It says on their website that they brew in strict accordance with the Reinheitsgebot
of 1516, "which means that beer can only be brewed from water, hops
and malt". They should perhaps try reading the text of the original
Reinheitsgebot. It states that beer can
only be brewed from water, barley and hops. Wheat beer was specifically
forbidden.

When the owner Johann Feiks decided to emigrate to America in1905 it seemed
as if the brewery was doomed to close. Four local citizens came to the rescue
and bought the enterprise. They renamed it "Bürgerliche Brauerei Neumarkt"
and they and their descendants have been in charge ever since. Later the
brewery acquired its current name, Ritterbräu, derived from Neumarkt's coat
of arms.

The brewery was founded by a group of publicans in reaction to the Bierkartell
(an agreement between the breweries carving up the market). It remained
a cooperative until 1994. Brau Union
owns 33% of the shares in Schladminger Brau GmbH. The cooperative owns 10%.

Independent brewery. The only brewery in Austria 100% owned by a religious
order. The old brewhouse in the monastery was in use from 1634 to 1884,
when it was rebuilt and then used for another 70 years. In 1954 the current
brewhouse was built, just outside the monastery walls.

Brewpub in a castle. Brewing started in 1387, when the Zelklinger family
were the lords of Schloss Weinberg. In the 18th century the brewery produced
1750 buckets (about 980 hl or 25,000 gallons). The brewing tradition was
revived in 1989 after a long gap. The beers are brewed from locally grown
barley and hops.

Independent brewery. The brewery has been in the hands of the Sigl family
since 1775. Josef Sigl I, a hop handler, paid 12,000 guilders for the brewery
in 1775. In charge at the moment is Josef Sigl VII.

Dark unfiltered wheat bock. Seasonal.
Apple and yeast aroma; sweetish taste with fruit and apple aromas;
fruity, caramel finish.
Very nice indeed. It was dead sludgy so perhaps I should have poured
it more carefully.