Did you know?
- During Medieval times beer was used for tithing, trading and payment of taxes.
- Universities in Europe and America from the 1300s through the 1700s had in-house breweries to nourish the student body. Harvard had its own brewhouse in 1674 and five beer halls, each was burned down by rioting divinity students. Students received beer three meals a day — nice to see some things haven’t changed.
- Perhaps inspired by Frederick the Great’s musing that “Many battles have been fought and won by soldiers nourished on beer,” soldiers in the Revolutionary army received rations of a quart of beer a day.
- In the reign of Henry VIII, ladies at court were allowed a daily ration of a gallon of ale. Queen Elizabeth I was known to drink “large quantities of particularly strong brew.” In fact, it was said to be “so strong as there is no man able to drink it.” Household accounts show she liked bread and ale for breakfast.
- Like many gentlemen of their time, many of the original presidents and leaders of the United
States were avid brewers and beer drinkers. Benjamin Franklin, well-known for enjoying the high life, said, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” George Washington’s personal recipe for porter is handwritten in a notebook available at the New York Public Library.
- Beer is the second most popular beverage in the world, coming in behind tea.
