Beer & Other Drinks
Austria is not only a wine country but also a beer country. With a per capita consumption of over 100 liters annually, Austria ranks among the top in the world — even ahead of Germany. The beer culture is down-to-earth and regionally influenced.
The most important beer brands:
- Stiegl — Salzburg's pride, since 1492, the "beer of Salzburg". Stiegl-Goldbräu is Austria's most popular beer
- Gösser — from Leoben in Styria, the best-selling beer in Austria. The slogan "Good. Better. Gösser." is legendary
- Ottakringer — Vienna's brewery since 1837, located in the 16th district. The "16er Blech" (can of Ottakringer) is part of Vienna's cultural heritage
- Zipfer — from Upper Austria, hoppy and full-bodied
- Hirter — from Carinthia, one of the oldest breweries (since 1270)
- Trumer — from Obertrum near Salzburg, known for Pils
- Schwechater — historically significant, where Anton Dreher invented lager beer in 1841
Order a "Krügerl" (half a liter) or a "Seidel" (0.3 liters) in Austria. A "Pfiff" is a small beer (0.2 liters), perfect for tasting.
Other Drinks
- Almdudler — the Austrian herbal lemonade, the national counterpart to Coca-Cola. Sweet and tangy, with herbs like elderflower and lemon balm
- Spritzer — white wine with soda water, the quintessential summer drink. A "Gespritzter" at the Heurigen is a must
- Most — fermented apple or pear cider, the traditional drink of the Mostviertel in Lower Austria
- Schnaps — fruit brandies from apricot, plum, pear (Williams), or gentian. In the Alpine region, a "Stamperl" after a meal is traditional
- Punsch — available on every corner in winter. Viennese punch (with rum, sugar, orange juice, and spices) warms you up at the Christmas markets
