[denny]

just like Rhineheitsgebot, which existed at the time because people were putting REALLY nasty stuff in their beer and people were getting sick.

I wasn't aware of that.  I thought it was to keep wheat in the hands of the aristocracy.

[hopfenundmalz]

just like Rhineheitsgebot, which existed at the time because people were putting REALLY nasty stuff in their beer and people were getting sick.

I wasn't aware of that.  I thought it was to keep wheat in the hands of the aristocracy.

I have read it was to keep wheat and rye for bread making in poor crop years, and since barley makes good beer but not so good bread have the barley go to beer production.  I have read that there were some problems with suspect ingredients, hence the definition of what could be used and penalty for use of unapproved ingredients..  It was also a tax/price law, with the loophole for the aristocracy to have their own wheat beers as Denny says.

http://brewery.org/library/ReinHeit.html

[phillamb168]

just like Rhineheitsgebot, which existed at the time because people were putting REALLY nasty stuff in their beer and people were getting sick.

I wasn't aware of that.  I thought it was to keep wheat in the hands of the aristocracy.

I have read it was to keep wheat and rye for bread making in poor crop years, and since barley makes good beer but not so good bread have the barley go to beer production.  I have read that there were some problems with suspect ingredients, hence the definition of what could be used and penalty for use of unapproved ingredients..  It was also a tax/price law, with the loophole for the aristocracy to have their own wheat beers as Denny says.

I swear I read something about there being laws put in place to keep weird stuff from being put in beer. Maybe I was thinking of an English law?

http://brewery.org/library/ReinHeit.html

[mthogan1997]

Government regulations exist to keep idiots and people of bad intention from hurting those who can't fend for themselves...

Ha ha ha. One of the best jokes I've read in awhile.

Seriously, government regulations exist to keep power in the hands of the elected (or however they got in power) or their donors.

Next you'll be saying that that the  reinheitsgebot was about keeping really nasty stuff out of beer....ooh, err, sorry.

[phillamb168]

Government regulations exist to keep idiots and people of bad intention from hurting those who can't fend for themselves...

Ha ha ha. One of the best jokes I've read in awhile.

Seriously, government regulations exist to keep power in the hands of the elected (or however they got in power) or their donors.

Next you'll be saying that that the  reinheitsgebot was about keeping really nasty stuff out of beer....ooh, err, sorry.

I'm not saying regulation is always, always a good thing, but it definitely can be a force for good. Look at China, and all the crap that's in their water and their food and their air.

Besides, isn't wrestling regulation to your will part of the fun? (tongue somewhat in cheek)

[denny]

Uh, guys....beer, not politics, please....

[EHall]

It seems silly, but then again, much of what the government does seems silly to me.

Know whats really silly?! That avatar of yours!