This is a must try, smooth slightly sweet with all the hops you'd expect from a German beer. Best served cold and by the way don't let this one sit in the glass long. I found that the fizz dissipates rather quickly it doesn't go flat but it's not as crisp. Great beer to help you get through the yard work and even better with Chinese food. We've had this in the store for awhile and everyone who has tried it has come back for more. Below is some info from the web...Enjoy
Gaffel Koelsch
The classic Gaffel Koelsch is a particularly fresh speciality beer from Cologne, brewed according to a time-honoured family recipe and the German Purity Law of 1516 with water, malt, hops, and hops extract.
The delicately bitter, pleasant, slightly hopsy taste is characteristic of this traditional product and clearly distinguishes Gaffel Koelsch from all other Koelsch brands.
The German Purity Law is the oldest food and drink regulation still existing today and therefore effectively the world's first consumer protection law. On the 23rd of April 1516 before a committee consisting of gentry and knights in Ingolstadt, the Duke of Bavaria Wilhelm IV proclaimed that only barley, hops and water could be used to brew beer.
Because at that time, beer was often adulterated and experiments were carried out using all kinds of herbs and spices, this law certainly led to an increase in the quality of beer. However the Duke was not primarily thinking about protecting beer drinkers from adulterated beer. His true aim was to create a secure market for Bavarian barley farmers and to ensure that the scarce supply of wheat was only used to make bread.
Regardless of the original motives, the German Purity Law has come to stand for pure beer and today provides a timely response to consumer fears of chemical additives and preservatives. It is simply an extraordinary symbol of quality and a standard gladly accepted by all German breweries, including the privately run brewery Gaffel Becker & Co. The German Purity Law has increasingly gained acceptance around the world
This law also provides the foundation of the current beer tax law (provisional beer law of July 27th 1993). This law sets forth that “only barley malt, hops, yeast and water can be used to produce bottom-fermented beer”. In 1516 yeast was not yet recognised as a raw material. At that time brewers simply depended on the natural fermentation process to take its course. In addition to this, the absolute limitation to barley malt only applies to bottom-fermented beers. Top-fermented beers such as Koelsch may also contain malts from wheat or rye. By the way, your Gaffel Koelsch is brewed using barley malt according to the classic recipe.
Gaffel KoelschThe classic Gaffel Koelsch is a particularly fresh speciality beer from Cologne, brewed according to a time-honoured family recipe and the German Purity Law of 1516 with water, malt, hops, and hops extract.
The delicately bitter, pleasant, slightly hopsy taste is characteristic of this traditional product and clearly distinguishes Gaffel Koelsch from all other Koelsch brands.
 |
| The German Purity Law |
The German Purity Law is the oldest food and drink regulation still existing today and therefore effectively the world's first consumer protection law. On the 23rd of April 1516 before a committee consisting of gentry and knights in Ingolstadt, the Duke of Bavaria Wilhelm IV proclaimed that only barley, hops and water could be used to brew beer. Because at that time, beer was often adulterated and experiments were carried out using all kinds of herbs and spices, this law certainly led to an increase in the quality of beer. However the Duke was not primarily thinking about protecting beer drinkers from adulterated beer. His true aim was to create a secure market for Bavarian barley farmers and to ensure that the scarce supply of wheat was only used to make bread.
Regardless of the original motives, the German Purity Law has come to stand for pure beer and today provides a timely response to consumer fears of chemical additives and preservatives. It is simply an extraordinary symbol of quality and a standard gladly accepted by all German breweries, including the privately run brewery Gaffel Becker & Co. The German Purity Law has increasingly gained acceptance around the world
This law also provides the foundation of the current beer tax law (provisional beer law of July 27th 1993). This law sets forth that “only barley malt, hops, yeast and water can be used to produce bottom-fermented beer”. In 1516 yeast was not yet recognised as a raw material. At that time brewers simply depended on the natural fermentation process to take its course. In addition to this, the absolute limitation to barley malt only applies to bottom-fermented beers. Top-fermented beers such as Koelsch may also contain malts from wheat or rye. By the way, your Gaffel Koelsch is brewed using barley malt according to the classic recipe.
| The German Purity Law of 1516 | ||
 | ||
 | ||
| Original Old German text "Wie das Pier Summer vie Winter auf dem Land sol geschenkt und prauen werden" "Item wir ordnen, setzen und wollen mit Rathe unnser Lanndtschaft das füran allenthalben in dem Fürstenthumb Bayrn auff dem Lande auch in unsern Stettn vie Märckthen da desáhalb hieuor kain sonndere ordnung gilt von Michaelis bis auff Georij ain mass oder kopffpiers über einen pfennig müncher werung un von Sant Jorgentag biß auf Michaelis die mass über zwen pfennig derselben werung und derenden der kopff ist über drey haller bey nachgeferter Pene nicht gegeben noch außgeschenckht sol werden. Wo auch ainer nit Merrzn sonder annder pier prawen oder sonst haben würde sol erd och das kains weg häher dann die maß umb ainen pfennig schenken und verkauffen. Wir wollen auch sonderlichen dass füran allenthalben in unsern stetten märckthen un auf dem lannde zu kainem pier merer stückh dan allain gersten, hopfen un wasser genommen un gepraucht solle werdn. Welcher aber dise unsere Ordnung wissendlich überfaren unnd nie hallten wurde den sol von seiner gerichtsobrigkait dasselbig vas pier zustraff unnachläßlich so offt es geschieht genommen werden. jedoch wo ain brüwirt von ainem ainem pierprewen in unnsern stettn märckten oder aufm lande jezuzeitn ainen Emer piers zwen oder drey kauffen und wider unnter den gemaynen pawrfuolck ausschenken würde dem selben allain aber sonstnyemandes soldyemaßs oder der kopfpiers umb ainen haller häher dann oben gesetzt ist zugeben un ausschencken erlaube unnd unuerpotn." | | Translation "How the beer shall be served and brewed nationwide in Summer as in Winter." "We hereby proclaim and decree, by the authority of our province, that henceforth in the Duchy of Bavaria, in the country as well as in the cities and marketplaces where there are no specific regulations, the following rules shall apply to the sale of beer: From Michaelmas to Georgi, the price for one Mass [Bavarian Litre 1.069 litres] or one Kopf [bowl-shaped container for fluids, not quite one Mass], is not to exceed one Pfennig Munich currency, and from Georgi to Michaelmas, the Mass shall not be sold for more than two Pfennig of the same currency, the Kopf for 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 for any more than one Pfennig per Mass. Furthermore, we wish to emphasise that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients to be 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 all 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 or the Kopf, than set out above." |
