Beer
Beer is an important part of Germany’s culture.
Germans consider their beer to be the best in the world. And although other nations may disagree, the brew is usually very good and superior to the bland stuff from the "international" brands. For centuries, beer-making in Bavaria has been governed by the Reinheitsgebot (purity law) that was made national policy with the unification of Germany in 1871, which states that German beer may only be made from hops, malt, yeast and water. The Reinheitsgebot has come down with the European integration, but German breweries still have to stick to it since for them, national law applies.
Usually bars and restaurants therefore serve the local variants of beer, that often differ from town to town. When sitting in a German Kneipe, the local beer is always a choice to consider.
For Germans, a lot of foam is both a sign of freshness and quality; thus, beer is always served with a lot of head.
Additionally, Germans are not afraid anymore to mix their pure beer with other drinks. Beer is commonly mixed with Lemonade (usually 2:1) and called "Radler" (cyclist) or "Alsterwasser"/"Alster" (after the lake in Hamburg) in the north.
"Cocktails" of Pilsener/Altbier and soft drinks like Fanta, Coka and so on are also very common but seem to have a different name in every town.
Pubs are open in Germany until 2 in the morning or later. Food is generally available until midnight. Germans typically go out after 8pm.