Yankeehillbrewer
Well-Known Member
I've been doing a little research on Reinheitsgebot, and have found some things I find interesting.
IMO, if you were to be a true purist you would follow the original writing of 1516. Which would eliminate yeast, if you followed the law verbatum. That would make all of our beers non-compliant.
It also seems that the Purity Law, was written more to protect the wheat crop than the purity of beer. Thus allowing for enough bread to be made during those times to keep people fed. Which is a great principle, though I'm not really sure it applies today. I also think it was written to keep other beers out of Germany, creating somewhat of a Monopoly. So to me the principle of the law was to protect the German people , not the beer.
Later revisions of the law allow for additions of various sugars, but only in Top Fermented ales. Bottom fermented lagers cannot have additional sugar added. That makes no sense, and has me questioning the overall validity of the law. It also recognizes Yeast as a primary ingredient.
There's a part of me that really wants to adhere to Reinheitsgebot, but now I'm kind of thinking "What's the Point?", especially since it was repealed in 1987.
Anyhow, I found this all pretty interesting and thought I would bring it up and see what discussion came of it. Not that any of it really matters.
IMO, if you were to be a true purist you would follow the original writing of 1516. Which would eliminate yeast, if you followed the law verbatum. That would make all of our beers non-compliant.
It also seems that the Purity Law, was written more to protect the wheat crop than the purity of beer. Thus allowing for enough bread to be made during those times to keep people fed. Which is a great principle, though I'm not really sure it applies today. I also think it was written to keep other beers out of Germany, creating somewhat of a Monopoly. So to me the principle of the law was to protect the German people , not the beer.
Later revisions of the law allow for additions of various sugars, but only in Top Fermented ales. Bottom fermented lagers cannot have additional sugar added. That makes no sense, and has me questioning the overall validity of the law. It also recognizes Yeast as a primary ingredient.
There's a part of me that really wants to adhere to Reinheitsgebot, but now I'm kind of thinking "What's the Point?", especially since it was repealed in 1987.
Anyhow, I found this all pretty interesting and thought I would bring it up and see what discussion came of it. Not that any of it really matters.