„Ich schau Dir in die Augen, Kleines“

Controversy as to whether this is the correct translation of Rick's drinking toast "here's looking at you kid" and indeed even the English version is questioned. Today we are raising a toast here to Bavaria's 500 year old "Beer Purity Law", claimed to be the oldest foodstuff protection law still in existence. "Only water, malt and hops". However that's just as controversial as within a short space of time certain things were officially allowed such as bay leaves and even coriander. And anyway what about yeast, without which brewing would not be possible. Naturally the EU and it's earlier forebearers had something to say when German brewers tried to keep the Brits, the Belgians and the like from exporting their beer to Germany. The Bavarians tried to have this "stuff" marked as "Chemical Beer".

The truth as to why the law was made is quite complicated and indeed has a bit to do with stopping thousands of so called brewers making a brew with very questionable ingredients. Bavaria in 1516 was a wine drinking folk, wheat was desperately needed for bread and the Kings saw the opportunity to make a fortune from having the law and thereby a monopoly on the revenues.

In the Blip, Asyr's eye, not after a pub brawl during the celebrations but after his accident yesterday. Swelling is now largely gone but looks a mess. In general he is doing well though.

A horrible weather day. I gave up trying to do anything outdoors and took of to find a replacement  burnt out brake light someone had pointed out to Angie in the morning. A simple brake light bulb for a 14 year old Jeep. Simple you say! At least 10 shops that sell car parts later and still no luck. The German equivalent to Halfords, ATU in Memmingen, did at least have a space marked with the bulb type but it was empty. I thought perhaps they might know where I could get one -  "Today? Saturday afternoon in Germany? No chance." And right they were. I eventually had to order it over the internet!

It poured down like crazy when I thought I would try to get a Beer Blip for the day, thinking perhaps of photographing the brewery at Ottobeuren but I lost interest in going for a walk.