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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/afplifestylegermany

LEIPZIG, Germany (AFP) - A German brewer won a court battle allowing its sugar-infused frothy beverages to retain the name "beer" even if they violate the strict 16th century purity laws governing the industry


The federal administrative court in this eastern city upheld a complaint by the Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle demanding that the state of Brandenburg recognize its product as beer after a 10-year campaign.


The "Schwarzer Abt" (Black Abbot) black beer has a hint of invert sugar syrup, using a recipe handed down by monks.


Thus, it does not meet the purity standards for German beer established in 1516, which limits the ingredients to malt, water, yeast and hops.


"It looks like beer, tastes like beer and has alcohol in it," the brewer's managing director Helmut Fritsche insisted, arguing for the right to have the beer designation.

:toast:

When did it go into effect nationwide? :shrug:

Maybe some more beer will help

The Reinheitsgebot is from the 15th (1434) century and originally from Thuringia.
The nationwide introduction was in 1906 - in the Beer Tax act, today it is a tricky construction using several EU "protected traditional food" paragraphs.

Why is it called (in the US) the "Bavarian Purity Law of 1516?"

The "Thuringer Gutbier Law von 1434" didn't have the same ring? :shrug:

The Bavarians managed to establish themselves as the "beer people". The Bavarian Gebot stayed active, while the Thuringian was forgotten.

And of course: Thuringia was part of the GDR - commies. :toast: