One thing’s immediately apparent in Frankfurt: the locals love them some apfelwein. Want to know how much? By some accounts, the average German drinks one glass per year, the average Hessen (the state where Frankfurt is located) one liter, and the average Frankfurter? 12 liters!
The German version of apple cider (aka apfelwein, ebbelwei, ebbelwoi, schoppe, or stöffsche) is so beloved that there is a dedicated pitcher and a glass for serving it. So, it’s probably no surprise that it tops most must-try Frankfurt food and drink lists.
How it all happened? According to locals, credit is given to the combination of a 70s-era TV show and a mini ice age! We know; it’s totally confusing and crazy. Read on to make sense of it all.
Wait, What The Heck Is Frankfurt Apfelwein?
First, you should know that apfelwein dates way back: 1,200 years ago, way back to Charlemagne’s time. If you don’t remember anything from your high school European history class, you probably recall that Charlemagne is a big deal, but you might not realize that he has some significant ties to Frankfurt.
Let’s get straight: apfelwein is not the result of some grand plan. It’s quite the opposite — more a result of circumstance. This German version of apple cider came about because people wanted something to drink, and neither wine nor beer was accessible.
Even though the apple cider drink has a long history, it started to take off in the 16th century when a louse decimated local wine production, and a tax made beer unaffordable almost overnight. Frankfurt Apfelwein got another leg up in the 1800s when another blight hit wine production.
The reason it’s remained so popular is because it’s a less-filling alternative to beer that can drink year-round. Another reason? Some credit (or blame, depending on who you talk to) to the cliched 70s-era German variety show based in Frankfurt, where a drunken character was seemingly always drinking apfelwein.
How Is Apfelwein Made?
Historically, apfelwein is made with a combination of apples in much the same way as other hard apple ciders like the Spanish sidra or the French cidre. That’s to say, apples are left to ferment until they let off some alcohol naturally. The result is a drink with alcohol levels averaging that of a beer (say, about 5 to 7% ABV).
Frankfurt-style apfelwein is typically made without any added sugar or yeast, and the styles can range from sweet to dry, floral to earthy, and filtered to unfiltered. While traditionally, the drink is made with whatever apples the producer can find, these days; you find local artisans making single-varietal apfelwein.
How Do You Serve Apfelwein?
Traditionally, there’s a bit of a tradition to serving the drink. Apfelwein is served in a grey earthenware painted with a cobalt blue design known as a bembel. These jugs can range from just around 1 liter to several liters. The biggest bemebls are so large that they’re set up on a swing so you can merely tilt the jug to pour some of the hard apple cider.
And what do you pour the apfelwein into? It’s a clear glass with a hatched pattern known as a geripptes. Hard to pronounce but easy to recognize, these hatched glasses were said to have been created because people would usually drink the apfelwein with a bratwurst in hand, and the hatched pattern would give their sausage-greased hands a better grip.
Purists insist you drink the apfelwein as is, but others mix it up. Mixing apfelwein with mineral water is known as a sauergespritzer, while a sweeter version is known as süßgespritzer. Finally, much like mulled wine, a mulled version of apfelwein served with cinnamon and cloves is particularly popular during the winter holidays.
Where Can You Find an Apfelwein Tasting in Frankfurt?
For apfelwein tastings in Frankfurt, head to the city’s historic Sachsenhausen district (just one of the stops on our one-day in Frankfurt itinerary, FYI), where are streets lined not with the Bavarian beer gardens that most tourists expect but rather with block after block of apple wine pubs.
Lorsbacher Thal is our pick for where you can go for super classic local fare (think: grüne soße with potatoes, wiener schnitzel, pickled herring, and the beloved handkäse mit musik
If you want to try a whole lot of styles, go to the unofficial mecca for apfelwein, Apfelweinhandlung Jens Becker, where the husband-and-wife owners are more than happy to serve you their housemade apfelwein.
Fair warning: they’ll likely rope you into a discussion on all things apfelwein, which is not bad. At Apfel Weinhandlung Jans Becker, they sell about 70 different apfelweins at any given time, so they know something about the drink. Oh, they even have classic and modern takes on the characteristic pitchers and serving glasses.
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Photo Credit: courtesy of Tourismus+Congress GmbH Frankfurt am Main
