Continental Europe Beer Links

Austria Comes to You
Travelling to Austria? Here's a run down of some of the beers you'll find available at retail outlets, such as Wieselburger, Stiegl, Goesser, Zipfer, and Ottakringer. Or if you're looking for a way to restock your shelves with authentic beer and food, these exporters can have a delivery on it's way to you in no time.

Beer Drinker's Guide to Munich
Even though he lives in Hawaii, Larry Hawthorne has become an authority on Munich's beer halls and beer gardens. You can buy the latest edition of his guidebook in bookstores or online. Read Larry's reviews on his website.

Belgian Beer Escort
Going to Belgium? Here's a good place to start planning your trip. It has a travel guide, descriptions of Belgian beer styles, tasting notes, a pub finder, and even tips on finding Belgian beer once you get home.

Belgium is Beer Paradise
All of Belgium's breweries belong to the Confederation of Belgian Brewers, the world's oldest professional association. Its official website contains a database of breweries, searchable by location or beer style. Many breweries have their own websites.

Belgium is for Beer Lovers
Information compiled by the Belgian National Tourist Office. Breweries, museums, and beer cafes are listed by city; many have links. There are also listings for beer festivals and abbeys brewing beer, and links to more information about Belgian beer.

Cologne Brewers' Association
Cologne, Germany, is the home of Kölsch, a light-colored ale that looks like a lager. This multilingual site explains what makes Kölsch special, and shows you the best places to enjoy it.

European Pub and Beer Guides
Ron Pattinson reviews the top pubs in 20 European cities, offering his opinionated reviews along with hours of operation, what's on tap, and easy-to-read maps. Don't miss his articles, which express Ron's "most annoying views" about beer.

Max Beer, the Italian Beer Guide
Beer Travellers needn't go thirsty in Italy; craft breweries are popping up in many cities. This site, under construction but growing, lists microbreweries and brewpubs, bars with large beer selections, and beer shops.

Munich Oktoberfest Official Site
This English-language site has a calendar of events and information on how to get to the festival and reserve a place in a beer tent. There's also Oktoberfest trivia, a history of the festival, and a dictionary of Bavarian words you won't find in a phrasebook.

Munich's Hofbräuhaus
The official site of the world's most famous beer hall. Take a virtual tour, learn about the Hofbräuhaus's 400-plus-year history, and even check out the German specialties on the menu.

Ohhh...My Head!
This site, which offers "the most skewed beer ratings on the Web," is the handiwork of a fun-loving group of Swedes who've tasted--and reviewed--thousands of beers from more than a hundred countries. There's also a good collection of Scandinavian beer links.