Does Guinness violate the Reinheitsgebot?

[oblivious]

Just asking this to satisfy my curiosity, as I have statement from Guinness,

Q: I've seen Guinness sold in Germany even when the Reinheitsgebot applied to imported beers. How can that be?

A: In line with the German Purity Law, the barley is replaced with pale and roasted malt in Continental Europe." (MJBC p 181)

This comes from a Guinness FAQ, http://www.ivo.se/guinness/faq.html

I would have though yes, it would, but I am not sure. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[steve_flack]

Guinness as it's supplied elsewhere doesn't meet the Reinheitsgebot as I think all barley in a beer has to be malted and neither flaked nor roasted barley are. Replacing roasted barley with a roasted malt isn't a big deal (the malt would cost a fraction more) but the flaked barley replacement probably affects the mouthfeel a bit.

[oblivious]

That’s what I thought, but looking at their explanation I thought it was a little amorphous

Thanks Steve

[Frothy]

Do they still adhere to the Reinheitsgebot?
seems a little bit.... anal

gemütlich
Frothy

[steve_flack]

The germans seem to feel about the Reinheitsgebot the same way we do about getting beer in pints (not half liters).

[johnmac]

I think the EU did away with the German Purity law? Some brewers may be saying they adhere to a defunct law, to help sales.

[oblivious]

Yea I know that, this was when the Reinheitsgebot applied to imported beers

[mysterio]

Am I the only one who feels a little uneasy hearing the words 'German' and 'purity law' in the same sentance?

[oblivious]

ssshhhh! Their always listening!

[prodigal2]

"don't give him your name Pike!"

Sorry couldn't resist.

Re: EU laws and the UK
what happens is 10-20 pages arrive from the EU relating to a directive, and then Whitehall garnishes upto a 1000 pages and then passes it off as a EU dictact. What this provides for the UK government is deniebility "its not us, its those pesky buggers in brussels!"
The EU desperatly requires reform, but it is not always the instigator of rubbish laws.

could go on and on and on, but I shall resist

[Andy]

The French and Germans make the laws up and then promptly ignore them while the UK follow them to the letter....

[crow_flies]

Read this its very interesting.... basically he is saying that it's how the beer is made that is important and not just what's in it; and interestingly claims it was originally intended to stop good quality ingredients being used for beer, rather than bread.....

http://www.xs4all.nl/~patto1ro/reinheit.htm

/CF

[bod]

if i recall correctly from my days in HMCE, the purity law only applies to german beers, not imported ones, but until recently they were technically allowed to refuse imports of beers that didnt meet it, but then the EU got involved with its unfair trading rules and amazingly they agreed!

[eskimobob]

I thought it's only the UK that paid any attention to the EU anyway, and when we get kicked in the nuts by them we just bend back further to let them kick us harder the next time round

Well said DaaB

[SteveD]

Read this its very interesting.... basically he is saying that it's how the beer is made that is important and not just what's in it; and interestingly claims it was originally intended to stop good quality ingredients being used for beer, rather than bread.....

http://www.xs4all.nl/~patto1ro/reinheit.htm

/CF

That's a very good link.

I often though that the R-gebot was just protectionism, and also allows the Germans to bang on about 'purity', trying to make us think that 'pure' must be therefore mean 'better'. It is patent bollocks particularly as the Germans get around it anyway when it suits them.