Germany's craft beer rebels chafe at 500-year-old purity regulation

Berlin

BAVARIAN brewer Tilman Ludwig has long adhered to Germany's Reinheitsgebot, a rule that allows only four ingredients in beer: water, malt, hops and yeast. As the 500th anniversary of the rule approaches this month, he's celebrating by breaking the law.

Mr Ludwig's 3Brew has prepared 300 cases of an ale called "Extra Pure". Though he made it with the basics called for in the Reinheitsgebot - the world's oldest food regulation, which translates as "purity commandment" - it violates the rule because it also includes ginger, lemon verbena, peppermint and basil.