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 the list later. The law has been celebrated as the world’s oldest food safety regulation, a symbol of German brewing excellence and purity.

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 the list later. The law has been celebrated as the world’s oldest food safety regulation, a symbol of German brewing excellence and purity.