Many people have asked questions and written about the history of beer. I have, what I think, is a better, more interesting question—how does beer relate to history? How many great historical discoveries and events were capped off by sucking down some suds? How many great leaders and thinkers were actual “beerheads”? Though we know of some, such as Benjamin Franklin (maybe his invention of bifocals was a way to combat “beer goggles”?), but how many do we not know about?

Do you think beer was present at the first Thanksgiving? Surely the pilgrims would have brought some nice ale to the new world, but maybe the Native Americans had their own version as well. I’d venture a guess that many a colonial soldier tossed back some frothy ones after a victory in the Revolutionary War. General Lee may have dipped his mustache in the head of a pint after surrendering to the South. Think about how many great meetings and discussions were catered with a mug of bready goodness.

Football and beer are pretty much synonymous now a days. At how many other sporting events has the beer flowed as easily? We know the knights of joust were beer drinkers, so maybe Romans swilled a few while watching the gladiators pummel each other. The first Olympics I bet brought not only the world’s best athletes together, but world’s best beer makers too. The beginning of every professional sporting event in modern times was probably enjoyed around a nice malty brew.

The other side of this is what did these beers truly taste like? With all the modern techniques of brewing, and with today’s natural resources being different (can we say water today is the same as in the 1600’s), who’s to say what George Washington’s pint alerted on his palate? More bitter, higher alcohol, fresher, thicker? We can venture guesses and even try to duplicate, but the truth is we’ll probably never know for sure.

Think of how many every day occasions where beer is present:  weddings, anniversaries, birthdays.
Compound these throughout history. It really makes you wonder and stand in awe the rich history that’s been written with a mug or stein in hand. What about your history? What was the biggest event or occurrence in your history at which a beer was present? Think about it, over a nice cold one!

Mark Fitzpatrick, Beer Consultant at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits in Ocala. Follow me on Twitter: @abcbeerMarkF