Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), was not only the first to add hops to beer; She was also a doctor, philosopher, composer, poet, advisor to the Pontiff, Kings and other dignitaries. She was one of the first to defend women’s rights and wrote the first literature on the female orgasm.
She was a Nun of this, a Nun of that and a Nun of another.
______________________________________________________________
The oldest brewery still being brewed is the Weihenstephan Abbey in Germany. It has been producing beer for almost 1000 years and is still brewing beers to this day, although it is no longer officially an abbey.
Brewing beer for 1000 years? That concoction should be ready by now, no doubt!
____________________________________________________________
In brewery abbeys during the Middle Ages, fasting monks were allowed to drink five liters of beer per day. That is almost 5 liters!
Give us today our liquid bread. 5 a day. So much liquid toast is an unholy hangover.
_________________________________________________________
The ancient Babylonians were so exacting in maintaining good standards in beer quality that any brewer producing naff beer would drown in it.
Too forgiving.
______________________________________________________________
The first consumer protection law ever written was beer. On April 23, 1516, the beer-loving Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria introduced a legislative document called Reinheitsgebot. It was a purity law in brewing that limited beer ingredients to only barley, hops, yeast, and water. It still exists today, some 500 years later, but sadly only in Bavaria.
The duke was turning his urn to see the synthetic flavors, E numbers, and colors used in some of the most dubious beers of modern times.
______________________________________________________________
The women of the Inca tribes make a form of beer called Chicha. It’s made from corn, but instead of barley starches being turned into fermentable sugars using barley’s own alpha and beta amylase enzymes, Chicha uses the salivary amylase enzyme from, yes, salivate to break down those corn starches. The women of the village chew the corn and then SPIT it into the mash, their saliva helps convert the cornstarches into fermentable sugars.
Sounds delicious.
______________________________________________________________
The paid workers of the Egyptian pyramid were paid in part in beer. The beer was called “kash” and this is where the word “cash” originates.
What would you like Kash or Czech?
______________________________________________________________
The Bass Beers triangle logo was the world’s first trademark. A devoted Bass employee stayed overnight outside the recorder’s office on New Years Eve 1876, only for Bass to be first in line when the office opened in the morning. This famous logo can be seen on paintings by Manet and Picasso.
That beats television advertising for its style.
_______________________________________________________
In America, the Pilgrims planned to go further south to warmer climates, but they landed on Plymouth Rock because they ran out of beer.
I wonder who owns the liquor store.
__________________________________________________________
The American national anthem, ‘The Star Spangled Banner’, was originally an old English drinking song from a famous London men’s club. It was previously called ‘To Anacreon in Heaven’ and the original words were a dedication to the ancient Greek bard who wrote songs and poetry celebrating alcohol, women and song.
I’ll drink for that. HIC!
_________________________________________________________
At any given time, an estimated 0.7% of everyone is drunk.
Drink to that! HIC!
_______________________________________________________
In medieval England, beer was served alongside breakfast.
I’m going to HIC to that! Drink!
_________________________________________________________
George Washington owned his own brewery.
Is that the First Lady? No, it’s thirst, ma’am.
__________________________________________________________
English drinkers of the ancient world used to bring their own beer mugs to the pub. Some had whistles on the handles so that, in noisy bars, the drinker could get the attention of bar staff. Hence the term for having a beer is “Wet the whistle.”
I’d rather drown my whistle.
_______________________________________________________
In 1814, an exploding beer tub destroyed a brewery and two houses. 100,000 gallons of beer flooded the neighboring streets of London and several unfortunate people lost their lives.
It gives a whole new meaning to having a head in your beer.
______________________________________________________
Guinness scientists claim that a pint of beer is lifted about ten times, and about 0.56 ml is lost in drinkers’ facial hair each time. In fact, Britain alone loses 92,749 liters of beer each year on mustaches and beards.
That’s why I always wipe my beard before putting down my glass.
_____________________________________________________
Stella Artois used to be called simply ‘Artois’. He got the addition ‘Stella’ (which means star) because that was the name of his popular Christmas beer.
They wished it could be Christmas every day. Judging by the sales figures, it has been.
____________________________________________________
The Scaffold’s hit song ‘Lily The Pink’ was about the supposed effect of alcoholic hallucinations (pink elephants). One of the vocalists of the songs was Sir Tim Rice, famous lyricist from Broadway to Disney.
Fortunately, his only foray into singing. Do not call us, we will call you.
_______________________________________________________
In 1948, the Luxembourg branch of Alcoholics Anonymous had only 2 members.
Something tells me there were other alcoholics, but they were far from anonymous.
________________________________________________________
The 1974 annual dinner and dance for the Belfast branch of Alcoholics Anonymous became a major hit after bar staff served recovering alcoholics nearly £ 400 worth of alcohol.
Anyone want punch?