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:

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. Here
is the document

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.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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:

1. Only barley malt, hops, yeast and water may be
used for the brewing of bottom- fermented beer,
with the exceptions contained in the regulations
in paragraphs 4 to 6.
2. The brewing of top-fermenting beer underlies the
same regulations, however other malts may be used
and the use of technically pure cane, beet or
invert sugars as well as dextrose and coloring
agents derived from these sugars is allowed.
3. Malt shall be taken to mean: any grain that has
been caused to germinate.
4. The use of colored beers, if brewed from malt,
hops, yeast and water, in the preparation of beer
is allowed but underlies special supervisory
measures.
5. Hop powder, hops in other milled forms and hop
extracts may be used in brewing, so long as these
products comply with the following requirements:
1. Hop powder and other milled hop forms, as
well as hop extracts must be produced
exclusively from hops.
2. Hop extracts must:
1. contribute the same flavoring and
bittering substances to the wort as
would have been contributed had hops
been simmered with the wort.
2. fulfill the requirements of the German
Pure Food Laws.
3. only be added to the wort before or
during the simmering phase.
6. Only materials which act mechanically or by
absorption and are thereafter removable, leaving
no, or only such residue in the beer which is of
no health, taste or odor concern may be used to
clarify beer.
7. Upon request, in individual cases, such as the
preparation special beers and beers intended for
export or scientific experiments, exceptions to
the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 can be
made.
8. The requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 are not
applicable to brewing for personal consumption
(home brewing).
9. After establishing the original extract content in
the fermenting room, water may not be added to
beer without permission of the customs office. The
customs office can permit the brewer to add water
to beer after the original extract content has
been established in the fermenting room, provided
the appropriate precautionary measures have been
observed. Beer wholesalers or publicans are, under
no circumstances, allowed to add water to beer.
10. Brewers, beer wholesalers or publicans are not
allowed to mix beers of different original extract
contents nor to add sugar to beer after the beer
tax has been calculated. The Finance Minister can
allow exceptions by decree.
11. For the production of top-fermenting simple or
very low original extract content beer, according
to the Additive Authorization Regulation (...)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

German beer drinkers demand observance of the German Beer Purity
Law

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.

German Beer - pure enjoyment!

"We could be happy if the air was as pure as the beer"
Richard von Weizsaecker, former President of the German Federal
Republic

German beer, brewed in accordance with the Purity Law, is made
from natural raw materials, without additives, which are not
technically necessary anyway. Apparently, German consumers prefer
a beer made from natural raw materials, because beer not brewed
in accordance with the Purity Law has only a negligible market
share.

Whether or not there is interaction between the various additives
present in what people eat, or between these additives and the
alcohol in what we drink, does not present a problem for German
brewers: Their beer will continue to be made from malt, hops,
yeast and water.

Another aspect is of great importance: The almost exclusive
function of unmalted grain (such as Rice, Corn, Millet, Manioc,
etc., and the flakes and semolina made from such grain), in beer
is to increase the carbohydrate and alcohol content

Brewing malt contains many nutritionally and physiologically
important compounds which are carried over into the beer. Beer
brewed exclusively from malted grain has, in comparison to
unmalted grain beers, a much higher nutrient content and lower
amounts of fermentation by-products such as fusel oil which
contains amyl alcohol.

The German Beer Purity Law is still today a very good answer to
the consumer's fears about additives in foods and beverages. Many
nutritionists and physiologists believe that even today,
consumers are still not well enough protected from the
side-effects of untested or incompletely tested additives.

This is even more true for beer because the finest quality beer
can be brewed with no additives at all.

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:

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. Here
is the document

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.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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:

1. Only barley malt, hops, yeast and water may be
used for the brewing of bottom- fermented beer,
with the exceptions contained in the regulations
in paragraphs 4 to 6.
2. The brewing of top-fermenting beer underlies the
same regulations, however other malts may be used
and the use of technically pure cane, beet or
invert sugars as well as dextrose and coloring
agents derived from these sugars is allowed.
3. Malt shall be taken to mean: any grain that has
been caused to germinate.
4. The use of colored beers, if brewed from malt,
hops, yeast and water, in the preparation of beer
is allowed but underlies special supervisory
measures.
5. Hop powder, hops in other milled forms and hop
extracts may be used in brewing, so long as these
products comply with the following requirements:
1. Hop powder and other milled hop forms, as
well as hop extracts must be produced
exclusively from hops.
2. Hop extracts must:
1. contribute the same flavoring and
bittering substances to the wort as
would have been contributed had hops
been simmered with the wort.
2. fulfill the requirements of the German
Pure Food Laws.
3. only be added to the wort before or
during the simmering phase.
6. Only materials which act mechanically or by
absorption and are thereafter removable, leaving
no, or only such residue in the beer which is of
no health, taste or odor concern may be used to
clarify beer.
7. Upon request, in individual cases, such as the
preparation special beers and beers intended for
export or scientific experiments, exceptions to
the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 can be
made.
8. The requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 are not
applicable to brewing for personal consumption
(home brewing).
9. After establishing the original extract content in
the fermenting room, water may not be added to
beer without permission of the customs office. The
customs office can permit the brewer to add water
to beer after the original extract content has
been established in the fermenting room, provided
the appropriate precautionary measures have been
observed. Beer wholesalers or publicans are, under
no circumstances, allowed to add water to beer.
10. Brewers, beer wholesalers or publicans are not
allowed to mix beers of different original extract
contents nor to add sugar to beer after the beer
tax has been calculated. The Finance Minister can
allow exceptions by decree.
11. For the production of top-fermenting simple or
very low original extract content beer, according
to the Additive Authorization Regulation (...)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

German beer drinkers demand observance of the German Beer Purity
Law

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.

German Beer - pure enjoyment!

"We could be happy if the air was as pure as the beer"
Richard von Weizsaecker, former President of the German Federal
Republic

German beer, brewed in accordance with the Purity Law, is made
from natural raw materials, without additives, which are not
technically necessary anyway. Apparently, German consumers prefer
a beer made from natural raw materials, because beer not brewed
in accordance with the Purity Law has only a negligible market
share.

Whether or not there is interaction between the various additives
present in what people eat, or between these additives and the
alcohol in what we drink, does not present a problem for German
brewers: Their beer will continue to be made from malt, hops,
yeast and water.

Another aspect is of great importance: The almost exclusive
function of unmalted grain (such as Rice, Corn, Millet, Manioc,
etc., and the flakes and semolina made from such grain), in beer
is to increase the carbohydrate and alcohol content

Brewing malt contains many nutritionally and physiologically
important compounds which are carried over into the beer. Beer
brewed exclusively from malted grain has, in comparison to
unmalted grain beers, a much higher nutrient content and lower
amounts of fermentation by-products such as fusel oil which
contains amyl alcohol.

The German Beer Purity Law is still today a very good answer to
the consumer's fears about additives in foods and beverages. Many
nutritionists and physiologists believe that even today,
consumers are still not well enough protected from the
side-effects of untested or incompletely tested additives.

This is even more true for beer because the finest quality beer
can be brewed with no additives at all.