Beer Purity Law of 1516

Did you know that today Germans may be celebrating one of the oldest food-quality regulations in history?

Nearly 500 years ago today, on April 23, 1516 the Bavarians formed the Purity Law, which allowed beer to be brewed only with water, barley and hops. This law, called “Reinheitsgebot” in German, was only slightly adjusted in 1987 when a European Court repealed the purity law and allowed ingredients such as yeast and wheat.

The measure, however, was not intended to brew a purer beer. In times of food scarcity the government simply wanted to stop beer brewers from using the more valuable grains such as rye and wheat, which were needed for bread production.

Some of the tasty beers that use yeast and wheat in their brewing we also have at the Gasthaus: Franziskaner, Ayinger Ur-Weisse, Erdinger Crystal, Aventinus

But with the formation of the European Union German beer brewers felt the pressure to keep up with the market offering a larger variety of beer flavors that could not be achieved with brewing according to the Purity Law.  You may now find beers flavored and bottled with Cola, Orange, Lemonade etc. While the flavors may not be according to the Purity Law, the beer mixed with it still is.

It always comes as a surprise to my fellow Americans, but Germans also mix their beers with soft drinks and pieces of fruit. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, but it’s actually quite tasty. Provided that you use good German beer, you can mix a dark beer, like an Alt Bier, with cola. A Pilsner with Sprite or Fanta and a Wheat beer with pieces of cocktail fruit. 

Alster: Pils with Sprite
Krefelder: Alt with Cola
Kalter Kaffee: Cola with Fanta (looks like cold coffee)
Radler: Pils with Fanta
Dreckigen: Pils with Cola (called the Dirty One, because the Cola will flake and settle in the beer)                                                                                                       Alt Schuss: Alt with Malzbier

Hope you enjoyed these facts. Prost!

Sources:

wired.com

Der Spiegel

www1.american.edu/ted/germbeer.htm

Putzlowitscher Zeitung

wikipedia

chefkoch.de