Hanoverian specialties

Lüttje Lage

The “Kleine Lage” is Hannover’s iconic drink, which is consumed simultaneously from two glasses, each filled with a special local draft beer and a grain brandy. Both glasses are held in one hand and tilted so that the brandy slowly flows from the top into the beer glass as you drink. It’s a sometimes tricky but always fun activity that requires a bit of finesse and a steady hand. As is well known, the Hanoverian marksmen have both. That’s why the Lüttje Lage is as much a part of the tradition of the world’s largest marksmen’s festival in Hannover as the rides, festival tents, and the marksmen’s parade.

The target water of the shooters

The “Lüttje Lage” requires a bit of skill, as the Hannover marksmen’s celebratory drink is consumed simultaneously from two special glasses. The small, low glass (Stamper) contains 5 cl of Broyhan beer (named after the Hannover native Cord Broyhan, who invented this light, top-fermented, and slightly sweet-tasting barley brew in 1526; the smooth Broyhan beer is now brewed exclusively by Hanoverian breweries specifically for the Lüttje Lage), while the other is a shot glass (Uhle) filled with 1 cl of Korn. Both glasses are held in one hand (the shot glass above the beer glass)—in such a way that the schnapps can be drunk together with the beer in one gulp without spilling a single drop.

Lüttje Lage is great fun in a social setting—whether enjoyed in the traditional way under the big top at the world’s largest Marksmen´s Fair in July, by the water at the Maschsee Festival in August, or over the weekend at a regulars’ table in a rustic pub in Hannover’s Old Town.

Lüttje Lage drink without spilling

To make the "Lüttje Lage" a cheerful and not a soggy pleasure, here is a short guide to drinking fun without napkins or aprons:

- First, hold the beer glass in your right (or left) hand with all five fingers, leaving
a little space at the top of the glass. - Then extend your middle finger and hold
the shot glass between your index and ring fingers. - Use your middle finger to press the shot glass against the beer glass, while your little finger provides additional support at
the base of the shot glass.- Carefully tilt the shot glass against the beer glass, making sure the rim of the beer glass is about half a centimeter lower (otherwise the schnapps won’t flow into the beer glass)
.- Now stand up straight, tilt your head back (if you lean forward, you’re guaranteed to spill), and—as the schnapps flows over the edge into the beer glass—drink quickly.