If you’re an avid beer drinker or a home brewer, you’re probably aware of the Reinheitsgebot. And no, for those unfamiliar, it’s not a popular heavy metal band from the ’90s. It’s actually the German term for the Bavarian Beer Purity Law of 1516, a law created to stop brewers from using inferior, less palatable ingredients in their beer. Thus, making sure all brewers were held to the same high standards.
You might be wondering why a law enacted in the 1500s matters today. Well, in my years of writing about alcohol, most of the best beers I’ve imbibed stayed true to this timeless 500-year-old law. And I’m not just talking about German-made beers. Sure, I’ve enjoyed my fair share of over-the-top barrel-aged oatmeal stouts, fruited wheat beers, and lactose and oat-filled hazy IPAs. But there’s just something special about a crisp, refreshing beer that tastes like…well, beer. You can thank the Reinheitsgebot for that.
This brings us to one important question: what exactly is the German Beer Purity Law of 1516, why is it still important today, and how does it continue to impact contemporary beer?
What is German Beer Purity Law of 1516?
In April of 1516, Bavarian Duke Wilhelm IV created the Beer Purity Law to counteract brewers adding cheap, sometimes unhealthy, and potentially toxic ingredients to their beer. It also prevented the use of wheat so that it could be utilized to make bread and baked goods instead. When it was created, only three ingredients were allowed to be used to brew beer: water, barley, and hops. That was it.
Eventually, yeast was added as the fourth ingredient as it became clear how important it was in the beer-making process. Initially only in Bavaria, the law was rolled out to all of Germany in 1906, and while you won’t be jailed for deviating, it’s still considered the blueprint for beer in the country.
The German Beer Purity Law today
The German Beer Purity Law is still used as a measuring stick for German brewers and brewers throughout the world. In Germany, many brewers still abide by it to ensure the highest-quality, well-balanced beers. Every traditional German beer is still brewed in accordance with the law. The exceptions are witbiers featuring coriander, orange peel, and other ingredients, and the sour, tart Berliner Weisse.
Popular American beer brands that follow the rules of the Reinheitsgebot include Samuel Adams (with its Boston Lager), Bierstadt Lagerhaus, and New Glarus Brewing.
The Reinheitsgebot today
Even in the contemporary German beer marketplace, it’s considered to be a positive way to ensure the highest quality, traditional beer styles, while also promoting the country on a global level.
There are still many brewers outside of Germany who make beers that adhere to the German Beer Purity Law, but few totally abide by it. This is because some brewers believe that only using the most basic brewing ingredients is restrictive when it comes to creativity. If they followed it completely, brewers wouldn’t be able to add fruit, oats, lactose, wheat, and other extra ingredients. This is why today, while it’s great for traditional beers, most American brewers don’t adhere to all the rules.
