The Hops Conspiracy: How a 1516 Law Changed Beer
Introduction On April 23, 1516, Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria issued a proclamation that would fundamentally alter the composition of beer for the next five centuries. Known as the Reinheitsgebot (the “German Beer Purity Law”), this edict restricted beer production to three ingredients: water, barley, and hops. Yeast, not yet understood, would be added to … Read more