Organic beer is the ecological alternative to conventional beer. More and more breweries are offering ecological beers and are converting their operations to 100% organic. Organic beer has advantages for both health and environmental protection. We explain what the Purity Law is all about, what is special about organic beer and the best brands.
What does the Purity Law say for beer?
Hops, malt, yeast and water. Only these four ingredients are allowed in the beer. However, the purity law does not regulate how the hops were grown and whether fertilizers and pesticides were used. Lots of people who value a low-pollutant as well as ecological Nutrition therefore want to buy organic beer. But what exactly is that anyway?
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The difference between organic beer and normal beer
Organic beer may only contain hops and grains that are organic Growing originates. Fertilizers and the use of synthetic additives that improve the shelf life of the raw materials are prohibited. Whether a beer is really organic can usually be seen by its appearance, as it is more cloudy than conventional beer. The reason: The waiver of clarification or preservation through pasteurization.
Although this would also be allowed with organic beer, most organic brewers still do without it, as it preserves more flavor and ingredients. As a result, organic beer often doesn't keep as long as conventional beer, but it tastes more intense. In addition, no additives are used, beers with additives are not allowed to be labeled "Brewed according to the German Purity Law".
Marks and seals for organic beer
- Use of raw materials from ecological and pesticide-free cultivation
- No use of hop extract, only unsulphurized hops and malt
- No synthetic storage preservatives for barley
- Free of additives such as ascorbic and lactic acid, sugar color, sulfur dioxide
- Organic seals from Demeter, Bioland, Naturland, EU or DE Bio
Top 10 brands for organic beer
These beers are mostly produced by small and regional breweries. The art of brewing and family tradition are preserved. If you like innovative varieties and limited ones, as seasonal tastes, this is the place for you.
- Neumarkter lamb brew
- Decker beer
- Wild growth brewery
- Glossner
- Troublemaker
- Harderner Brew
- Riedenburger
- BrewDog
- Wolfcraft
- Liebhart's private brewery
1. Neumarkter Lammsbräu
The brewery Lamb brew from Neumarkt in Upper Palatinate is definitely the pioneer for organic beer and has been relying on an "ecological purity law" for over 30 years. The raw materials come from regional cultivation, the water from our own mineral spring. Lammsbräu also makes the malt itself. There are many different varieties from dark to spelled in the range; Gluten-free and alcohol-free beer is also available.
Source & Copyright by Neumarkter Lammsbräu
2. Decker beer
Decker beer has only been around since 2014 and the concept is new: All beers are brewed by hand and with purely natural ingredients in local micro breweries from the South Baden region. So Decker is a brewery network. All breweries do without pasteurization, filtration and coloring agents. Decker Bier is also socially committed.
Source & Copyright by Decker Beer
3. Wild growth brewery
Regional beer from Hamburg: At Wild growth brewery unconventional craft beer is produced for the Hanseatic city. The only Hamburg brewery in complete organic quality. The ingredients come from regional farms and are brewed with 100% green electricity. The modern brewery has been run as a family business by five brothers in Wilhelmsburg since 2014. The range includes many innovative varieties such as wild growth no wheat or Boch O'range.
Source & Copyright by Wildwuchs Brauwerk
4. Glossner
The little one Glossner private brewery from Neumarkt has been around since 1574 and is brewed in the 14th generation today. Only raw materials from farmers in the region are used in the various beers in the brewery. In addition to the tasty classics, there are also seasonal specialties such as dark organic shandy.
Source & Copyright by Glossner Bräu
5. Troublemaker
One key challenge is Störtebecker brewery from Stralsund has six fine beers in the range. For example the strong and bitter Übersee-Pils as well as the fruity and tangy amber wheat. Finding a new favorite beer is particularly easy with the six-pack “Organic Treasure Chest”.
Source & Copyright by Störtebecker
6. Haderner Brewery
Organic beer from Munich: Haderner Brewery is Munich's first organic brewery. The beers are naturally driven and are produced in small quantities in the traditional way. The raw materials come from small organic farms in Bavaria. The range comprises four types: light, wheat beer, dark and IPA.
Source & Copyright by Haderner Bräu
7. BrewDog
This player does not come from Germany, but it always causes a stir and should therefore not be missing on this list: Brewdog. With its equity punk model, the Scottish brewery wants to revolutionize the world of beer. In 2007 the company was founded by James Watt and Martin Dickie, who were bored with the UK's uninspired beer scene. Since then, BrewDog has also been crowdfunded, implementing innovative and unique projects that result not only in delicious beer, but also in promoting sustainability.
Source & Copyright by BrewDog
8. Riedenburg
Brewing between Munich and Nuremberg Riedenburger Beer for three decades, since 1994 the first brewery in Bavaria to be 100% ecological. In addition to the usual classics, Riedenburger also offers alcohol-free and a special organic beer made from ancient grain.
Source & Copyright by Eisenhart
9. Wolfcraft
One key challenge is Wolfcraft Brewery stands for responsible and unadjusted art of brewing. The beers are brewed according to a centuries-old tradition and do not use any additives such as hop extracts. The Munich brewers make the beers by hand. Due to the up to five times longer maturation time than in industrial production, all beers have a unique taste. Wolfscraft currently has four different types of beer in its range: A light, a fresh pils, the super lager and an alcohol-free variant.
Source & Copyright by Wolfscraft
10. Liebhart's private brewery
Whether pale ale or GHB: The Detmolder Liebharts private brewery creatively reinterprets brewing tradition. The range of organic beers is extraordinary and broad. From classic pils to lager to spelled beer, everything is included. In 100% organic quality and with a lot of love for the art of brewing, raw materials and nature.
Source & Copyright by Liebhart's private brewery
Conclusion - organic beer is more environmentally friendly than conventional beer
Organic beer is not only less harmful to health. With regard to the environment, too, it is worth taking the environmentally friendly option. Best example: Conventional hops grow in a monoculture that requires a lot of pesticides because the soil is much more susceptible to pests. Monocultures only remove nutrients from the soil on one side, which means that more and more fertilizer is required.
Hops can grow very well in permaculture, a cultivation method based on natural ecosystems. Environmentally friendly beers often use hops from permaculture; organic brewers only process hops that have been grown without synthetic pesticides. Overall, organic beer is much gentler on nature and relies on sustainable and pesticide-free cultivation.
Although organic beers only make up around two percent of all beers sold in supermarkets, the trend has long since made it onto the drinks shelf. If you don't want to neglect health and environmental protection with an after-work beer, you can choose one of the numerous ecological beers and don't have to do without a diverse range.
