DAB Original

Brewed according to the German Purity Law, apparently.

I didn’t sample this one under ideal conditions, it’s in a nice big can (500 ml, 5% ABV), and it was quite cheap, so I wasn’t really paying much respect to the brew when I grabbed it out of the fridge to guzzle down while I was eating a delicious roast chicken (as built by my baby).

I can’t say if it was the three helpings of roast fowl, or if it was the beer that made me feel a bit bloated… Hope it was the chicken.

Appearance is crystal clear amber with a simple white head.

It had a very slightly metallic aroma when first poured, but this eventually evaporated, or wore out, or something, leaving , and a slightly unpleasant aftertaste – with initial malty characteristics – but not like you expect, more like the malt you (may have been) were given by your mum when you were a kid, it came out of a tin in the fridge – wrapped in a great globby mess wrapped around a spoon. Well, it tastes a little bit like that. Dry.

It’s actually really growing on me.

German Purity Law

Following is an English translation of the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law) adopted in 1516, the oldest provision still enforced to protect the consumer. This is taken from the article "History of German Brewing" by Karl J. Eden, published in ‘zymurgy’ magazine, Vol. 16, No. 4 Special 1993.

We hereby proclaim and decree, by Authority of our Province, that henceforth in the Duchy of Bavaria, in the country as well as in the cities and marketplaces, the following rules apply to the sale of beer:

From Michaelmas to Georgi, the price for one Mass [Bavarian Liter 1,069] or one Kopf [bowl-shaped container for fluids, not quite one Mass], is not to exceed one Pfennig Munich value, and

From Georgi to Michaelmas, the Mass shall not be sold for more than two Pfennig of the same value, the Kopf not more than three Heller [Heller usually one-half Pfennig].

If this not be adhered to, the punishment stated below shall be administered.

Should any person brew, or otherwise have, other beer than March beer, it is not to be sold any higher than one Pfennig per Mass.

Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be Barley, Hops and Water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance, shall be punished by the Court authorities’ confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail.

Should, however, an innkeeper in the country, city or markets buy two or three pails of beer (containing 60 Mass) and sell it again to the common peasantry, he alone shall be permitted to charge one Heller more for the Mass of the Kopf, than mentioned above. Furthermore, should there arise a scarcity and subsequent price increase of the barley (also considering that the times of harvest differ, due to location), WE, the Bavarian Duchy, shall have the right to order curtailments for the good of all concerned.


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