Answers.Body: <p>In addition to what's been said, the original purpose of the order was to protect consumers from brewers who used problematic (toxic/psychoactive) herbs to preserve their beer, instead forcing them to use hops.  Also only using barley allowed wheat and rye to be used exclusively by bakers to keep the cost of bread down.</p>
  
  <p>One could argue the tradition has kept German brewers from innovating, and also keeps a lot of interesting styles out of reach.  Most Belgian-style beers, despite having a similar heritage to German styles, will include candi sugar and spices like anise and coriander.  Technically, sour beers are also out.  Also, a lot of the Trappist ales will use sugar adjuncts.  Today, it's mostly a statement of adherence to tradition, which can carry good marketing weight.  But this is beer, not marketing.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-29T21:28:51.563Z
Answers.Text: Great perspective and historical information here.
Answers.UserDisplayName: object88
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-01-15T09:24:29.003Z
Answers.Text: I personally find that beer lasts a LOT longer if a lot of toxic ingredients are added. :p
Answers.UserDisplayName: Atron Seige
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-29T21:19:39.180Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-29T21:19:39.180Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Sloloem
Answers.Body: <p>The German Beer Purity Law, also know as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinheitsgebot">Reinheitsgebot</a>, dictates what ingredients may be used to create beer in Germany: barley, hops, and water.  It dates back to 1487, which is why you may notice the omission of <em>yeast</em>: it hadn't been recognized as an ingredient yet.  The law was removed from the books in 1993, and replaced by another similar law which allowed yeast, sugar, and some of the more common brewing ingredients.</p>
  
  <p>In the case of a US brewery making such a claim, it's a sort of advertisement toward the "purity" of their product, i.e., they don't use adjuncts (rice, etc) or other flavorings (fruit, spices) in their beer.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-02-05T12:20:42.093Z
Answers.Text: During german history there were also phases where only beer brewed obeying the Reinheitsgebot may actually be called Bier (beer). After 1983 this was somewhat softened, but until now there are rules and laws in effect that tell what may be called Bier, and what not, and their ancestor is basically the Reinheitsgebot.
Answers.UserDisplayName: PlasmaHH
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-04-04T16:48:05.133Z
Answers.Text: IANAL, but afaik, the current Reinheitsgebot is just about which ingredients are in the final serving, not about what was used during the brewing. // probably it is something in between
Answers.UserDisplayName: phresnel
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-29T21:07:08.017Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-29T21:07:08.017Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: object88
Body: <p>I see some US beers advertising that they brew according to the "German Beer Purity Law."  What is that, and is it still relevant today?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-01-29T21:36:14.190Z
Comments.Text: Err, maybe.  Good question.  "Germany" seems weird, since it's a question about german beer.  How about german-beer?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Fishtoaster
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-01-29T21:36:36.397Z
Comments.Text: Once someone gets mod permissions, we can probably set up a tag synonym.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Fishtoaster
Tags: <brewing><laws><german-beers>
Title: What is the German Beer Purity Law?
UserDisplayName: Fishtoaster
ThreadText: # What is the German Beer Purity Law?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-29)
  
  I see some US beers advertising that they brew according to the "German Beer Purity Law." What is that, and is it still relevant today?
  
  **Tags:** brewing, laws, german-beers
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Err, maybe.  Good question.  "Germany" seems weird, since it's a question about german beer.  How about german-beer?  
  > **username_0**: Once someone gets mod permissions, we can probably set up a tag synonym.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2014-01-29. Score: 17 | Accepted answer
  
  The German Beer Purity Law, also know as the [Reinheitsgebot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinheitsgebot), dictates what ingredients may be used to create beer in Germany: barley, hops, and water. It dates back to 1487, which is why you may notice the omission of *yeast*: it hadn't been recognized as an ingredient yet. The law was removed from the books in 1993, and replaced by another similar law which allowed yeast, sugar, and some of the more common brewing ingredients.
  
  In the case of a US brewery making such a claim, it's a sort of advertisement toward the "purity" of their product, i.e., they don't use adjuncts (rice, etc) or other flavorings (fruit, spices) in their beer.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: During german history there were also phases where only beer brewed obeying the Reinheitsgebot may actually be called Bier (beer). After 1983 this was somewhat softened, but until now there are rules and laws in effect that tell what may be called Bier, and what not, and their ancestor is basically the Reinheitsgebot.  
  > **username_5**: IANAL, but afaik, the current Reinheitsgebot is just about which ingredients are in the final serving, not about what was used during the brewing. // probably it is something in between  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2014-01-29. Score: 16
  
  In addition to what's been said, the original purpose of the order was to protect consumers from brewers who used problematic (toxic/psychoactive) herbs to preserve their beer, instead forcing them to use hops. Also only using barley allowed wheat and rye to be used exclusively by bakers to keep the cost of bread down.
  
  One could argue the tradition has kept German brewers from innovating, and also keeps a lot of interesting styles out of reach. Most Belgian-style beers, despite having a similar heritage to German styles, will include candi sugar and spices like anise and coriander. Technically, sour beers are also out. Also, a lot of the Trappist ales will use sugar adjuncts. Today, it's mostly a statement of adherence to tradition, which can carry good marketing weight. But this is beer, not marketing.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: Great perspective and historical information here.  
  > **username_3**: I personally find that beer lasts a LOT longer if a lot of toxic ingredients are added. :p  
  
  ---
  
  