| When you think of how old beer is, you probably | | | | their own private brew houses. |
| think maybe a few 100 years or so, but beer is | | | | -:Samuel Adams operated commercial brewery. |
| actually over 6000 years old, historians speculate | | | | -:Soldiers in the revolutionary army received |
| that prehistoric nomads may have made beer | | | | rations of a quart of beer a day. |
| from grain & water before learning to make | | | | 1789- James Madison proposes that Congress |
| bread. Beer also became integrated into the | | | | levy a low 8-cent duty per barrel on malt liquors |
| culture of civilizations with no significant wine | | | | to encourage "the manufacture of beer in every |
| growing capabilities. Even the Bible has reference | | | | State in the Union." |
| to this beverage when it tells us that Noah's | | | | -:Beer and bread were the mainstays of the |
| provisions included beer on the Ark. | | | | ordinary person's diet for centuries. |
| Beer was also a major part of civilization in the | | | | -:Yeasts during this time were exactly the same |
| Babylonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Hebrew, Chinese, | | | | as those used in bread. |
| and Inca cultures. In 4300 BC the Babylonians | | | | -Before the 1800's most beer was really "Ale." |
| made clay tablets which have detailed recipes for | | | | -1810 - Munich establishes Oktoberfest as an |
| beer. The Babylonians produced beer in large | | | | official celebration. |
| quantities with around 20 different varieties. | | | | 1830's - Bavarians Gabriel Sedlmayr of Munich |
| Many of these early cultures often drank beer | | | | and Anton Dreher of Vienna developed the lager |
| through straws to avoid the bits of grain that | | | | method of beer production. |
| was left in the beverage and during these periods | | | | 1842 -the first golden lager is produced in Pilsen, |
| it was of such value that it was on occasions | | | | Bohemia. |
| used to pay workers as part of their daily wages. | | | | -In the mid-19th Century (1850's) German |
| Through out time beer has always played a | | | | immigrant brewers introduced cold maturation |
| major in society be it for social reasons or | | | | lagers to the US (Anheuser-Busch, Miller, Coors, |
| medical reasons a brief timeline of events over | | | | Stroh, Schlitz, and -Pabst roots begin here). |
| the last few millelina out lines the uses for beer | | | | -The modern era of brewing in the US began in |
| and its development through the ages: | | | | the late --1800's- with commercial refrigeration |
| 1600 BC- Egyptian texts contain 100 medical | | | | (1860), automatic bottling, pasteurization (1876), |
| prescriptions calling for beer. | | | | and railroad distribution. |
| 55 BC - Roman legions introduce beer to | | | | 1870's- Adolphus Busch pioneers the use of |
| Northern Europe. | | | | double-walled rail cars, a network of ice houses to |
| 49 BC - Caesar toasted his troops after crossing | | | | make -Budweiser the first national brand. |
| the Rubicon, which began the Roman Civil War. | | | | 1876 - Pasteur unraveled the secrets of yeast in |
| Before the Middle Ages brewing was left to | | | | the fermentation process, and he also developed |
| women since it was considered a food. | | | | pasteurization to stabilize beers 22 years before |
| 23 BC - Chinese brewed beer called "kiu" | | | | the -process was applied to milk. |
| 500/1000 AD - the first half of the Middle Ages, | | | | 1880 - there are approximately 2,300 breweries |
| brewing begins to be practiced in Europe, shifting | | | | in the US. |
| from family tradition to centralized production in | | | | 1890s- Pabst is the first US brewer to sell over 1 |
| monasteries and convents (hospitality for traveling | | | | million barrels in a year. |
| pilgrims). | | | | - First half of the 1900's beer was associated |
| During Medieval times beer was used for tithing, | | | | with men, blue-collar workers, college students, |
| trading, payment and taxing. | | | | and mainstream sports enthusiasts. |
| 1000 AD- hops begins to be used in the brewing | | | | -Late 1900's beer had a different image and |
| process. | | | | cultural function, with growth in popularity among |
| 1200 AD- beer making is firmly established as a | | | | a more diverse share of the population. |
| commercial enterprise in Germany, Austria, and | | | | 1909- Teddy Roosevelt brought over 500 gallons |
| England. | | | | of beer on safari in Africa. |
| 1295 - King Wenceslas grants Pilsen Bohemia | | | | 1914 - commercial competition drives the number |
| brewing rights (formerly Czechoslovakia). | | | | of operating breweries down to 1,400. |
| 1420 - German brewers develop the lager | | | | 1933- Prohibition ends for beer (April 7). |
| method of brewing. | | | | 1935- only 160 breweries survived Prohibition. |
| 1489 - Germany's first brewing guild, Brauerei | | | | 1935 - the beer can is introduced (American Can |
| Beck, was established. | | | | Co. & Kreuger Brewing). |
| 1490's - Columbus found Indians making beer | | | | 1938- Elise Miller John heads Miller Brewing for 8 |
| from corn and black birch sap. | | | | years as the first and only woman ever to run a |
| 1516 - Bavarian brewing guilds push for the | | | | major brewing company. |
| Reinheitsgeobot purity laws make it illegal to use | | | | 1965- Fritz Maytag purchases Anchor Brewing |
| any ingredients but water, barley, and hops in the | | | | Co. |
| brewing of beer (they didn't know yeast existed). | | | | 1966 Budweiser is the first brand to sell 10 million |
| 1553 - Beck's Brewery founded & still brewing | | | | barrels in a year. |
| today. | | | | 1976- New Albion is the first in the rebirth of |
| Late 1500's Queen Elizabeth I of England drank | | | | brewpubs and microbreweries in the US opening in |
| strong ale for breakfast. | | | | California. |
| 1587 the first beer brewed in New World at Sir | | | | 1988 - Asahi Super Dry (Japan) introduces new |
| Walter Raleigh's colony in Virginia--but the colonists | | | | beer category (soon to follow is Michelob Dry). |
| sent requests to England for better beer. | | | | 1991- the US produces 20% of the world beer |
| 1602 Dr. Alexander Nowell discovers that ale can | | | | volume (world's largest suppliers). |
| be stored longer in cork sealed, glass bottles. | | | | So as you can see the humble pint has lead a |
| 1612- the first commercial brewery opened in | | | | rather full life from the time of ancient men to |
| New Amsterdam (NYC, Manhattan) after colonists | | | | the mega companies of today. Beer Making Kits |
| advertised in London newspapers for experienced | | | | As Low As $39.99! |
| brewers. | | | | Resource Box: |
| 1620- Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock because the | | | | Barstool We have information on the best bar |
| beer supplies were running low. | | | | stool for each and every bar style. |
| 1674- Harvard College has its own brew house. | | | | Bar supply Bar supplies & bar equipment online. |
| 1680 - William Penn (founder of Pennsylvania) | | | | Your entire bar supplies, beer supplies, & wine |
| operated commercial brewery. | | | | supplies online. |
| 1757 - Washington wrote his personal recipe "To | | | | Beer For quality online beer info check it out! |
| Make Small Beer." | | | | Attention E-zine Editors: You may use this article |
| 1786- Molson brewery is founded in what is | | | | on your Website or in your e-zine royalty free, as |
| today Canada. | | | | long as you publish the complete article along with |
| -:George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had | | | | everything in the resource box. Thank you. |