Happy German Beer Day!

April 23, 2008

Guten Tag! Weiss odor dunkelbrau? Please forgive my German - College was a long time ago!

Although the day is actually coming to an end, I suppose it’s important to wish everyone who enjoys beer, particularly German beers - a Happy German Beer Day!

German Beer Day is every April 23. Since 1516!!! (a long-ass time ago!) Germans have a beer purity law (More formally known as the Reinheitsgebot) that was enacted on April 23, 1516. It’s apparently the oldest consumer-protection law still enforced in Germany. Interesting, eh? It’s been edited a bit since then regarding certain ingredients, but the spirit of the law is alive and kicking!

If you are interested in the history of the Reinheitsgebot , loosly known as the “German Beer Purity Law”, follow that link to Wikipedia where they have a pretty good explanation, and an english-version of the beer purity law can be read as well over on brewery.org.