History of BEER

Beer’s Beginnings:

Beer was apparently the first alcohol beverage known to civilization.  Archeologist believe that prehistoric people drank alcohol beverages, most likely a crude form of beer was discovered by accident when someone mixed barley with water and let it sit long enough for stray yeast cells to settle, triggering fermentation.
Historians believe that the ancient Mesopotamians and Sumerians were brewing as early as 10,000 BC.
Although the product would have been somewhat different from today’s bottled varieties, it would be recognizable.
The ancient Egyptians and Chinese brewed beer, as did pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas, who used corn instead of barley.

The Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Hebrews, Africans, Chinese, Incas, Tautens, Saxons and various wandering tribes all discovered beer by independent means.

Marco Polo wrote about Chinese beer and an ancient Chinese manuscript states that beer, or 'kiu' was known to the Chinese in the 23rd century BC.
In the middle ages, European monks were the guardians of literature and science, as well as the art of beer making. They refined the process to near perfection and institutionalized the use of hops as a flavoring and preservative. However, it wasn’t until Louis Pasteur came along that a final, important development was made. Until that time, brewers had to depend on wild, airborne yeast for fermentation. By establishing that yeast is a living microorganism, Pasteur opened the gates for accurately controlling the conversion of sugar to alcohol.
While grapes grow well in warm climates, barley grows better in cooler climes. This is how the northern countries of Germany and England became famous for their beers. This production was taken very seriously, as it was in the New World, where beer was a major component of the Pilgrim’s diet.

Beer in England:

By the late 1300's beer was well established as the national drink of England.  Its refreshing qualities were enjoyed by both the common folk and the nobility.  In fact, Queen Elizabeth I substituted a potent ale for orange juice as her breakfast beverage.

Beer in America:

Beer was of major concern for revolutionary thinkers like Thomas Jefferson, who quickly passed legislation to create a healthy beer industry in the new United States.
 
Everything went swimmingly until the dark day in 1920 when Prohibition took effect. Many breweries went out of business or switched to the production of soda pop. Of course, not everyone stopped drinking, but gangster-controlled operations were not known for high-quality products.
 
When Franklin D. Roosevelt became president, he quickly repealed the now-unpopular law—thank you, FDR! However, the new breeds of American beer that came after World War II were generally mass-produced and very bland. Jimmy Carter legalized home brewing, ushering in the age of microbreweries, beer hobbyists, and beer snobs.