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Beer
Exactly when beer was first brewed cannot be determined. Two slate
tablets are displayed in the British Museum in London, which were, in the
year 1926, scientifically estimated to be about 9000 years old. The
scientist, a Mr. E. Huber, was of the opinion that the inscriptions on these
tablets showed the coarse milling of emmer (A prehistoric grain type,
similar to spelt, used for the brewing of beer).
The oldest proven records of brewing are about 6000 years old
Sumarians
he Sumarians discovered the fermentation process by chance. Of course,
nobody knows today, exactly how this occurred, but it could be that a piece
of bread became wet and was simply forgotten. After a short time the bread
began to ferment and a inebriating pulp resulted. The Sumarians were able to
repeat this process and are assumed to be he first civilized culture to brew
beer.
Gilgamesh
From the Gilgamesh Epic, written in the 3rd millennium B.C., we learn that
not only bread but also beer were very important. This epic is recognized as
one of the first great works of world literature. The Gilgamesh Epic
describes the evolution from primitive man to "cultured man".
Enkidu knew not, what bread was nor how one ate it. He had also not learned
to drink beer. The whore opened her mouth and spoke to Enkidu: `Eat the
bread now, O Enkidu, as it belongs to life. Drink also beer, as it is the
custom of the land. (..) " Enkidu drank seven cups of beer and his heart
soared.
Babylonians
Became the rulers of Mesopotamia. Their culture was derived from that of the
Sumarians, and as a consequence of this, they also mastered the art of
brewing beer. Today we know that the Babylonians new how to brew 20
different types of beer. Of these, 8 were brewed from pure emmer, 8 from
pure barley and 4 from a mixture of grains.
Egyptians
Egyptians carried on the tradition of beer brewing. They also used
unbaked bread dough for making beer. Peasants along the Nile, the so-called
Fellahs, still make beer the same way today. The Egyptians added dates to
the brew to improve the taste. The importance of beer brewing in ancient
Egypt, can be seen from the fact that the scribes created an extra
hieroglyph for "brewer".
Romans
Plinius reported of the popularity of beer in the Mediterranean area before
the growing of grapes for wine took hold. Thereafter, in Rome itself, wine
became the drink of the gods. Beer was only brewed in the outer areas of the
Roman Empire where wine was difficult to obtain.
Teutons
The oldest proof that beer was brewed on German soil, comes from the early
Hallstatt Period (about 800 B.C.). Bier amphora found near the present day
Kulmbach have been dated back to this time. A few hundred years after the
birth of Christ, beer was a standard commercial article. This was confirmed
by the finding of a beer seller's mug near Trier. The ancient Germans
regarded beer not only as a sacrifice to the gods but also brewed beer, as
in Egypt, for their own enjoyment and it played an important role in their
daily lives.
Monastery Breweries
he reason the monks were so intensively concerned with making beer was
because they wanted a pleasant tasting, nutritious drink to serve with their
meals, which were frugal at best, especially during the fasting periods. As
the consumption of liquids was not considered to break the fast, beer was
always permitted.
Steam engine 1765
With the introduction of James Watt's steam engine, industrialization and
rationalization began to invade brewing. The first breweries to use steam
power called themselves Steam Beer Breweries.
Kegs
Wooden barrels have been almost completely replaced by metal barrels for
most pub trade. In 1964 metal kegs were introduced in Germany. Firstly,
cleaning and filling was much simpler. Secondly, tapping and closing off was
much easier for the bar personnel. Kegs are cylindrical, made of stainless
steel or aluminium and contain an extractor tube.
Beer Buster
- Beer glass or mug, chilled
- 1 oz. Vodka
- 2-3 dashes Tobasco sauce
- Fill with draft beer
Black & Tan
- Ale or beer glass, chilled
- 1/2 fill draught Guinness
- 1/2 fill draught Bass Pale Ale
Black Velvet
- 1/2 Guinness Stout
- 1/2 with hard apple cider
Beer glass, chilled
Shandy
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