A Brief Beery History
Origins
Beer is one of the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic beverages in the world. Its origins can be traced back thousands of years to ancient civilizations, where it was revered as a gift from the gods and used for religious ceremonies. From its humble beginnings, beer has evolved into a global phenomenon with countless styles, flavours, and brewing techniques.
If you want to read a proper history of beer, in all its guises, there are plenty of sources both factual and comedic, in which to lose yourself. This blog is not one of those. It’s really a collection of beer history kernels that at some point has made me ponder, smile, cringe or shake my head in either disbelief or guilty association. I am sure I’m not alone, so let’s dive in?
The earliest evidence of beer brewing dates back to around 7000 BCE in what is now Iran. At the time, people would ferment a mixture of grains, such as barley, and water using natural yeasts. This primitive form of beer was likely sour and lacked the refined taste of modern beer, but it was still an important source of nutrition and hydration in hot climates.
This is how I see it. Somewhere around 10,000 – 7,000 B.C.E., possibly, in a fertile area of Mesopotamia, a disgruntled tent-wife of a nomadic layabout jettisoned his evening bowl of freshly steeped gruel in the vague direction of the family pet baboon. The lazy son of a scarab was late home once again. The next morning, after the usual ‘words’ were exchanged and Mohabim had roared off on his camel, she noticed the gruel had landed in a dark corner of the tent and was happily bubbling and burping away. It didn’t smell too unpleasant, and being the frugal sort, she popped it into a jar. The next day the goop had taken on a life of its own, burping up gasses and generally making its presence felt. Not entirely convinced she could serve this newly discovered life-form to her husband exactly like this, she tried filtering it into a clay jug and rammed the pointy end of the jug into the cool sand. To mask the slightly loin-cloth aroma, she tossed in some chopped dates, coriander seeds, and a bitter herb rue into the mix.
In a manner not unrecognised across the land, even today, Mohabim eventually finds his way home with a bunch of ‘mates’ in tow. Knowing they would be thirsty and masking the slight twinge of vengeance curling the corner of her lip, she rushes to serve them her latest brew.
“Eww, er, oh, kinda fizzy. Wooo, I gotta sit down. Hey, guys, try this…”
And the rest we know only too well. They all wake up the next day, slightly worse for wear, heads complaining in the scolding sun but grinning like motherless children. Mohabim moves the tent to the corner of a barley field and opens his barley juice bar. Nomadic life ceases, civilisation is born, and they go on to invent the wheel, and eventually a fridge.
Is there any wonder we love the stuff quite so much?
Some academics argue this view of the birth of civilisation is valid. After all, nomadic life ceased once we became farmers, requiring grain to feed livestock, and for bread and beer. Alcohol helped take the edge of the hardships of toiling the fields, and somehow gave us the tolerance to live together in ever larger communities. It probably also played its roll in increasing those communities, but the less said about that the better.
Beer soon spread to other civilizations, including the ancient Egyptians, who used beer as a form of currency and offered it to their gods as a sacrifice. The Babylonians, who dominated Mesopotamia around 1900 BCE, are also believed to have brewed beer and used it in religious ceremonies.
The Beer vs Wine Debate
The ancient Greeks and Romans also drank beer, but they primarily consumed wine, which was seen as a more sophisticated beverage. It’s amazing to think that we view these ancient people as the source of the civility we enjoy today, and yet they preferred wine. The horror!
The emperor Julian felt ‘wine made from Barley’ was an insult to the god of wine and revelry himself.
“Who made you and from what? By the true Bacchus, I know you not. He smells of nectar, but you smell of Goat!”
It amuses me that in Valhalla, the eternal party was fuelled by a giant Goat lactating beer (Baa-rley wine?).
Beer and wine have been locked in a friendly rivalry for centuries. They’ve been fighting over who’s the king of the alcoholic beverages, and it seems like they’re not going to stop anytime soon. As we have seen, in ancient times, wine was considered the drink of the gods and was reserved for the wealthy and elite. Beer, on the other hand, was considered the drink of the working class. As Oscar Wilde so accurately put it:
Work is the curse of the drinking classes.
Wine can boast about its sophisticated taste and the effort put into making it, while beer can counter with its affordability and easy-going nature. As a brewer I shudder. There is so much wrong with the assumption that effort is not required to make beer. I have no idea where to start! Come on an experience brew-day in our brewery as see for yourself.
As the centuries passed, the debate continued with wine being seen as the refined drink for special occasions and beer being seen as the drink for casual, everyday enjoyment.
So, who wins the beer vs wine debate? The answer, of course, is that there’s no winner – both drinks are enjoyable in their own way, and it just depends on what you’re in the mood for. Whether you prefer a cold beer after a long day or a glass of wine to unwind in the evening, there’s no right or wrong answer. Cheers to both! Mine’s a pint, freshly served, from a Goat’s udder, please.
The Holy Beer Mat
Beer continued to evolve and spread throughout the world, reaching Europe in the Middle Ages. During this time, beer was primarily brewed by monasteries, who had access to the resources and knowledge necessary for large-scale production. Monks were also known for their brewing skills, and their beer was considered some of the finest of the time.
Monks and beer, now there’s a combination that always makes me smile! These wonderful holy men, who were once known for their asceticism and devotion to spiritual pursuits, have taken on a new hobby – brewing beer. That’s right, these men of the cloth have ditched their rosaries for hops and barley!
When I think of monks, I imagine them living a life of solitude, prayer, and fasting. However, it seems that these holy men have discovered a different path to enlightenment – through the creation of delicious, handcrafted beer. God love them!
Our modern-day monks have put their own spin on the age-old tradition of brewing beer. They use only the finest ingredients and traditional brewing methods to produce beers that are not only delicious but also spiritually uplifting. Their beers are truly a divine creation, and they’re so good that I feel like I’m having a religious experience every time I take a sip. It’s that combination of divine ingredients and spiritual guidance that produces the perfect way to achieve beer nirvana. For me, Monks who brew beer are proof that the sacred and the profane can go hand in hand!
Ale Houses to Industry
Beer brewing was common in the Middle Ages, and particularly prominent in England, where those proficient at it would, for a price, supply their neighbours. How nice. I guess this is where Tuck’s Brewery comes in. We are trying to bring this spirit of locally brewed, fresh beer back to the community, and it feels and tastes good. But I digress. Let’s get back to the ale wife (yes, brewing was predominantly the role of the wife). When the ale was ready, a pole covered in some form of foliage would be placed outside the door. This was known as an “ale stake”. Here lies the birth of the pub sign, that magical beacon from heaven that guides us poor wretches to our salvation. In fact, it was Richard II who eventually made it compulsory for landlords to erect a sign.
Private dwellings soon became known as ‘alehouses’ and in the UK in 1577, there was an alehouse for every 120 people. By 1636 there was an alehouse for every 95 people and in 1684, the annual production of ale was at 19 million barrels, or 2.3 pints for every man, woman and child in the country, every day! There’s a date worth remembering when you find Orson’s Time Machine! Beer was a boon to our economic strength and at the end of the 17th century, beer accounted for 22% of the national expenditure.
As European cities grew and became more industrialized in the 16th and 17th centuries, commercial breweries began to emerge. These breweries used new techniques and ingredients, such as hops, to produce beer with a longer shelf life and a more consistent taste. Hops are a key ingredient in beer that add bitterness and flavour, and they also help to preserve the beer.
The Indian Connection
Enter the IPA. The origins of this famous beer style are subject to as many tales as Robin Hood himself! What we do know for sure though, is that the Indian Pale Ale, also known as IPA, originated in Britain in the late 1700s, and was specifically brewed to withstand the long voyage from Britain to India during the colonial era.
At the time, beer was not able to survive the months-long journey to India due to spoilage and lack of preservation techniques. To solve this problem, British brewers created a beer with a higher alcohol content and added more hops, obviously, which acted as a natural preservative. The result was the Indian Pale Ale, which could withstand the journey and still taste fresh upon arrival in India.
The IPA soon became a popular drink among British soldiers and civilians in India, mostly to their demise and the fall of the Empire, and demand for the beer grew. As a result, more and more breweries in Britain began producing IPA, and the style soon became popular in other parts of the world as well.
In the 20th century, the IPA went through a decline in popularity as lighter, more easily drinkable beers became more popular. However, in the late 20th century, the IPA experienced a resurgence in popularity, and today it is one of the most popular styles of beer in the world.
The modern IPA is known for its bold, hoppy flavour and high alcohol content, and there are many different variations of the style, including the American IPA, the Double IPA, and the New England IPA. Regardless of the specific variation, the IPA remains a beloved style of beer that continues to be enjoyed by beer drinkers around the world.
Industrial Revolution
The 19th century saw a major turning point in the history of beer with the rise of the steam engine and other technological advancements. These innovations allowed for large-scale production and distribution, and beer became a popular drink among the working class. During this time, several iconic beer brands were established, including Budweiser, Pabst, and Coors.
The 20th century brought even more changes to the beer industry, with the introduction of refrigeration, bottling, and canning. These advances allowed for beer to be packaged and sold to consumers, which helped to make it even more popular. In addition, the rise of mass media and advertising helped to promote beer and create a culture around it.
Craft Revolution
In recent years, the craft beer movement has emerged as a response to the homogenization of beer flavour and the domination of large, multinational brewing companies. Craft brewers are passionate about their beer and focus on quality, flavour, and experimentation. They often use locally sourced ingredients and traditional brewing techniques to produce unique and flavourful beers.
Today, beer is a truly global beverage, with millions of people enjoying it all over the world. From the ancient civilizations of the Middle East to the modern-day craft beer scene, beer has been a part of human history for thousands of years. Whether enjoyed in a local pub or at a backyard barbecue, beer remains one of the most beloved and enduring drinks in the world.
In conclusion, the history of beer is a rich and complex tapestry that spans thousands of years and countless civilizations. From its humble beginnings as a simple fermented grain beverage, beer has evolved into a global phenomenon with countless styles, flavours, and brewing techniques. Whether enjoyed as a simple drink or as a complex work of art, beer remains an important part of our cultural heritage and a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of humankind.