22 replies to this topic

[consumptionjunction]

While it served its purpose, it was probably time for it to go. On the one hand, it insured that Germany would never produce something like Budweiser (the American kind) but on the other, it tied brewers' hands and stifled creativity.

Forgive me for being cynical, but I can't help but imagine that this law was nothing but economic protectionism; a way to keep other countries' beer out of Germany.

[zymot]

Forgive me for being cynical, but I can't help but imagine that this law was nothing but economic protectionism; a way to keep other countries' beer out of Germany.

One explanation I read was that the original purpose was to restrict wheat as a beer ingredient, not promote barely as an ingredient.Plus (as I recall) the church had it's hand in it as well.

[macbrak]

Part of it was to avoid wheat shortages. Before it was instituted they had a couple of bad years and famines. As far as the purity aspect, it never stopped the bavarian king who imposed it from having his brewers make up some for his consumption.