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| Purity Law |
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| German beer - pure enjoyment! Beer brewing has been regulated by law in Germany for over 800 years. The Purity Law has long become an international seal of quality for German beers. Its origins date back to the year 1165, when the first penalty was introduced in Augsburg for the sale of "bad" beer. Over 300 years later, in 1487, Duke Albrecht IV passed a law which initially applied only to the Munich area and which imposed standard beer prices. It stated that "a tankard of winter beer was to cost one pfennig, and a tankard of summer beer two pfennigs". In addition, each brewer had to take a so-called brewer's oath, under which he was only allowed to use barley, hops and water for brewing beer, and no other ingredients. In 1493 Duke George the Rich of Bayers-Landshut enacted an order which was extended to the whole of Bavaria in 1516. This is known as the BAVARIAN PURITY LAW. Like the brewer's oath, it states that nothing may be added to beer other than barley, hops and water. To this day, the rules of the Purity Law are contained in the German Beer Tax Law, with just a few, minor amendments. Besides various tax duties, this law also contains regulations concerning the brewing process itself. For bottom-fermenting beer, for example, only barley, malt, hops, yeast and water may be used. The law also contains rules relating to top-fermenting beers, such as wheat beer. Thus, for top-fermenting beers, the use of other cereal malts, such as wheat, is also allowed. Aficionados of German beer can continue to depend on the purity of its ingredients. Although a judgment of the European Court of March 12, 1987 concerning the free sale of goods throughout Europe allows beers to be sold in Germany which are not produced according to the Purity Law and contain other raw ingredients (such as maize, rice or millet), these beers must be clearly marked. When purchasing beer, however, you simply have to look for the quality seal stating "brewed according to the Purity Law" and you are guaranteed pure beer-drinking enjoyment! |