On July 26, 2022, just a few days after his 95th birthday, Prof. Siegfried Donhauser, former holder of the Chair for Technical Microbiology and Technology of Brewery II at the Technical University of Munich Weihenstephan, passed away. Due to his groundbreaking research and the development of immunological tests for the unequivocal detection of adjuncts in beer, he is also referred to as the "guardian of the German purity law for beer".
Because of his research and the development of immunological tests to unequivocally detect adjuncts in beer, he became known as the "Guardian of the German Beer Purity Law".
After graduating from high school in Weiden, Bavaria, and completing an apprenticeship as a brewer, he began studying brewing technology in Weihenstephan, graduating in 1952 with a degree in engineering. After a few years in practice, he took over the management of the Union Brauerei in Fulda in 1957.
In addition to his industrial work, Prof. Donhauser devoted himself intensively to scientific research. In 1964 he received his doctorate "with distinction". In 1978 he qualified as a professor on the subject of "Immunological investigations into the detection of additives in malt and beer production". In the same year he returned to Passau as director of the Hacklberg Brauerei, where he had already been on the board of the Innstadt Brauerei since 1968.
In 1980 he was appointed to the Chair of Technical Microbiology and Brewery Technology II at the Technical University in Munich-Weihenstephan. On his initiative, an immunochemistry laboratory and a small brewery were installed at the chair in addition to the existing facilities. In addition, the equipment was expanded and modernized. The simultaneous assumption of the management of the State Brewing Technology Testing and Research Institute in Weihenstephan, including the yeast bank, had a fruitful effect. This made it possible to tackle technological problems from practice not only with the analytical methods and the wealth of experience of an examination station, but also to integrate the latest findings from scientific research.
His scientific work ultimately led to test methods to detect violations of the German beer manufacturing regulations (German purity law for beer) by immunochemical means.
In 1982 he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit and in 1986 the Bavarian Order of Merit.
In 1995, Prof. Donhauser handed over the chair to Prof. Eberhard Geiger. But even after retirement, he continued his research.
A requiem in his honor will take place today, August 25th, 2022, in St. Emmeran in Munich.
On July 26, 2022, just a few days after his 95th birthday, Prof. Siegfried Donhauser, former holder of the Chair for Technical Microbiology and Technology of Brewery II at the Technical University of Munich Weihenstephan, passed away. Due to his groundbreaking research and the development of immunological tests for the unequivocal detection of adjuncts in beer, he is also referred to as the "guardian of the German purity law for beer".
Because of his research and the development of immunological tests to unequivocally detect adjuncts in beer, he became known as the "Guardian of the German Beer Purity Law".
After graduating from high school in Weiden, Bavaria, and completing an apprenticeship as a brewer, he began studying brewing technology in Weihenstephan, graduating in 1952 with a degree in engineering. After a few years in practice, he took over the management of the Union Brauerei in Fulda in 1957.
In addition to his industrial work, Prof. Donhauser devoted himself intensively to scientific research. In 1964 he received his doctorate "with distinction". In 1978 he qualified as a professor on the subject of "Immunological investigations into the detection of additives in malt and beer production". In the same year he returned to Passau as director of the Hacklberg Brauerei, where he had already been on the board of the Innstadt Brauerei since 1968.
In 1980 he was appointed to the Chair of Technical Microbiology and Brewery Technology II at the Technical University in Munich-Weihenstephan. On his initiative, an immunochemistry laboratory and a small brewery were installed at the chair in addition to the existing facilities. In addition, the equipment was expanded and modernized. The simultaneous assumption of the management of the State Brewing Technology Testing and Research Institute in Weihenstephan, including the yeast bank, had a fruitful effect. This made it possible to tackle technological problems from practice not only with the analytical methods and the wealth of experience of an examination station, but also to integrate the latest findings from scientific research.
His scientific work ultimately led to test methods to detect violations of the German beer manufacturing regulations (German purity law for beer) by immunochemical means.
In 1982 he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit and in 1986 the Bavarian Order of Merit.
In 1995, Prof. Donhauser handed over the chair to Prof. Eberhard Geiger. But even after retirement, he continued his research.
A requiem in his honor will take place today, August 25th, 2022, in St. Emmeran in Munich.
