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The Reinheitsgebot
German Beer Purity Law
Beer brewing has been regulated by law in Germany for over 800 years.
A long-standing tradition to which all German brewers still remain true
today:
Some rulings and decrees before the Purity Law
- In 1165 a fine was levied in Augsburg for serving "inferior" beer.
- In 1487 Duke Albrecht IV proclaimed a regulation establishing a uniform
beer price. "One measure winter beer shall cost one pfennig and a measure
summer beer shall cost two pfennigs." Each brewer was required to, from
that time on, swear a "PREU-AID" (Brew oath) before the ducal treasurer,
whereby he would "use only barley, hops and water for the beer, knowledgeably
simmer it and add nothing else nor allow anyone else to add anything."
This regulation was originally only decreed for Munich. In 1987 this
500 year old regulation was renewed by the Munich brewers.
- 1493 George the Rich of Bayers-Landshut proclaimed a regulation which
was extended to all of Bavaria in 1516 by Duke Wilhelm IV. This regulation
is well-known as the:
German Beer Purity Law: How beer should
be served and brewed in summer and winter in the principality
Herewith, we decree, order, express and wish, together with the
Privy Council, that from this day forth everywhere in the Principality
of Bavaria, in the countryside as in the towns and marketplaces, wherever
no other specific ordinance applies, from St. Michael's Day until St.
George's Day a measure or head of beer shall not be sold for more than
one pfennig Munich currency and from St. George's Day until St. Michael's
Day a measure shall not be sold for more than two pfennigs of the same
currency, nor a head for more than three haller. Violators of this decree
shall be punished as prescribed below. Whoever should brew a beer other
than Maerzen, is forbidden, under any circumstances, to serve or sell
a measure for more than one pfennig. We especially wish that, from this
point on and everywhere in the countryside as well as in the towns and
marketplaces, nothing is to be added to or used in beer other than barley,
hops and water. Whosoever knowingly disobeys this decree will be severely
punished by the court having jurisdiction over him by having his barrel
of beer confiscated whenever this offense occurs. Whenever an innkeeper
buys beer at the prescribed price from any brewery in the countryside
as well as in the towns and marketplaces, he is allowed to resell it
privately to the lowly peasantry for one haller more than the price
of the measure or head of beer stipulated above."
(Translator's note: "measure" and "head"
were units of volume and "pfennig" and "haller" were monetary units in
use at that time. "Maerzen" was a somewhat stronger beer brewed in late
winter, which is still brewed today.) Also note that yeast is not mentioned
since its existence was not known at the time.
The gist of this decree has been carried forward to the present and is
incorporated in the German Beer Tax Law which, in addition to tax regulations,
also contains the demands on the brewers of beer stemming from in the
German Beer Purity Law of 1516.
Not even a decision of the European Court dated 12 March 1987 has been
able to change this. This decision can be summarized as follows:
"To ensure the free movement of goods within the European
Union, beer may also be sold in Germany that does not conform to the German
Beer Purity Law. Non-German beer may contain other raw materials, such
as unmalted barley, corn, rice or millet, or perhaps additives, but if
so, this must be clearly stated on the label."
Such beer, however, has not been able to make a dent in the German
market because the consumer is not willing to buy much of it, but some beers
imported into Germany do still contain maize or rice. Most big international
brewers, however, have orientated themselves to the desires of the German
consumer by brewing according to the Beer Purity Law, at least for the German
market.
"We could be happy if the air was as pure as the beer" - Richard
von Weizsaecker, former President of the German Federal Republic.
Source: German Brewing Industry Public Relations Association (Gesellschaft
fuer Oeffentlichkeitsarbeit der Deutschen Brauwirtschaft e.V.).
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