The A - Z Of Beer Facts

There are so many interesting facts about beer in the literature, but how to compile the best ones in one single article?

Well .... After a lot of work searching on the internet and scientific journals. We were able to identify and select the best and latest facts about beer.

To make it easier for you to read, we decided to separate all beer facts by category. Thus, making the reading cleaner, more objective, and easier to assimilate, as we added countless images to complement the texts and make them more interesting.

Feel free to choose the beer topic you want to read the most:

• Beer Health Benefits
• Beer Funny Facts
• Beer and Women
• Beer in the USA
• Beer Crazy Facts
• Beer Internationally
• Beer Scientific Facts
• Beer History

Without further ado, let's get down to business ...

 

BEER HEALTH BENEFITS

1. IT CAN INCREASE SEXUAL DESIRE

We will divide this topic between men and women...

If you are a woman, adequate beer consumption can make you feel more pleasure during sexual intercourse, as drinking beer increases testosterone levels in women.

However, if you drink too much, it can make your genital become drier, thus making pleasure difficult to sense during sex.

If you are a man, drinking moderately can increase your sexual desire, thus increasing sensitivity during sex. However, drinking a lot can cause erectile dysfunction and depress your central nervous system. Maybe, depending on the amount your drink, it can make your buddy get there, but it will be almost impossible to reach orgasm.

The secret is: understand your body limits and only drink enough to make you feel good with yourself.

 

 

2. HELPS YOU AGAINST OBESITY

According to current research published in 2019, in a scientific journal, the connection between beer consumption and waist circumference (or waist-hip ratio) is irrelevant.

In order words, the ingestion of beer isn’t associated with abdominal obesity. This research was carried out with 1507 beer consumers, 723 men, and 784 women.

After answering a complete questionnaire about their beer consumption, and all data be analyzed through complex statistics methods, the conclusion was: the term “beer belly” might be only a nutritional myth because it is not related to the consumption of beer itself.

 

3. IT IS GOING TO MAKE YOU SLEEP BETTER

Hops can provide a series of beneficial effects, such as amelioration of sleeping disorders, nervousness, gastric function activation, antispasmodic effect, and many others.

All these benefits come from the various nutritional particles in the hops structure, such as flavonoids, α-acids and β-acids, terpenoids, etc.

 

 

4. IT IS ANTI INFLAMMATORY

Beer is an extremely complex mixture of bioactive substances. It can help prevent inflammatory reactions in your body, prevent the formation of cancerous metabolism and make your heart and bones healthier and stronger.

 

5. REDUCES THE RISK OF KIDNEY STONES

Drinking beer moderately reduces the risk of kidney stones.

While extreme intake of alcohol could put anyone at a greater risk for the creation of stones in your kidney, the moderate consumption of beer can help with diuresis, so as long as you are adequately hydrated, you should have no problem.

 

6. PROTECTS AGAINST RADIATION

According to a study in Japan, beer drinkers reduced their risk of chromosomal damage from radiation compared to non-beer drinkers.

So, before entering a radioactive site, make sure to drink a couple of glasses of beer!

 

7. ENHANCE YOUR BRAIN HEALTH

Beer drinkers have healthier brains. According to a recent research, old men who have been boozing one beer a day, tend to have a clearer thinking ability compared to non-drinkers.

They are 23% less likely to develop brain-related diseases, like Alzheimer, and dementia.

 

8. REDUCES BRAIN CEREBRAL OXIDATION

Beer consumption reduces cerebral oxidation caused by aluminum.

Different salts of aluminum have been reported to accelerate oxidative harm to biomolecules. On the other hand, there is a specific molecule that potentially inhibits aluminum toxicity in the brain.

This particle is called silicon, and beer has tons of it in the form of silicic acid.

 

9. IT CAN BE HEALTHIER THAN WINE

We all know that when drunk properly, wine can be extremely good for our health. Because it has molecules that help against heart diseases, brain damage, and aging.

But what if I tell you that beer can be as healthy as wine, or even healthier than wine.

Several studies demonstrate the higher content of antioxidants, phosphorous, niacin, folate, and vitamin B in beer than wine.

 

10. YOUR STOMACH CAN WORK PROPERLY

Probiotics are living microorganisms whose purpose is to bring health benefits when consumed or applied to the body.

They used to be found only in yogurt and other fermented foods. And now, you can also find in beers. Probiotic beer is the new trend, and there are many studies regarding this new type of beer.

 

11. IT MAY LOWER THE RISK OF GETTING DIABETES

Studies reveal that the consumption of alcoholic drinks with low alcohol content (beer) can decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 30%.

In people who already have diabetes, moderate consumption can improve glycemic control and prevent cardiovascular disease.

 

12. REDUCES STRESS

You know that feeling when you finish a hard day's work, get home, open a bottle of your favorite beer and take a sip?

Well, the act of drinking beer makes our brain emit signals of pleasure (releasing dopamine), thus making you feel less stressed and anxious.

 

13. BEER WILL MAKE YOU LIVE LONGER

Beer drinkers are less likely to get life-threatening illnesses.

As we have already shown in the previous topics, drinking beer moderately helps against the creation of cancer cells, against the oxidation of the brain, against the malfunction of the stomach, against diabetes, against stress and anxiety.

In short, there are so many bright sides that it will surely make you live for many, many years in a happy and healthy way.

 

 

14. GLUTEN-FREE BEERS FOR GLUTEN INTOLERANTS 

This protein can be very healthy and tasty for most people. However, for those who are intolerant, gluten can be horrible and bring health complications.

But the good news is that you, who are gluten intolerant, do not need to stop drinking beer. You just need to change the recipe a little bit.

Here we will rank the 12 best gluten-free beers found on the main sites on Google:

• Duck Foot Brewing Company: Drink This or the Bees Die (Golden Honey Ale)
• Holidaily Brewing Company: BuckWit Belgian (Witbier)
• Burning Brothers Brewing: Roasted Coffee Strong Ale (Coffee Ale)
• Alpenglow Beer Company: BuckWild (Pale Ale, Kolsch, or Amber Ale)
• Alt Brew: Hollywood Nights (Blonde IPA)
• Armored Cow Brewing: Hell Yeah (NEIPA)
• Bierly Brewing: Felix (Pilsner)
• Burning Brothers Brewing: Pyro American (Pale Ale)
• Epic Brewing Company: Glutenator (IPA)
• Ipswich Ale Brewery: Celia (Saison)
• Brunehaut Brewing: Brunehaut (Belgian Tripel)
• Magic Rock Brewing: Saucery (IPA)

 

15. BEER CAN BE USED AS A LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

The various components from the malt can make your hair more radiant and silky. Moreover, beer's long-chain proteins bind to the hair creating capillary volume. So if you have thin, fine hair, it can generate tons of volume.

 

16. BEER STIMULATES APPETITE

A survey by the English organization Slimming World, with 2,042 people, showed how alcohol consumption can stimulate appetite and make us want to eat more fatty foods. According to the study, if you drink about five cans of beer or three large glasses of wine, for example, are enough to lead to the "rebound effect" the next day. In other words, all this gluttony continues in the morning and can yield almost 0,5 pounds (1kg) more on the scale.

 

17. MODERATE CONSUMPTION OF BEER CAN IMPROVE YOUR EYESIGHT

Beer has many antioxidants in its composition that are great substances to combat cellular oxidation. Thus, resulting in a decreased risk of cataracts and other degenerative diseases.

 

18. BEER MAY NOT INTERFERE WITH YOUR DIETS 

Many studies show that moderate beer consumption does not negatively influence the effectiveness of your diet. The problem is when it is drunk in excess, as a can has an average of 100 calories. And we don't drink just one, do we? So the tip we give is, drink a quality craft beer in moderation.

 

BEER FUNNY FACTS

1. FRUIT FLIES GET HYPERSEXUAL WHEN EXPOSED TO ALCOHOL

According to this scientific journal, alcohol affects the nervous system of male flies. Making them chase any insect that has wings, regardless of gender.

 

 

2. THE WORLD'S LONGEST HANGOVER LASTED 4 WEEKS

When a Scotsman consumed 60 pints of beer (approximately 1,000 oz) over a four-day period. The man had a developed a super rare dehydration condition, and some of the symptoms he was feeling (headache and blurry vision) lasted for 6 months.  

 

 

3. CENOSILLICAPHOBIA IS THE FEAR OF AN EMPTY BEER GLASS

Ceno comes from the Greek word “kenos”, which means empty. “Sillica”, refers to quartz, but in our case is intended to mean glass. Lastly, is “phobia”, which simply means fear.

 

4. SLUGS AND SNAILS LOVE BEER

They love the small microorganisms (yeasts) living in beer. The odor of the yeasts is so attractive that the slugs and snails simply dive into the beer.

 

5. AT THE WIFE CARRYING CHAMPIONSHIP IN FINLAND, THE FIRST PRIZE IS THE WIFE'S WEIGHT IN BEER

The objective of this tournament is to carry your wife on a track through obstacles.

The man who gets there first wins the beer prize equal to his wife's weight.

In other words, if your wife weights around 132 pounds, you would get 2,112 oz in beer.

 

6. NORWAY'S FIRST AIRCRAFT HIJACKING WAS RESOLVED AFTER THE HIJACKER SURRENDERED HIS WEAPON IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE BEER

The hijacker was Stein A. Huseby, and he was drunk throughout the entire hijacking. 30 minutes after landing the plane, he released all hostages and asked for more beer, as the plane's beer supply was depleted.

 

7. ABOUT 162,719 PINTS OF GUINNESS BEER ARE WASTED EACH YEAR DUE TO MUSTACHES

The total cost of beer wasted on the mustaches of Guinness drinkers is approximately £423.000 (approximately $506,000).

 

8. BEER AND VAGINAS HAVE ALMOST THE SAME ACIDITY LEVELS

The pH of the vagina is approximately 4.5 on the pH scale, which ranges from 0 to 14. Where, from 0-6.9 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and 7.1-14 is basic.

 

9. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, 0.7% OF THE WORLD IS DRUNK

So, 54 million people are drunk around the world right now. To be more specific, only in the USA, at the moment you are reading this fact, 2.3 million people is drunk.

 

10. THERE IS A BEER BREWED FROM YEASTS RAISED IN THE BEARD OF ITS BREWER

This beer belongs to the Rogue brewery, located in Oregon. Its creator wanted to test the sensory profile that this yeast could provide to beer.

Since, each yeast has unique characteristics depending on the way it is conditioned.

 

11. HOPS IS A MEMBER OF THE CANNABACEAE FAMILY, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES CANNABIS SATIVA THE MARIJUANA PLANT

Both plants have healthy medicinal substances for the human body. Marijuana can help you manage stress, while hops have antioxidants that can prevent the spread of cancer cells.

BUT don’t forget to use it moderately.

 

12. COINED IN EARLY 1900s, THE WORD "ALCOHOLIDAY" MEANS LEISURE TIME SPENT ON DRINKING

Today's most famous Alcoholidays in America are:

• Mardi Gras: $1 billion spent this year (2020)
• Patrick's Day: $5.6 billion spent this year (2020)
• 4th July: $6.7 billion spent on 2019
• Halloween: $8.05 billion spent this year (2020)

 

13. DURING WWII, A BEER-DRINKING-BEAR NAMED WOJTEK JOINED THE POLISH ARMY.

Once the bear reached the "adulthood", the polish army started to feed him with fruits, marmalade, honey, and beer, which ended up becoming his favorite drink.

 

14. YOU CAN BATHE IN BEER AS A PHYSICAL/MENTAL THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT AT SPAS IN EUROPE

The bath usually takes about 30 minutes. The bathtub is filled with black beer, water, hops, malt, and yeast and the mix is heated to 100 °F. Afterwards, you just need to close your eyes and relax.

 

15. A BUDDHIST TEMPLE IN THAI WAS BUILT WITH OVER 1 MILLION RECYCLED BEER BOTTLES

Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, also known as the Temple of a Million Bottles, was built in approximately 2 years and took about 1.5 million bottles to build the temple.

 

16. THE MOON HAS A CRATER NAMED BEER

However, the name Beer was not given to the crater as a tribute to that drink loved by all, but it was named after German astronomer Wilhelm W. Beer (a great astronomy enthusiast).

 

17. A BEER CHUGGING WORLD CHAMPION DRANK A LITER OF BEER IN 1 SECOND

On June 22th, 1977, Steven Petrosino secured a Guinness world record for drinking 1 liter of beer in 1.3s.

 

18. THE WORLD'S LARGEST GLASS OF BEER IS 7 FEET AND 4 INCHES TALL, AND A DIAMETER OF 3 FT 8 IN

Produced by Angus Wood and Ed Dupuy of Stod Fold Brewing Company Halifax, UK. The biggest glass of beer contained 2,082 liters (457.99 gal, 550 US gal) of Stod Fold Gold (an ale beer).

How long would you take to drink this glass of beer?

19. THE BEER BOOT HISTORY

Beer boot glasses can be purchased easily nowadays. But in Germany, it was already sold many years ago. But where did this idea come from?

There are two theories:

• The first is that a Prussian general swore to his troops that he would drink a glass of beer directly from his boot, in case they won the battle. As they were victorious, the shrewd general had a beer glass made in the shape of his boot and chugged it. 
• The second theory is that German soldiers were unable to drink beer during the World War I because of the shortage of glasses. In this way, they decided to take the booze in their boots.

 

 

BEER AND WOMEN

1. WOMEN ARE PROGRESSIVELY DOMINATING THE BEER MARKET AGAIN

And many of them own outstanding craft breweries in the USA. Here we will share the top 16 of the most amazing breweries with women at the helm according to the hopculture:

1. Backward Flag Brewing Co.: located in Forked River, NJ

2. Fifth Hammer Brewing Co.: located in New York, NY

3. Garrison City Beerworks: located in Dover, NH

4. Lamplighter Brewing Co.: located in Cambridge, MA

5. Rhythm Brewing Co.: located in New Haven, CT

6. The Alchemist: located in Stowe, VT

7. Tröegs Independent Brewing: located in Hershey, PA

8. Denizens Brewing Co.: located in Silver Spring, MD

9. Oozlefinch Beers & Blending: located in Fort Monroe, VA

10. Resident Culture Brewing Co.: located in Charlotte, NC

11. 2nd Shift Brewing: located in St. Louis, MO

12. Keeping Together: located in Chicago, IL

13. Jackalope Brewing Co.: located in Nashville, TN

14. Fort Point Beer Co.: located in San Francisco, CA

15. Fremont Brewing: located in Seattle, WA

16. Lady Justice Brewing Co.: located in Aurora, CO

 

2. WOMEN ACCOUNT FOR 25% OF TOTAL BEER CONSUMPTION IN VOLUME IN THE USA AND 37% OF TOTAL CONSUMPTION OF CRAFT BEER

The ladies are important supporters of local breweries and are progressively increasing their representativeness in the niche.

 

3. ALEWIFE, ALSO BREWESS OR BREWSTER, IS A HISTORICAL TERM FOR A WOMAN WHO BREWED ALE FOR COMMERCIAL SALE

 

4. IN BABYLON AND SUMER, AROUND 4,000 B.C., WOMEN BREWERS HAD GREAT PRESTIGE AND WERE CONSIDERED SPECIAL PEOPLE WITH ALMOST DIVINE POWERS

Women were the chief brewers at first and brewed in their homes, the beer primarily had the same thick, porridge-like consistency, and was brewed in the same way.

 

5. AMONG THE VIKINGS, ONLY WOMEN COULD BREW BEER, AND ALL EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH BREWING BELONGED EXCLUSIVELY TO WOMEN BREWERS

Women were in charge of maintaining home life which included finances, land cultivation, child-rearing, and very importantly, making ales and meads.

 

6. IN THE MIDDLE AGES, A GOOD FEMALE BREWER WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

In the middle ages, a good female brewer was taken into account. King Alreck of Hordoland chose Geirheld to be his queen not only by her appearance but also by possessing incredible brewing skills.

 

7. THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL BREWERS WERE ALL WOMEN

In ancient Peru, breweries were operated by “women of the elite”. These ladies had to be of noble birth, or extremely beautiful in order to be allowed to brew beer. Both the Sumerians and Egyptians praised beer goddesses and associated brewing with women. In Mesopotamia, one of civilization’s first set of written laws, as evidence of women’s authority in beer.

 

8. THE FIRST BREWERS IN ANCIENT EGYPT WERE WOMEN

They would brew beer as an offering to the gods. Aside from offerings, beer was also considered a feminine drink, while men traditionally had wine.

 

9. BEER MAKES WOMEN HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER

Many studies show that moderate beer consumption (maximum 1 pint per day) can bring incredible benefits to women's health. The main benefits are: it reduces the chance of having a heart attack, increases the density of bones, improves the functioning of the brain, decreases blood pressure, protects your joints, improves your BMI, and regulates the levels of minerals and vitamins in the body.

Impossible not to be happy after so many pros, right?

 

BEER IN THE USA

1. AMERICANS CONSUMED AN ESTIMATED 6.3 BILLION GALLONS OF BEER IN 2018, OR ABOUT 26.2 GALLONS PER DRINKING-AGE ADULT

For reference, 1 gallon is equal to about 8 pints. Depending on the state, this number can oscillate, but it ranges from 18.6 gallons to 40.8 gallons of beer per drinking-age-adult.

 

2. IN 1956, THE US EXPLODED ATOMIC BOMBS NEAR FEW BEERS TO CHECK IF THEY ARE SAFE TO DRINK

Atomic Energy Commission exploded two bombs, one "with an energy release equivalent to 20 kilotons of TNT," the other 30 kilotons, at a test site in Nevada. Immediate taste tests after the explosion indicated that the beers were still of commercial quality. 

 

3. THERE ARE MORE THAN 8,200 BREWERIES IN THE US. ALMOST ALL (98%) ARE SMALL AND INDEPENDENT CRAFT BREWERS 

This total includes 2,058 microbreweries, 3,011 brewpubs, 2,966 taproom breweries, and 240 regional craft breweries.

 

4. CRAFT BREWERS PROVIDED MORE THAN 161,007 DIRECT JOBS IN 2019, AN INCREASE OF 7% COMPARED TO 2018

These data show us the maturation of the beer industry in the country that has been growing significantly every year. Unfortunately, this year, because of COVID-19, this number might decrease a little bit. However, I am pretty sure that our people will overcome this situation in the best way possible. 

 

5. 4TH OF JULY IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S TOP DRINKING HOLIDAYS WITH ROUGHLY $1 BILLION DOLLARS SPENT ON BEER ONLY

 

6. IPA REMAINS THE MOST POPULAR STYLE IN THE U.S. SINCE 2014

Here are the 5 most common IPA styles:

• West Coast IPA
• Imperial or Double IPA
• Fruity IPA
• Hazy or Juice IPA
• New England IPA

 

7. FRIED BEER WON THE MOST CREATIVE FRIED FOOD AT THE 2010 TEXAS STATE FAIR

Deep-fried beer is made by creating ravioli-like pockets which hold the liquid as it is fried in oil for only 20s. But the process doesn’t burn off the alcohol, so the recipe is strictly 21 and over.

 

8. THE TOP 5 STATES FOR TOTAL BEER CONSUMPTION IN 2018 WERE:

• California: 727.3 million gallons
• Texas: 618.1 million gallons
• Florida: 420.1 million gallong
• New York: 321.1 million gallons
• Pennsylvania: 307.9 million gallons

To know more about the entire ranking, click here.

 

9. THE HOP FARMING COMMUNITY OF BOONVILLE, CA, DEVELOPED THEIR OWN LANGUAGE

According to the Paris review, residents came up with their own jargon called “Boontling”, spoken in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

 

10. HOMEBREWING ONLY BECAME LEGAL IN ALL 50 STATES IN 2013

In 2013, Mississippi and Alabama, the last 2 states to prohibit homebrewing, legalized the boozy hobby, according to the Brewers Association.

 

11. THE US ECONOMY BENEFITS A LOT FROM BEER SALES

In the USA, the beer industry plays a vital role in its economy. Every year, the country generates profits of over 100 billion dollars from beer alone.

 

12. MOST VARIETIES OF BEER ON TAP ARE 369 DRAFT BEERS

This record was obtained by The Raleigh Beer Garden (USA), in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, as verified on November 21, 2015. 

 

13. BARACK OBAMA BREWED HIS OWN BEER AT THE WHITE HOUSE

14. THE U.S. IS THE SECOND LARGEST HOP PRODUCER IN THE WORLD

In 2018, hops production in the United States reached its highest historical level: 107 million pounds. The three largest hop producing states are: Washington (1st place) produced around 77.7 million pounds, Idaho (2nd place) produced 16.2 million pounds, and Oregon (3rd place) produced approximately 12.9 million pounds.

Currently, the US has about 60 types of hops, 76% of which are aromatic hops and 24% of bitterness hops. Among all the varieties, the best known and used nationally and internationally are the Cascade, Zeus, Citra, Mosaic, Centennial, Simcoe, Amarillo, Chinook, and Nugget.

 

15. THE BEER IMPACT IN THE U.S ECONOMY IS TREMENDOUS 

According to the Beer Institute, the beer industry generated 2.1 million jobs and contributed more than $328 billion to the U.S. economy.

 

16. USA BEER TAXES BY STATE

Tennessee must be the state that charges the most beer taxes to $1.29 per gallon, plus sales taxes. The state that charges the least tax is Wyoming, with just $0.02 per gallon. Want to know how much tax your state charges on beer? Take a look at this link.

 

17. BEER EXCISE TAXES

On average, breweries pay the government $18 per barrel of beer produced, or an average or 4 to 5 cents for every 12 ounce can or bottle. If you own microbrewery that produces less than 2M barrels per year, you will receive a discount of $3.5 per barrel produced for the first 60,000 barrels.

 

18. THE TOP 3 BEST BEER CITIES IN THE U.S.

• Missoula, MT: It is a region surrounded by nature, from countless lakes to incredibly green forests. But it is also known for delicious craft beers and for having the best beer festivals offered in the country. Regardless of the season, you'll find unique beer festivals throughout the year. The most renowned according to Destination Missoula are: Winter Brewfest, Garden City Brewfest, Maverick Brewfest, Bacon & Brew Fest, Missoula Marathon Beer Run, Beers, Bands & Public Lands Brewfest.

• Raleigh, NC: The Raleigh brewing scene has grown exponentially in the past few years. This growth brought a beautiful cultural enrichment to the city. Before, Raleigh was known mainly for its different cuisine and the ecological parks that surround the city. But now, it is also known for quality local beer and for offering various events related to the yeasty drink.

• Portland, OR: Portland is the city that sells the most craft beer in the United States. Just to give you an idea, Portland eighth in the nation in terms of breweries per capita, with ten for every 50,000 residents. With 75 breweries in the city, the options are almost endless. All these facts make the city a paradise for lovers of local craft beer.

 

19. THE COVID IMPACT IN AMERICA

The U.S. is about to lose more than 651,000 jobs supported by the beer industry. This equal to:

• $22 billion drop in retail beer sales
• $24,872,275,000 wages Lost
• $69,901,516,000 economic output decrease
• $22,538,980,000 sales decline

The bright side is that the recovery trend is very high, and soon, the beer industry will resume its peak of growth that had been breaking record year after year.

 

 

20. THE DRINK LOCAL & SHOP LOCAL MOVEMENTS ARE STRONG IN THE USA

The Drink Local and Shop Local movements have always been strong in American culture, but they continue to grow over the years in a surprising way. All local craft breweries employ more than the large commercial breweries. In addition to generating billions of dollars for the country's economy. 

 

BEER CRAZY FACTS

1. A RICH PERSON SPENT $5,131 FOR A BEER HE WILL NEVER CONSUME

The beer was originally brewed for an Arctic expedition way back in 1875, making it one of the oldest beers still in original condition. The buyer ostensibly then turned around and sold the bottle under its accurate naming for a whopping $5,131!

 

2. A 15FT HIGH TIDAL WAVE OF BEER KILLED 8 PEOPLE IN LONDON

The London beer flood of 1814 occurred when barrels of porter flooded the poor neighborhood of St Giles Rookery. On the afternoon of October 17, 1814, one of the iron rings around the tank broke. About an hour later, the entire tank burst, releasing the hot fermenting beer with such force that the back wall of the brewery collapsed. More than 320,000 gallons of beer were released into the area.

 

3. IN AMSTERDAM, THE GOVERNMENT GIVES ALCOHOLIC PEOPLE INCENTIVES

The alcoholic earns a beer by cleaning the streets. The Amsterdam government used this plan so that even an alcoholic person can be productive and help the country in little ways.

 

4. BELGIUM SEES BEER AS A HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVE FOR THE YOUTH

Belgium sees beer as a healthy alternative for the youth. To fight against child obesity, some Belgian schools offered low-alcohol beers in place of soft drinks. Giving kids beer might sound crazy, but the schools only offered beer with an alcohol content of 1.5-2.5%.

 

5. ANCIENT GREEKS CONSIDERED BEER AS AN INFERIOR BEVERAGE

Ancient Greeks considered beer as an inferior beverage. They prefer wines over beer. They even saw beer as a “low-class” drink since it was relatively easy to produce. Nowadays, the wine-producing process is easier.

 

6. THE STRONGEST BEER IN THE WORLD HAS A 67.5% ALCOHOL CONTENT

The subtly named Snake Venom is brewed with a one-two punch provided by doses of beer and Champagne yeasts. It’s also got chocolate malts and peat-smoked malt and is freeze-concentrated several times during brewing, which has the effect of jacking up the alcohol content. 

If you want to buy some, feel free to visit this liquor store.

 

7. IN THE 13TH CENTURY, SOME PEOPLE IN NORWAY USED TO BAPTIZE THEIR KIDS WITH BEER

However, still in the 13th century, Pope Gregory IX issued an unusual decree, one saying that baptisms with beer (instead of water) were not valid.

 

8. JOAN EVANS IS THE ONLY PERSON ON EARTH CAPABLE OF BALANCING 237 PINTS OF BEER ATOP HIS HEAD

In 2013, the University of Derby scanned John Evans' body to determine if the 68-year-old was, in fact, empowered. Evans is a "head balancing strongman." He holds 33 Guinness World Records for balancing eclectic items—101 bricks, 62 books, a 352-pound, gutted Mini car, two girls on two bikes—on the apex of his skull. 

 

9. THE CODE OF HAMMURABI DECREED THAT BARTENDERS WHO WATERED DOWN BEER WOULD BE EXECUTED

They were so serious about their craft that one bad batch of the brew was punishable by drowning to death, in the beer!

 

10. THE VIKINGS BELIEVED THAT IN THEIR HEAVEN CALLED VALHALLA, THERE WAS A GIANT GOAT NAMED HEIðRúN, WHOSE UDDERS PROVIDED AN UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF BEER

 

11. THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA WAS BUILT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL

Workers were paid with a daily ration of beer – about four liters a day – since it was safer to consume than water. Since the waters of the Nile river were packed with dangerous bacteria.  

12. EACH STYLE OF BEER HAS AN APPROPRIATE GLASS TO BE USED

There are about 16 different types of beer glasses (without considering the variations and personalizations that exist for each glass). Yes, there is a great variety of glasses, designed mainly to enhance the experience of tasting a beer, so the list gets to be a little long. 

The basic concept of a glass is that it should be safe and easy to hold. It may even be beautiful, but the edges, stems and handles need to facilitate the sensory experience.

Specifically in the case of stems, very common in goblets, they work so that you do not exchange heat with the drink touching the body of the glass directly.

For aromas the rule is relatively simple, beer glasses with wider edges release the aromas better, therefore favoring perfumed beers.

Those with narrower edges, on the other hand, retain the aromas inside the glass itself, which makes it easier to perceive them. In addition, its shape helps in the formation of foam, which is an excellent retainer of aromas.

 

BEER INTERNATIONALLY 

1. BEER WAS NOT CONSIDERED AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE IN RUSSIA SINCE 2013

Until then, anything containing less than 10% of alcohol in Russia has been considered a foodstuff.

 

2. UNTIL THE 1970s, IN BELGIUM, TABLE BEER WAS SERVED IN SCHOOL'S REFECTORIES

Several organizations have made proposals to reestablish this habit, as table beer is considered healthier than soft drinks.

 

3. THERE IS A BEER BREWED FROM BANANAS IN AFRICA

The practice of making banana beer in the traditional way is still alive in many rural areas in Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where it is an important part of the rural economy along with non-traditional methods of banana processing into wine and gin.

 

4. MORE GUINNESS BEER IS DRUNK IN NIGERIA THAN IRELAND ITSELF

Cameroon is the fourth-biggest market for Guinness and the beer is also brewed in Kenya, Uganda, and Namibia. Africa, with its $13 billion beer market, is the biggest source of beer sales for the owners of Guinness, the British multinational Diageo.

 

5. IN ARGENTINA, POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE THEIR OWN BRANDS OF BEER

They're only sold at the "Peron Peron" restaurant in Buenos Aires, but one of the restaurant's owners stated he had received orders from beer enthusiasts in Europe.

 

6. YOU CAN SWIM IN POOLS OF BEER IN AUSTRIA

The seven 13-foot-deep, heated swimming pools are filled with real beer and can be rented out for about $258 for a two-hour swimming session. Whereas the Starkenberger brewery (located in Tarrenz, Austria) explicitly prohibits drinking beer from the pool, mainly because tons of people dive in the pool daily, the beer itself has amazing benefits for the skin and its general well-being.

 

7. IN MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES (FRANCE, GERMANY, PORTUGAL, GREECE, SPAIN, BELGIUM, AUSTRIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, AND ITALY) AND IN SOUTH KOREA, BEER IS SERVED AT MCDONALDS

Facing fierce competition from casual restaurants and gourmet burgers, McDonald’s started serving draft beer in some of its stores around the world.

 

8. FUCKING HELL IS A BEER NAMED AFTER THE VILLAGE OF FUCKING IN AUSTRIA

Initially, the local Fucking authorities and the European Trademark Office appealed against their heroic brand, but eventually, that crazy decision was overturned and nowadays, we all can enjoy the cool, cathartic refreshment of this singular beer.

 

9. BEER WAS ILLEGAL IN ICELAND UNTIL MARCH 1ST, 1989

Iceland barred all alcoholic beverages in 1915. 7 years later, red wine was legalized, followed by spirits in the 1930s. But strong beer remained off-limits until March 1, 1989. Nowadays, the date is celebrated every year in Reykjavik as Bjordagur, or “Beer Day”.

 

10. BEER CANS IN JAPAN HAVE BRAILLE ON THEM

Blind people don’t get accidentally intoxicated. In 2006, Japanese brewers began stamping the word “beer” in Braille on the top of their cans, right next to the tab you’d pull to open it up and take a swig.

 

11. A FAMOUS BRAZILIAN BREWERY BEGAN TO PLANT THEIR OWN BRAZILIAN HOPS IN A MOUNTAIN NAMED MANTIQUEIRA

Despite being a tropical country, this region is excellent for harvesting hops, and in 2005 the first national hops variety appeared. Currently, there are approximately 60 hectares of hops being cultivated in Brazil and the numbers keep growing.

Maybe in the close future, Brazil will become one of the top 10 hops producers.

 

12. THERE IS A BREWERY IN GERMANY THAT'S ALMOST 1000 YEARS OLD. IT HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION SINCE 1040

Even before the declaration of American independence, or the discovery of the new world by Columbus, the Germans were already perfecting their brewing techniques. This particular brewery located in Freising-DE was founded in 740 b.c by a monk named Korbinian.

 

13. GERMANY IS HOME TO A BEER PIPELINE 

An underground beer pipeline is being laid for the Wacken Open Air (WOA) hard rock festival, which kicks off in northern Germany in August. According to BBC, it is part of a new 7km (four-mile) pipeline network, which organizers say will make the event eco-friendlier. The beer flow rate should reach six glasses every six seconds, thanks to the 35cm (14-inch) diameter pipeline.

 

 

14. IN THE 1990s, THE BEER LOVERS PARTY RAN CANDIDATES IN BELARUS AND RUSSIA

According to its statute, "the major goal of the BLP is the struggle for the cleanness and quality of the national beer, state independence and the neutrality of Belarus, freedom of economic relations, personal inviolability and the inviolability of private property".

 

15. JAPAN HAS SEVERAL ANNUAL BEER FESTIVALS

Japan has different beer festivals. The most famous ones are:

Snow Monkey Beer Live: this festival is held in the Shiga Highlands area of Nagano Prefecture. Essentially the Colorado of Japan, Nagano is home to skiing, the world-famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park.

Kyushu Beer Festival 2019: Held in the city of Fukuoka.

Yokohama Fruhlingsfest: Yokohama Fruhlingsfest (the name is German for a city festival to celebrate the arrival of spring) has a variety of music, open-air theater, tours and attractions, as well as a lot of German food along with a wide variety of craft beer.

Keiyaki Beer Festival: it is as pure as it gets for craft aficionados: its sole goal is to celebrate craft beer in Japan. Located near Tokyo, it’s a good excuse for those who live in the metropolis to explore its neighboring prefecture, Saitama.

Great Japan Beer Festival Okinawa 2019: Organized by the Japan Craft Beer Association (JCBA), the Great Japan Beer Festival is an expo of sorts and is described as being held “for all beer lovers.” Around 2,000 beer enthusiasts are expected at the Okinawa event. It also happens in Tokyo (June), Osaka (July), Nagoya (August) and Yokohama (September).

 

16. THERE ARE SEVERAL BEER SPAS IN CZECH REPUBLIC

For instance, the Chodovar Beer Spa in the Czech Republic offers a 20-minute bath in beer brewing ingredients. The company says that this method boosts blood circulation, opens up the skin pores, softens the skin, and infuses the body with vitamins.

 

17. THE DUBBEL BEER GOT THIS NAME BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT TIME WERE ILLITERATE

In the past, most people were illiterate and monks were also included in this parcel. So to make it easier for people to understand how strong the beers were, the monks coined the term Dubbel, which means "double". And the term Trippel, which means "triple". Thus, Dubbels had on their label "2 X" to show that that specific drink was twice as strong (6.3-7.6 ABV) as a traditional Belgian beer. The same was true of Trippels, which have "3 X" on their labels (7.5-9.5 ABV).

These Belgian-style beers are delicious and complex, with sweet notes derived from malt and spicy notes from Belgian yeasts. BUT, these beer styles can knock you down in couple hours, so take it easy when you drink them.

 

 

18. THE GUINNESS BREWERY AT ST. JAMES' GATE IN DUBLIN WAS LEASED FOR 9,000 YEARS

In 1759, Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease for the site that would be, and still remains, the headquarters of Guinness. The lease is no longer in effect, as the brewery now owns the land.

Source: Mikelo / Flickr

 

19.  THERE IS ANOTHER BEER FESTIVAL IN GERMANY: STARKBIERFEST

As the people of Munich say: between winter and spring there is a fifth season in the city - Starkbier Season - the famous dark beer, tasted in ceramic mugs at the traditional Starkbierfest party.

This annual party begins around February, during the period of Lent and is marked by beers with a high alcohol content (7.5% on average) and highly caloric. 

 

BEER SCIENTIFIC FACTS

1. THE HOLY GRAIL OF FOAM ENTHUSIASTS IS THE SO-CALLED BRUSSELS LACE

It is the perfect foam that refuses to go away and forms a lace-like residue pattern once the glass is empty. It is a reference to a type of pillow loop. Brussels lace is well known for its delicacy and beauty.

 

2. A CLOUD NEAR THE AQUILA CONSTELLATION CONTAINS ENOUGH ETHYL ALCOHOL TO FILL 400 TRILLION PINTS OF BEER

Discovered 25 years ago, in the Aquila constellation, the cloud is 1000 times larger than the diameter of our solar system, and it is 58 quadrillion miles away from us. So, probably we won’t be able to taste this interstellar alcohol.

 

3. ICE-COLD IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO SERVE BEER

While there is no one rule or temperature to aim for, one thing is certain: the sensation of coldness inhibits the tongue’s taste receptors, and so by over-chilling your beer, you are numbing your palate to any nuances of flavors. In other words, if you are drinking a unique tasteful craft beer, please, drink it at the proper temperature. Here are some tips: 

IPAs: 38°F

Stouts: 45 to 55°F

Pilsners: 33 to 40°F

Pale Ales: 45°F

Wheat beers: 40 to 45°F

Sour beers: 45 to 55°F

Belgian dubbels, tripels, and quads: between 40 and 45°F

 

4. FROM THE GREEK WORDS "ZYTHOS" (BEER) AND "LOGOS" (STUDY), ZYTHOLOGY IS MORE THAN JUST CHUGGING PINTS OF BEER

It is the analysis of ingredients and the effect they have on the brewing process, the knowledge of beer styles and history, and the application of beer pairings. A zythologist is a true beer connoisseur.

 

5. BEER HELPED JOSEPH PRIESTLEY TO DISCOVER OXYGEN

He noticed gases rising from the big vats of beer at a brewery and asked to do some experiments. He investigated the ‘fixed air’ (carbon dioxide) found in a layer above the liquid in beer brewery fermentation vats.

 

6. SCHLITZ INVENTED THE BROWN BOTTLE

The Milwaukee-founded brand was the first to block out the sun light via a brown bottle (the sun light can cloud the beer and ruin its flavor), which keeps your beer as fresh as possible until you pour it into a glass.

 

7. YOU CAN CHILL A BEER IN 2-3 MINUTES

All it takes to chill a beer is water, ice, salt (1 cup of salt for every 3 pounds of ice), and if possible, ethyl alcohol (1 cup) in a bowl. Stir everything, dive your beer cans/bottles into the mixture, jiggle them for 2-3 minutes, and you are ready to drink the beers (but make sure to rinse them before opening).

 

8. YEAST STRAINS CAN ONLY TOLERATE ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS OF 10-15%

This is the main reason why the alcohol content of beers never exceeds this range. If you find a beer with an alcohol content greater than 15%, it probably went through unusual production processes, such as the use of other microorganisms (bacterias), the addition of ethyl alcohol from other sources, or unusual beer production steps.

 

9. FROZEN GLASSES WILL MAKE YOUR BEER TO FOAM 

One of the biggest myths that still exists today is to say that good beer is ice-cold beer. Well, if you are drinking a very poor quality beer, I even encourage you to drink it as cold as possible.

But if you are craving to drink your favorite craft beer ... It is better to stop this habit.

In addition to neutralizing your taste buds, excessive cold from the beer itself and the glass (already frozen) will cause the CO2 molecules to expand, thus significantly increasing the amount of foam retained in the glass.

 

 

10. HOPS ARE REALLY POISONOUS TO PETS

Unfortunately, our best four-legged friends are susceptible to some molecules in the hops structure. These compounds from hops can cause hyperthermia in dogs and cats (in dogs it is more likely) regardless of breed.

So if you are a homebrewer and have animals. Be very careful so they won't consume any piece of hops left on the floor.

 

11. SOME BEERS ARE BREWED WITH WILD YEASTS

Lambic beers and some sour beers are also produced with wild yeasts. Contrary to what happens with most beers today, in which selected yeasts are used under special conditions, in the ancient Lambic beers and some Sour beers, the transformation of the wort into beer occurred due to wild yeasts.

The yeasts traveled with the winds that circulated in the woods near the city of Lembeek, in Belgium, and rested on the fresh wort, initiating its fermentation.

As the ancients did not know about yeasts and their action on organic matter, they attributed the transformation of the wort into beer to the blessings of God that came in with the wind and poured over the liquid.

Beers that use wild yeast in their process have very strong acidity. There are variations in which fruits are added during fermentation. These ingredients provide the drink with fruity aromatic notes and a sweeter flavor.

BEER HISTORY

1. IN THE LAND OF THE PHARAOS OF THE EGYPT, BEER WAS THE NATIONAL CURRENCY

The Egyptians used beer to pay slaves, religious people, tradesmen, and government officials. Then, every day all Egyptians, from the most varied economic classes, ended up consuming and interacting with beer somehow.

 

2. WHEN SCIENTIST NIELS BOHR WON THE NOBEL PRIZE, THE CARLSBERG BREWERY GAVE HIM A FREE BEER TAP

How did it work? Carlsberg gave Niels a house next to one of its breweries. This house contained a beer tap connected directly to the brewery. So, whenever Niels wanted to take a sip, he just needed to fill his glass in the amenities of his home.

 

3. IN 1963, ALBERT HEINEKEN CREATED A BEER BOTTLE THAT COULD ALSO BE USED AS A BRICK TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE HOUSING IN IMPOVERISHED COUNTRIES

At that time, Heineken bottles had a rectangular shape that simulated the shape of a brick. In this way, the sustainable green glass bricks served adequately to structure walls.

 

4. THE GERMAN PURITY LAW SIMPLY STATED THE ONLY PERMITTED INGREDIENTS FOR BREWING WERE WATER, MALT, AND HOPS

The law was imposed by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria in the year 1516 and lasted for about 400 years. Although today the law is no longer enforced in Germany, many German breweries still choose to follow the law and produce beer in a classic way.

 

5. THE WORLD'S OLDEST BEER WAS PRODUCED WITH YEASTS DISCOVERED ON A 220-YEAR-OLD SHIPWRECK

According to an Australian brewer, one of his beers was brewed using this century-old yeast. The beer was launched in June 2018 in Sydney, it is called The Wreck Preservation Ale. This smooth porter-style brew is dark, malty and a bit stormy. There are uncover hints of blackcurrant, a splash of spicy yeast character and a wisp of smoke.

 

6. IN ANCIENT EGYPT, THE NILE'S RIVER BACTERIA CONTENT WAS SO HIGH THAT THE LOCALS OFTEN DRANK BEER INSTEAD OF WATER

It was obviously not a very healthy exchange, and depending on how much you drank, you could easily get drunk. But it was better to get drunk than to take serious risks of infection that could lead to death.

 

7. IPAs WERE FIRST DEVELOPED WHEN ENGLISH BREWERS IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY WERE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO EXPORT THEIR TRADITIONAL ALES TO INDIA

The adventurous journey by sea would take too long, and the beer would spoil by the time it arrived at the final destination. So, they decided to add extra hops to avoid beer oxidation. Feel weeks later, the IPA was born. And to this day, it is the most preferred style of beer in the craft beer niche.

 

8. THOMAS JEFFERSON WROTE PARTS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN A PHILADELPHIAN TAVERN

Did he drink a few beers during the entire process of developing the declaration of independence? We can't tell for sure, but he had an account at City Tavern.

 

9. BEER SOUP WAS A COMMON BREAKFAST IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE

It was used served as a breakfast soup, sometimes poured over bread. Kinda weird, don’t you think? If you wanna try at home, here is one of the recipes:

• 1 Bottle of dark beer
• Sweet cream
• Three egg yolks
• Mace
• 3 ½ Tbs. Butter
• Raisins

Remember to share with us your opinion after you taste it.

 

10. IN THE 1980s, A BEER DRINKING GOAT WAS ELECTED MAYOR OF LAJITAS, TEXAS

The white and brown goat was called Clay Henry the IV. He lived about 23 years when he was killed by a romantic rival.

 

11. BREWING WAS ALSO A RELIGIOUS PRACTICE RELATED TO THE SUMERIAN GODDESS NINKASI

Ninkasi, and therefore beer, was associated with healing because she was born through the ministrations of the Mother Goddess Ninhursag when she was healing Enki, who was sick and close to death. To sum up, beer was also the drink of the gods, and Ninkasi was both the brewer of beer & the beer itself. 

 

12. THE STRAW WAS INVENTED BY THE SUMERIANS FOR DRINKING BEER

Sumerians were known to drink beer with straws made of reeds of gold, depending upon one’s social class. Plus, it was also used to keep a drinker from the unpleasant experience of consuming sediment in the beer.

 

13. BEER HAS EXISTED IN CHINA FOR ABOUT 5000 YEARS

Archeologists have recently found evidence for an early brewing technique in China during the late Yangshao period, using broomcorn millet, barley, job’s tears (a kind of grain), and tubers.

 

14. SOME EXPERTS ON THE HISTORY OF BEER CREDIT THE DRINK WITH THE RISE OF CIVILIZATION

After reading all these facts, it is clear why beer is the drink of the beginning of civilizations. It is difficult to have an exact notion of when the beer was first brewed. Whether it happened in civilization and spread across the world, or whether it happened simultaneously in various places around the world. Until last year (2019), beer was believed to be about 7,000 years old. However, a recent study by Stanford University, CA, shows that beer may have been brewed for the first time 15,000 years ago, in Raqefet's cave in Israel.

 

15. MONK PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MODERNIZING THE BREWING PROCESS, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF HOPS

There is evidence that already around 800 A.C, German monasteries added extracts of the hops plant to preserve their beer longer. This evolution in the beer production process continues until today. For example, the beers of the Belgian monasteries have a high complexity of flavors and aromas that are obtained by the addition of unique products and the use of Belgian yeasts.

 

16. THE COLD CLIMATES OF MODERN-DAY GERMANY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC GAVE THE WESTERN WORLD LAGER

LAGER means “to store” in German, and when German brewers began storing their beers in the icy caves of the alps, they accidentally began culturing bottom-fermenting yeasts (the lager yeasts).

 

17. THE ANCESTORS OF LAGERS SEEM TO HAVE EXISTED IN SOUTH AMERICA FIRST

Recent findings have traced that cold, bottom-fermenting strains of yeast to Patagonia were used to brew alcoholic beverages 200 or more years before the first Bavarian lagers.

 

18. GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS AN ENTHUSIASTIC HOME BREWER

The digital public library of America houses a notebook the president-to-be kept in 1757, during the French and Indian war, which included a recipe for “small beer”, a low-alcohol and low-quality beer commonly made by soldiers.

 

19. DURING THE PROHIBITION, PEOPLE WERE PRESCRIBED "MEDICAL BEER"

It was an obviously made-up cause that “brewers, physicians, and imbibers” used to try to skirt prohibition’s nasty laws in 1921. Whenever you were feeling under the weather, a cold beer could fix your problem.

 

20. NOWADAYS, THERE ARE 154 BEER STYLES OFFICIALLY REGISTERED 

According to the Brewers Association, there are 6 main styles in the Ales category (British Origin Ale Styles, North American Origin Ale Styles, Belgian and French Origin Ale Styles, Irish Origin Ale Styles, German Origin Ale Styles, Other Origin Ale Styles), 3 main styles in the Lagers category (European Origin Lager Styles, North American Origin Lager Styles, Other Origin Lager Styles ), and 1 in the Hybrid / Mixed Lagers or Ale category.