Jan Ostroróg Grants New Statutes to Grodzisk’s Maltsters and Brewers

On March 23, 1601, Jan Ostroróg, the owner of Grodzisk, granted new statutes to the town’s guild of maltsters and brewers. The document abolished and replaced earlier guild statutes, establishing binding rules for brewing, guild membership, and the protection of Grodzisk beer’s quality. It is the oldest surviving document connected with the town’s brewing industry. The statutes required a formal quality assessment of every brew. The mayor and a council of elders tasted one barrel from each batch before the beer could be approved for sale. Beer judged acceptable received an official mark, while the regulations also provided penalties for brewers who attempted to avoid the inspection. This system helped protect the reputation of the local oak-smoked wheat beer later known as Grodziskie or Grätzer and represents an early documented form of municipal beer tasting and organized quality control.