There is a fair degree of rivalry between the cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf, situated just 30 miles apart on the Rhine. The former prides itself on its history (it dates back to Roman times), the stature of its famous cathedral, and its relaxed easygoing lifestyle. However it was the latter, Düsseldorf, that was made capital of North Rhine Westphalia after World War II, not its larger neighbour. It has since become a major financial centre and, in the Königsallee, boasts one of the most exclusive shopping streets in Germany.

So you may not be surprised to hear that both cities strongly disagree on another very important issue: the preferred style of beer. In Cologne the locals drink Kölsch, a pale yellow, soft refreshing drink, not too dissimilar to standard German pils, lightly hopped and with just a touch of wheat malt. Düsseldorfers though prefer Altbier (commonly shortened to ‘Alt’), a copper-coloured, malty, very hoppy ale that has a dry and crisp finish.

Both cities are very proud of their respective beer and its heritage. Kölsch is protected by EU regulation and can only be brewed by 24 breweries, in and around Cologne, set out in the Kölsch Convention of 1986. No self-respecting resident of Cologne, when flying in or out of their shared airport (DUS or Düsseldorf), would contemplate indulging in an Alt; that would be an act of betrayal.

Where to drink it

Anyone visiting Cologne Cathedral will pass Früh am Dom, possibly the largest and most well-known of the Kölsch breweries. Whilst their beer is no longer brewed on the premises, it remains the busiest beer hall in the city, with a capacity of 1,000 and selling the equivalent of 850 litres of beer per week.  Other renowned brewers are Sion, also in the Altstadt, and Paffgen, which is reputed to be the best Kölsch in the city.

In Düsseldorf, a city renowned for having ‘the longest bar in the world’ in honour or the profusion of pubs, bars and restaurants in the Altstadt, there are no restrictions on who can brew Alt. However production is now centred on four breweries in or near the city centre, the most famous of which is zum Uerige (‘grumpy’ in the local vernacular, allegedly named after the original owner in the 1860s), a cavernous beer hall with many interlocking rooms leading off it. Other brewers include Zum Schlüssel, the Brauerei zum Füchschen and the Brauerei Ferdinand Schumacher, which is the oldest brewer of Altbier in the city, having been brewing continuously since 1837.

There are however a couple of similarities between the two cities. The beer is served by a Köbes (waiter) in both and comes in small 20cl glasses. Alt and Kölsch are designed to be drunk fast and fresh. Once emptied, your glass will be replaced by a full one within minutes by said Köbes. Both are top-fermented, too, in contrast to the bottom-fermented pils enjoyed in the rest of Germany.

But despite these shared characteristics, no two other cities in Germany, especially ones so close geographically, have such a healthy rivalry when it comes to what is consumed in their beer halls. – Mark Arrol

The Night Life

German bars and clubs are a favourite past-time, especially among the younger soldiers and non-commissioned officers. Though some young soldiers cannot control themselves and end up getting into trouble as a result, most are disciplined enough to enjoy the night-life while maintaining the professional, well-disciplined lifestyle that society generally attributes to US service members as a whole.

The bars and clubs, while certainly having a degree of uniqueness, are for the most part very much like those in any other country. However, they can be more lively, especially in those cities and towns that host US military installations.

The Diverse Travel Opportunities

Germany sits in the middle of many top European tourism destinations. Popular countries like France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Czech Republic are just a train ride away and when using the super-fast ICE trains, that train ride is potentially a short one.

With so many countries within such a short distance, many soldiers fill their time stationed in Germany with trip after trip to different European countries. Germany is one of the best spots to live if you enjoy tourism. Many service members take full advantage of being stationed in such a central location.

German Food and Beer

There are many traditional German dishes that are enjoyed by US service members.  Jägerschnitzel (hunter’s cutlet, usually pork or veal with a creamy mushroom sauce), Bratwurst sausage and the many German breads are widely enjoyed. But there are also many non traditional foods in Germany that the military enjoy, such as Turkish doner kebab and Greek gyros. Of course the famous German beer is also a favourite, including (but not limited to) the number one choice Hefeweizen (an unfiltered wheat beer) and Dunkelweizen (a dark wheat beer).

Cheap, Easy Public Transport

The public transport system in Germany is a pleasant surprise to most service members, as there is nothing like it in the United States. You can get on a bus or train and get anywhere, not only in Germany, but within Europe! That is a unique and exciting thing to people who have always had to rely on cars back home.

Josh Spaulding is a US Army veteran who was stationed in Germany for five years. He and his wife Claudia, who was born and raised in Germany, write about their passion for German Tourism at www.everythingaboutgermany.com

I’m German, I don’t like beer nor large gatherings of people, and I’ve just had a great time at the Oktoberfest  in Munich. After years and years of resisting this most German of all festivals I dipped my foot in for the first time in 2008 and have been going ever since.

My visits are slightly different to the very liquid merriment of Australians, New Zealanders, Italians, Brits – and, of course, Germans. The general image of the Wiesn, as the locals call the Oktoberfest, that the world sees is one of lots of people drinking lots of beer and getting very drunk. Bierleichen (beer corpses) on the meadows around the Bavaria statue on the fringes of the Theresienwiese where the Wiesn takes place are a common sight.

However, there’s another side to it. For example, my personal Wiesn memories are full of sunshine, relaxed weekend mornings sitting on beer benches outside in the sun with good food and a nice glass of sparkling wine or white wine spritzer (that’s possible, yes, no one is going to shoot you). This year when I visited last Sunday, there was no sun, but we still had a great day in the Weinzelt (wine tent), dancing on the benches while it was raining cats and dogs outside. Clapping hands and singing (shouting) silly songs is mandatory. Unlike the typical big Wiesn tents such as the Hippodrome or Augustiner, the wine tent serves wine, sparkling wine, champagne and wheat beer only, not the traditional one litre Maß. Not surprisingly, it is very popular with the ladies, maybe also because it’s a bit smaller, less rowdy and very lovingly decorated.

A very important element of the Oktoberfest that tends to be overlooked outside Germany is that it is, traditionally, a fantastic family fun fair with lots of rides, modern and wonderfully nostalgic ones, delicious foods and sweets and – a personal favourite of mine – ‘Bodos Cafézelt’, a tent all dedicated to cakes and coffee. For international visitors – and from my point of view that is a bit unfortunate – it’s more or less all about drinking as much beer as possible. For me, as a German living abroad, it’s every year a wonderful piece of Heimat – even if I’m not Bavarian. It’s about tradition, your roots and where you’re coming from, a bit of originality in our globalised and branded world. It’s about colourful Dirndls and Lederhosen and socialising with friends and strangers. Because, in the end, Wiesn revellers are all part of a big community, and the general mood is one of friendliness and having fun with lots of other people.

My favourite Wiesn moment this year was witnessing a group of Asian tourists who sat down near us in the Weinzelt, observing their surroundings with utter amazement and a look of sheer incredulity. I tried to put myself into their shoes: Thousands of people in quirky dresses, dancing and singing while standing on wooden benches, sometimes making funny gestures with their arms and hands (some songs require expressing the lyrics by making gestures, it’s a German thing, I guess) while a band is playing very loudly on a stage. What must they have been thinking? How weird is this. And how great. Silliness on a large scale – it’s necessary now and then. I’ve already decided to join in another time next year. Just the beer drinking will again have to take place without me.

See the GermanyisWunderbar Facebook page for our Wiesn picture album: www.facebook.com/GermanyisWunderbar