🥃 Hefebrand
Hefebrand, or lees spirit, is distilled from the yeast lees of wine, beer or fermented fruit must: EU category 12, distillation below 86% vol., at least 38% ABV (76 proof) in the bottle.
Hefebrand, or lees spirit, is a lesser-known cousin of brandy and grappa: a strong drink obtained by distilling the yeast lees left after wine, beer or fermented fruit must. In the EU it is a separate category 12: distillation below 86% vol., at least 38% ABV (76 proof) in the bottle, no added alcohol and no flavourings.
Raw material. After fermentation, dead yeast cells settle at the bottom of vats and barrels together with remnants of wine or cider: wine lees, or sediment. This mass still contains some alcohol and many aromatic substances, so it need not be thrown away and can be distilled. The word itself is German: Hefe means 'yeast', Brand means 'distillate'.
Rules. Regulation (EU) 2019/787 forbids adding alcohol and flavourings; the colour may be adjusted only with caramel, and sugar may be added up to 20 g/l expressed as invert sugar. The name 'Hefebrand' or 'lees spirit' must be supplemented by the name of the raw material, for example wine. The earlier Regulation 110/2008 allowed only wine and fruit lees, while the 2019 rules added beer.
Place among drinks. Lees spirit is close to marc spirits, such as grappa or marc, and to beer spirit: all of them give a second life to by-products of winemaking and brewing. The wider the distiller takes the heart of the run, the denser and yeastier the taste.
Why this matters to you. At 38% ABV, a 20 ml shot contains about 6 g of pure alcohol. Distilling lees at home without control is dangerous, because the first fractions contain methanol. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 38% vol. |
|---|---|
| Raw material | yeast lees of wine, beer or fermented fruit must |
| Distillation method | below 86% vol., no added alcohol |
| EU category | category 12 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/787, 'Hefebrand or lees spirit' |
| Legal basis | Regulation (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, cat. 12; previously Regulation (EC) No 110/2008, Annex II, cat. 12 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Hefebrand → similar → 🍇 Pomace spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🥃 Distillation
- Made from
- 🥃 Lees, 🍷 Lees
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health
- Part of
- 🥛 Milk-based and rare distillates
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Beer spirit, 🍇 Pomace spirits, 🥃 Fruit marc spirit, 🥃 Topinambur
Frequently asked questions
What is Hefebrand made from?
From the yeast lees left after fermentation of wine, beer or fruit must; the lees contain some alcohol and many aromas.
What is the minimum strength of Hefebrand?
In the EU it is 38% vol. (76 proof); distillation must take place below 86% vol. to preserve the taste of the raw material.
Can lees spirit be flavoured?
No. Flavourings and added alcohol are forbidden; only caramel for colour and up to 20 g/l of sugar are allowed.
How is Hefebrand labelled?
The name 'Hefebrand' or 'lees spirit' is supplemented with the raw material, for example wine or beer.
How does Hefebrand differ from grappa?
Grappa is distilled from grape marc, the skins and seeds, while Hefebrand is distilled from the liquid yeast lees left after fermentation.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍇 Pomace spirits — Pomace spirits are made from grape skins, seeds and stems left after pressing: grappa, marc, orujo, tsipouro. At least 37.5% ABV, never flavoured; a name with a place guarantees origin.
- 🥃 Lees — The sediment of dead yeast at the bottom of a cask after fermentation.
- 🥃 Fruit marc spirit — Fruit marc spirit is EU category 7: a strong spirit from fermented and distilled pomace of fruit other than grapes. At least 37.5% ABV, methanol up to 1,500 g/hl, no added alcohol or flavouring.
- 🥃 Topinambur — Topinambur is a rare strong spirit from fermented, distilled Jerusalem artichoke tubers (Helianthus tuberosus): EU category 14, from 38% ABV, with no added alcohol or flavourings.
Similar
🥃 Topinambur · 🥃 Beer spirit · 🥃 Shimiin arkhi (Mongolian milk spirit) · 🥃 Mahua · 🥃 Fruit marc spirit · 🍸 Berenburg
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I: cat. 12 Hefebrand or lees spirit, cat. 13 beer spirit
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787, Annex I as adopted (legislation.gov.uk): cat. 12 Hefebrand or lees spirit — distillation at less than 86 % vol. of lees of wine, beer or fermented fruit; min. 38 % vol.; no added alcohol; not flavoured; caramel only for colour; sweetening up to 20 g/l as invert sugar; name supplemented by the raw material
- Regulation (EC) No 110/2008, Annex II (legislation.gov.uk): cat. 12 Hefebrand or lees spirit — lees of wine or of fermented fruit only, distilled at less than 86 % vol., min. 38 % vol.
- Difford's Guide encyclopedia: Distillation — the science of distillation (ethanol boils at 78.2 °C; heads/foreshots with acetaldehyde and methanol, hearts, tails/faints; methanol 64.7 °C, ~10 ml can cause blindness)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)