American Beer Culture Changed Forever Thanks To German Immigrants

The last half of the 19th century brought more than 5 million German immigrants to the American Midwest, and more throughout the country. They weren't the first to arrive though — immigration to the United States began at the end of the 17th century, with families fleeing religious persecution and the bloody consequences of the Thirty Years' War. They left Germany for the U.S. for different reasons throughout the centuries, but the people who settled in America brought with them three things: a desire for religious freedom, a love for community, and a lifestyle built around beer.

German immigrants brought with them tangy and fermented sauerkraut, hearty and chunky German wedding soup, and a whole different take on how to drink a good beer. Not only did they introduce an alternative to the heavy English-style porters, stouts, and ales that were common in America at the time, they introduced beer halls, beer gardens, and created communities centered around breweries. Indoors, beer halls grew into multi-faceted entertainment zones with dance halls and bowling. Outdoors, beer gardens formed in all shapes and sizes, growing to feature carnival-style entertainment. The festival vibes that often accompany beer gardens and outdoor music scenes come straight from German culture — the same culture that sprouted the world's largest and still much-celebrated beer festival, Oktoberfest.

German immigrants brought their knowledge of industrial-level brewing with them when they settled in America. Homebrewing was already a given in their culture — every town had (and still has) its own brewery, and competition for the best drink was fierce. Artisan brewers had been making beer for the masses long before they left Germany, and when they landed in America, they brought with them their own recipe. It was called lager-style beer, and it was lighter, easier to drink, and more effervescent than the heavy and yeast-laden ales available at the time. Indeed, there are a few big differences between an ale and a lager in terms of brewing temperatures, flavor profiles, and textures.

While American beer culture was changed country-wide thanks to German immigrants, the influence was particularly strong in the Midwest's "German Triangle" — St. Louis, Milwaukee and Cincinnati. This is where "Beer Barons" like Busch, Schlitz, and Pabst created their empires, built on the shoulders of crisp, light lager brewed just like their families did in Germany for generations before. The influences of these beer-brewing artisans have been crafting culture in America ever since, where the lager is ever-popular in taverns and pubs, bars, and dives. Enthusiasts even buy beer-making kits online (like this one!) to create their own lager at home, continuing the rich German tradition of homebrewing all over America.