I'm a simple emigrant and I don't drink much

Alcohol in Germany can be talked about endlessly, and a story about Germans' attitude to drinking could be longer than War and Peace. But why talk? It's much more effective to sample. Moreover, bars are on every corner here, and in supermarkets they hardly ask for age. Practically—that's because in six years I was asked once, and it felt like the only such incident in Frankfurt's history. It may seem surprising, but I'll start the story about alcohol in Hesse with wine. It is in the Rheingau region that wines of the highest quality are produced, especially the white. The grape varieties grown here are considered late-ripening, and the harvest falls in the middle of autumn. Local winemaking traditions go back to the Middle Ages, and the Institute of Viticulture and Enology has no parallel in the world. A 0.75 L bottle of wine for everyday use will cost 3–5€, for special occasions—as about 17€. Apfelwein or cider. Another reason to be proud of this land. Each year they produce more than 40 million liters of this drink! Here it is called apple wine and has been drunk since the 16th century. Locals claim that Apfelwein is almost like a medicine. "Drink Apfelwein every day, you'll become healthier," goes a German proverb. A 0.5 L glass in a good bar will cost 3–4€. A liter bottle in the shop ~2.5€. Sekt. This is the local analogue of champagne. Since the 19th century, in Wiesbaden they release more than 80 million bottles a year. In Germany, sparkling wine is consumed more than in any other European country. For 0.75 L of good Sekt you'll pay just 5–8€. Himbeerbrand or raspberry brandy — this is a drink for gentlemen. Previously it was produced only in patented bottles of 0.35 L, for each of which 24(!) kg of select raspberries were used. Now there are 0.5 and liter bottles as well. Himbeerbrand constantly receives awards as Germany's best strong liquor. This 48% alcohol beverage will cost you 90–100€ per liter. Also very popular in Frankfurt bars is Mispelchen, but it's hard to call it a Hessian drink, because it's a French brandy "Calvados" with a marinated medlar fruit on a toothpick (don't panic, I'll show what it is in the comments). Such a shot in a bar or restaurant costs 4–5€. And last but not least, beer. Surprisingly, Germans drink less beer year after year. Nevertheless, in 2024 breweries sold 8.3 billion liters of alcoholic beer. Non-alcoholic beer isn't counted as beer here. The best breweries are concentrated in Bavaria, so I'll simply say that there are plenty of varieties of this drink here. Good beer in a bar will cost around 3–4€ for 0.5 L, and in a supermarket you can easily find it for about 0.90€. One of the most popular cocktails in Germany is the Aperol Spritz, and among strong drinks, of course, Jägermeister remains. It's a pity it's not produced in Hesse; I would brag about it too! #madeinGermany #food