Germans take their beer seriously. And, they have been taking their beer seriously for a long time. 500 years, to be exact.
In 2016, Germany will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot, or the German beer purity law. In 1516, the Bavarian council decreed that “Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that in the future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for brewing should be barley, hops and water. Whoever ignores or knowingly transgresses this ordinance, will be punished by the authorities of the Court confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail “.
The law was established to protect bakery products, such as wheat and rye, from falling into the hands of breweries. Although it was originally intended to prevent the waste of wheat and rye, over time the law has come to act as a symbol of the purity and excellence of German beer.
Today, most German brewers continue to comply with the Reinheitsgebot and its terms, ensuring that German beers consist of only barley, hops, water, and yeast (added to the law in the 17th century). The German Brewers Association has been fighting hard to gain UNESCO approval of the Reinheitsgebot as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, which has recognized French gastronomy and Korean kimchi making.
While Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists do not have the same notoriety as a UNESCO World Heritage site, UNESCO seeks to raise awareness of these intangibles and help protect them, especially for those intangibles that urgently need to be safeguarded, such as traditional manufacturing. cowbells in Portugal. The Association of German Brewers hopes that UNESCO recognition will raise awareness of the unusual importance and purity of German beers.
To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot, the following food festivals and events will take place in Germany in 2016:
- From February 19 to July 24, 2016, the exhibition “Bier, Braukunst und 500 Jahre deutsches Reinheitsgebot” (Beer, the art of brewing and 500 years of the German reinheitsgebot) takes place in Mannheim. The exhibition shows the history and background of the Reinheitsgebot and its importance today. The exhibition is displayed in the Technoseum (Museum of Work and Technology).
- From April 22-24, 2016, the 500th anniversary festival will take place in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, where the law was signed on April 23, 1516.
- From 22 to 24 July 2016, a luxurious beer festival will be held in Munich with the attendance of more than 100 breweries and traditional Bavarian folk music.
