The German language possesses a fierce beauty all its own. And nowhere does this language sound more at home than in the festive beer gardens of Bavaria. If you’re planning a trip, you might want to brush up on these common German drinking terms:
gasthaus, gaststäatte, gasthof, raststatte, wirtschaft… A restaurant and/or beer garden complex. All used interchangeably.
gemütlichkeit… No real English translation, it means warm atmosphere, tradition and hospitality all wrapped up in a single word.
keller… Literally a “cellar,” but usually refers to a beer garden.
kruge… German word for beer mug (stein mean “a rock”). “Die Kruge hoch!” is the call to raise mugs for a prosit, or toast.
lederhosen… Traditional Bavarian-style suspendered leather (originally deerskin) shorts. Don’t wear them unless you’re a native.
maß… A liter of beer, usually light or “helles,” unless you stipulate something else.
stammtisch… A table set aside for regulars. If you’re not sure whether you’re a regular, you’re not.
tracht… Traditional Bavarian rural costumes.
Source: The Beer Drinker’s Guide to Munich, Larry Hawthorne, Freizeit Publishers, 1991.