Beer and Germany go hand in hand. While some countries, like Italy and Spain, are famed for the quality of their wines, Germany is renowned for its tasty brews. Beer is a very big deal in Deutschland, and you’d better believe that any German language translation in relation to German malt beverages has to be of the same quality as the country’s wonderful beer.

When talking about German beer, it’s important to note some of the brewing rules imposed by the state. The purity law, or “Reinheitsgebot,” came into being in Bavaria in 1487. The basic guidelines of this purity law are very simple. Only three ingredients are permitted when brewing German beer: Hops, barley malt, and water.

While entry into the European Union, the advent of yeast, and fair trade laws mean the Reinheitsgebot law is no longer strictly enforced, many German brewers still abide by the core principles of the law. They do this because of tradition, of course, and also for a marketing angle. Everyone wants pure, fresh beer, right? That’s one of the reasons German beer general tastes so good.

German beer is renewed for good cause. Purity is extremely important to German beer consumers. Who wants a ton of chemical additives in a frothy brew? Many brewers would be very happy if the old German beer law became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. They take the art of brewing beer incredibly seriously.

Now you know why anyone working with German culture and German language translation needs to know something about quality beer in Germany. If you don’t speak German, but love beer, don’t worry — there’s only one phrase you really need to memorize. Here it is:

Ein bier, bitte – One beer, please!