with a greater selection.

Food

The food is particularly scrumptious here. Go for the slow-roasted pork knuckle, a Bavarian favourite, which is served with sauerkraut, potato dumplings and gravy, or, if there’s a group of you, get the huge sausage platter (including the obligatory pretzels), which caters for five. If you're feeling brave, you can try the Lumberjack's Double Knuckle Challenge, where you have to quaff two slow-roasted pork knuckles, chips, salad, sauerkraut and a stein of lager in just 45 minutes.

Entertainment

For the full experience, head down on a Friday or Saturday night to watch a live brass band. It's also the HQ of the official UK Bayern Munich fan club and shows every single one of their matches on its big screens.

Location

678-680 Fulham Road, SW6 5SA

Katzenjammers: a contemporary Bavarian beer hall

Katzenjammers is a contemporary Bavarian beer hall located next to London Bridge. The venue feels like a modern take on the traditional Bavarian beer hall, with long tables and an industrial aesthetic featuring exposed brick and a steel bar. The upstairs bierkeller has low ceilings that enhance the lively atmosphere when the resident oompah band plays its covers of the latest chart hits on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Katzenjammers offers an extensive selection of German beers, with 11 draft beers and 29 bottled options to choose from. The food menu features a variety of Bavarian specialities, including the "sausage bar" downstairs in the bierhall, which serves food imported directly from Bavaria.

Katzenjammers is open late, and the atmosphere can get quite rowdy, especially when the live band is playing. The venue is located at The Hop Exchange, 24 Southwark Street, SE1 1TY, and can be reached via their website, katzenjammers.co.uk.

Bavarian Beerhouse: a gimmicky German drinking experience

If you're looking for a gimmicky German drinking experience in London, look no further than the Bavarian Beerhouse in Tower Hill. This basement restaurant/drinking hall offers a no-frills, Eurotrash evening of bratwurst and litres of freshly poured German beer.

The decor is minimal, with the bar furnished solely with long, foldable wooden tables and the walls painted beige. The bright colours of the waitresses' dirndls (think tacky German softcore porn) do wonders to cheer the place up. The food is typically German, with a range of starters, mains, snacks, taster platters, and desserts on offer, although vegetarians may struggle to find suitable options. The cheese dip and huge pretzel, however, are a great choice.

The real highlight of the Bavarian Beerhouse is the entertainment. During the Oktoberfest period (and occasionally throughout the rest of the year), an Oompah band plays, encouraging singing, dancing, and good German times. The more beer you consume, the less you'll hear the dreadful Eurotrashy pop that is filtered through the speakers before the band comes on. So drink up and get ready to dance on the tables!

The Bavarian Beerhouse is a great choice for those looking for a fun, cheesy, and gimmicky German drinking experience in London. So if you're craving a taste of Germany, grab your lederhosen and head to Tower Hill for a night of beer, bratwurst, and Oompah music. Prost!

Zeitgeist: a gastropub with a huge selection of German beers

Based inside the historic Jolly Gardeners pub, Zeitgeist is London's original German pub and has been around for years. It is located at 49-51 Black Prince Road, London SE11 6AB (Vauxhall) and is open from 4-10 pm Thursday to Friday, and 2-10 pm Saturday to Sunday. The nearest station is Vauxhall, and the nearest tube stations are Kennington and Vauxhall.

The pub has around 15 keg taps and about 50 bottled or canned beers to choose from. While the draft selection is decent, the bottled list is where most of the gems are found. Zeitgeist has a large fridge at the back, which is not easily visible, so be sure to check it out to see all the options.

The pub also serves a hearty German menu, though pork-free, and shows live Bundesliga football. Zeitgeist rivals Octoberfest in Parsons Green for the title of 'best bottled German list in London'.

One customer review describes Zeitgeist as:

> "London's first gastropub" — meaning the focus here is as much on the food as it is the beer you’re going to wash it all down with. The speciality here is the flammkuchen, a German twist on the classic pizza that originated in the south of the country. The base is extremely thin and crispy, with creme fraiche sitting underneath a mouth-watering array of meaty toppings — a winning combo. The beer menu is huge, with handy descriptions for each of them, making it easy to pick the ideal thirst-quencher."

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