Germany's Beer Purity Law Turns 500 This Year

This year Germany celebrates the 500 year anniversary of Reinheitsgebot, also known as the "German Beer Purity Law". The original law was issued on April 23rd, 1516 by Bavarian co-rulers Duke Wilhem IV and Duke Ludwig X.

According to the medieval food-safety law, the only ingredients that could be used in the production of beer were water, barley, and hops. At the time, yeast had not yet been discovered. The law intended to keep beer "pure" of cheap and often unhealthy ingredients, such as poisonous roots, mushrooms, animals products, and sawdust. It also prevented the use of chemicals, preservatives, and artificial process enhancers. Introducing the law also helped to prevent price competition with bakers for wheat and rye. By excluding wheat and rye from beer and reserving it for bakers, the law helped to ensure a low price for bread.

Modern changes and exceptions have since been made to the law. Yeast was added to the list of acceptable ingredients. Bottom-fermented beer (lagers, pilsners, bocks) can now include powdered hops, ground hops, hops extracts, and fining agents. Top-fermented beers (ales, porters, stouts, wheat beers) can now include all the aforementioned ingredients, plus malt and sugars for flavor and coloring. Any beer brewed in Germany that does not follow the Reinheitsgebot can still be sold, just as long as it is not labeled as "bier". Overall, the intention of the original Reinheitsgebot was to ensure that all German breweries produced an all natural, wholesome, and flavorful product.

Even though the law is technically no longer in effect, many German brewmasters still adhere to the earlier versions of the Reinheitsgebot as a matter of German pride and tradition. Breweries that adhere to the Reinheitsgebot rely on the art and craft of their brewer to turn a short list of ingredients into a variety of beer styles. Til this day, the only beers permitted to be served at Oktoberfest in Munich are beers that adhere to the Reinheitsgebot.

To celebrate the 500 year anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot, Hofbräuhaus is throwing a huge party on Saturday, April 23rd! Check out the videos we created for them to help promote this celebration of German beer and tradition.

Britny Sanders
Marketing Coordinator
614.294.1306
bsanders@vitalcompanies.com

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