Germany: Flavoured beer accounts for less than 5% of the beer market but is gaining steadily in popularity

Germany, long considered the centre of the beer world, still has a thirst for the amber liquid, but a growing number of people are turning to flavoured beers, according to figures released October 27, reports said October 27.

The Federal Statistics Office said 1.2 million hectolitres of beer flavoured with Coca-Cola, fruit juices or other non-alcoholic additives were sold in the third-quarter of 2006, a 28.9 percent jump over the corresponding period a year ago.

Total beer consumption for the period was 29.6 million hectolitres, 2.2 percent more than a year ago.

Although flavoured beers account for only 4.2 percent of the market, they are growing in popularity, particularly among young people, according to the German Brewers Association.