Germany: Fracking may be the downfall of the great German beer

Germany: Fracking may be the downfall of the great German beer

The argument against fracking for shale gas is not only being fought for environmental and ecological reasons, but breweries all over Germany are now warning that the controversial method of acquiring gas from layers of rock deep in the earth has a huge effect on the quality of the beer that they brew.

Chief Executive Officer of Die deutschen Brauer [The German Brewers], Peter Hahn, explained the problem: "Before we start with fracking, we need this security and if you have no pure water, you can't brew and so that's damage for all the German brewers."

Regulations controlling the brewing of beer in Germany date back to the beer purity law, the Reinheitsgebot, from 1516. This was the worlds first food purity law. German beer can still only be made from malt, hops, yeast and water, according to the Brewers Federation. Peter Hahn said: "We need more research, and when we get results, then we can talk again how the regulations should be, also for the interests for the German brewers."

During the fracking process, a pressurised mix of water, sand and chemicals is injected into shale rock or coal beds to release trapped natural gas. The technique has raised environmental concerns due to the risk of chemicals leaking into the ground and contaminating it, along with drinking water.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition has drafted regulations for the fracking process, but German brewers say that the proposed laws are not adequate.

Germany is currently Europe's biggest producer of beer, with over 1,300 breweries that produce roughly 5,000 different beers. Each year, the Munich 'Oktoberfest' beer festival attracts around 7 million visitors.