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I've heard lately, that the german beer Warsteiner does not fullfill the german Reinheitsgebot and therefore is is not allowed to be called Pilsner, that is why they call it a Premium Verum.

Is that true and if yes, why?

Community
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Marv
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  • Where did you get that information? On their website (http://www.warsteiner.de/reinheitsgebot/), it says: „Die Warsteiner Brauerei legt seit ihrem Bestehen, mittlerweile also über 260 Jahre, größten Wert auf die Einhaltung des deutschen Reinheitsgebots, dessen Ursprungsversion als bayrisches Reinheitsgebot seit 1516 Bestand hat.“ Short version: They have always been adhering to the reinheitsgebot. – Philipp Jan 13 '16 at 09:36
  • @Philipp I was wondering why it is called "Premium Verum" and a friend told me, that they are not allowed to call it a *Pilsner* and therefore called it a "Premium Verum" – Marv Jan 13 '16 at 09:41
  • I’m not sure about what has to be fulfilled to be allowed to call a beer a pilsner. – Philipp Jan 13 '16 at 09:46
  • They called it "Premium Pilsner" earlier. – Altbier is not Old Beer Jan 13 '16 at 11:52

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I think your friend got the wrong end of a stick :p

Wikipedia lists it as a pilsner, so does BeerAdvocate and the Warsteiner site.

I think Premium Verum is just a name.

Atron Seige
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"premium verum" is just a marketing-joke. Warsteiner is a real "Pilsener". And they brew according to the german purity law.

Martin (I studied Brewing Science in Weihenstephan and know Warsteiner very well)

user5024
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As far as I read, Warsteiner is not a Pilsener because they don't use enough hops. It's like a Pilsener but less bitter.

Andrew Cheong
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domacs
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    If the beer is fresh it is bitter and refreshing. Considering that it is a classic example of style (BJCP 2008) I doubt that they use less hops. http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/style02.php#1a – Atron Seige Jan 15 '16 at 08:40