The ties that bind

The Reinheitsgebot , a 500 year old German purity law, is still held up as a standard for brewing excellence. So how relevant is it? Dominic Roskrow reports

t’s held up as the longest standing consumer protection act in the world. It is championed by its supporters as the ultimate act of quality control, and its supporters maintain that because of it the Germans have maintained their position as the world’s top beer producers.

But is the Reinheitsgebot all it’s cracked up to be? Is an act approaching its 500th birthday really that relevant in a modern society? What does the wording actually say? And are its definitions still being observed today anyway?

To most of us who care about such things the common view of the Reinheitsgebot is a German purity law that defines what ingredients can be used in beer production. It was introduced in Bavaria and, say its supporters, has been observed ever since to guarantee quality German beer.

The original law addresses the issue of what can be charged for a Mass (a Bavarian litre) of beer and then addresses the ingredients. The following translation of the original law is taken from Karl J Eden’s History of German Brewing: “Furthermore, we wish to emphasise that in future in all cities, markets, and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be barley, hops and water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance, shall be punished by the Court authorities’ confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail.” Pretty straightforward, you would think, but not without controversy.

The first point to note is that the law was introduced not to prote.....

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By Dominic Roskrow

Section : Beer history

Page number : 50