Not only does 2016 mark the beginning of this blog, it is also the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot, the German beer purity order adopted in Bavaria in 1516. According to the Reinheitsgebot, if a beverage is to be considered as “beer,” it can only contain 3 ingredients: water, barley and hops. Thereafter, yeast has also been considered an acceptable ingredient.
Whether one chooses to closely follow the Reinheitsgebot, like Charlotte’s own German-style Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, or to boldly experiment with fruit, coffee, or spices to create a uniquely American craft beer, today’s breweries have much more on their minds than a half-century-old Bavarian purity law: State and Federal Regulations, Supply and Distribution Agreements, Trademarks, Employment Matters, to name a few.
Legal Draughts is a place to share conversations, thoughts, and musings about craft beer, the business of brews, and the law. Welcome and Prost!
*disclaimer: This blog is provided for informational purposes only and none of the information provided should be considered to be legal advice.
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