SC - The Rheinheitsgebot

[Nanna Rögnvaldardóttir]

- -----Original Message-----
From: Philip & Susan Troy <troy at asan.com>
To: SCA COOKS <sca-cooks at Ansteorra.ORG>; er at panix.com <er at panix.com>
Date: 22. apríl 1999 11:40
Subject: SC - The Rheinheitsgebot


>Hi there!
>
>The following is the text from the URL on the Rheinheitsgebot mentioned
>by Nanna. I had asked about exceptions like wheat beer...
>
>> posted to rec.crafts.brewing by Fred Hardy
>>
>> GERMANY"S PURITY LAW
>>
>>
>> Following is an English translation of the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity
Law) adopted in 1516, the oldest provision still
>> enforced to protect the consumer. This is taken from the article "History
of German Brewing" by Karl J. Eden, published in
>> 'zymurgy' magazine, Vol. 16, No. 4 Special 1993.
>>
>> "We hereby proclaim and decree, by Authority of our Province, that
henceforth in the Duchy of Bavaria, in the country as
>> well as in the cities and marketplaces, the following rules apply to the
sale of beer:
>>
>> "From Michaelmas to Georgi, the price for one Mass [Bavarian Liter 1,069]
or one Kopf [bowl-shaped container for fluids,
>> not quite one Mass], is not to exceed one Pfennig Munich value, and
>>
>> "From Georgi to Michaelmas, the Mass shall not be sold for more than two
Pfennig of the same value, the Kopf not more
>> than three Heller [Heller usually one-half Pfennig].
>>
>> "If this not be adhered to, the punishment stated below shall be
administered.
>>
>> "Should any person brew, or otherwise have, other beer than March beer,
it is not to be sold any higher than one Pfennig
>> per Mass.
>>
>> "Furthermore, we wish to emphasize 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.
>>
>> "Should, however, an innkeeper in the country, city or markets buy two or
three pails of beer (containing 60 Mass) and sell
>> it again to the common peasantry, he alone shall be permitted to charge
one Heller more for the Mass of the Kopf, than
>> mentioned above. Furthermore, should there arise a scarcity and
subsequent price increase of the barley (also considering
>> that the times of harvest differ, due to location), WE, the Bavarian
Duchy, shall have the right to order curtailments for the
>> good of all concerned."
>
>Interesting! For all its fame, the Rheinheitsgebot, the world-renowned
>"Strict German Purity Laws" turn out to be nothing more than a rehashing
>of the older English Assizes of Ale, with the sole exception of the line
>about using only barley, hops, and water.
>
>I don't know what went into period German March beer, but March Beer in
>England in the early 17th century (the earliest recipe I've seen)
>contained both peas and unmalted wheat and oats (and Markham's recipe is
>actually extremely good, BTW) in addition to barley malt. On the other
>hand, while modern Marzen is based on barley malt only, there are German
>wheat beers of relative antiquity that would seem to conflict with the
>intent of the Rheinheitsgebot. Or does that sound like an ordered
>curtailment for the good of all concerned? Curiouser and curiouser!

Well, they did make changes to the original text. This is a translation of
part of the German Beer Law that was repealed by the EU court:

"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.
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 colouring agents derived from these sugars is
allowed.
Malt shall be taken to mean: any grain that has been caused to germinate.
The use of coloured beers, if brewed from malt, hops, yeast and water, in
the preparation of beer is allowed but underlies special supervisory
measures."

In addition, the Reinheitsgebot was never applied as strictly to beer that
was brewed especially for export to other countries.

The following is taken from the website of beer enthusiast Ron Pattinson:

"No wheat beer can claim to be brewed to the Reinheitsgebot of 1516, because
until the 16th Century when the aristocracy were given the privilege of
brewing beer with wheat (the equivalent of eating white bread), the use of
wheat in brewing was specifically forbidden in Bavaria."

So yes, the aim of the Reinheitsgebot was really to ensure the general
public didn´t waste precious wheat to brew beer - that was for the upper
class only.

Nanna

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