Part III

Northern Europe


Religion and its effect on European beer

It was during the Roman Empire during the Migration Period that the Benedictine Order (500 A.D.) began to established itself throughout the European country. Abbeys and monasteries became centers of science for the Northern European area. The monks practiced the art of food chemistry. This included cheese and beers as well as wine.

The art of food chemistry lead to perfecting the methods of beer making. Monks were self sufficient and looked to the selling of their food stuff, including beer as a means to support themselves.

As civilization developed so did beer production. Advances were made in cultivating barley and malting the grain. Hops began to be the primary bittering ingrediant over other bitters. Cultivation of the hop began to find its way into the agricultural scene. The first cultivation of hops for industrial purposes began in the early 700;s in Southern Central Europe.

Beer became a beverage of choice not just because of choice, It was also that of necessity. Drinking water was hard to come by. The cultivation of grapes was difficult if not impossible due to the cold climates of Northern Europe.

Beer became a regulated product. The idea was to protect the consumer and maintain the integrity of the beverage. This became critical since beer was commonly one of the few uncontaminated beverages available during the middle ages.

Guilds were developed to create standards of brewing and to protect the beer as a commodity. By accomplishing both the quality and the quantity of the beer became a valuable and taxable product for the current local government.

In the meantime, about 1600’s, colonization became widespread. It served two purposes. It was a rush for European countries to gained power as they laid claim to other land and as a way to escape the religiously oppressive Roman Empire.

Regardless of the reason beer was considered a beverage for the people. Barrels of it came along on the ships which aided those escaping religious intolerance. Where ever the Europeans went, they brought their beer along.

This led to more than just the introduction of new beers in the new countries. It also led to new beer styles. Beer that had to be shipped was not sent in its original drinking form. The beer would turn bad before it would get there. Instead it was sent in a “concentrated” form. These forms developed popularity in the country that they were received in and were given respective names. India Pale Ale, Russian Imperial Stout

Beer History Part I

Beer History


The Cradle of Life

The Cradle of Life starts in Mesopotamia. Religious books make references to great waters in this area. It was the perfect location for mankind to put down stakes. Civilization came about when crops were cultivated, harvested, dried, and stored. The primary crop for fermented beverages were grain crops. These were the same grains used in the production of bread. The staff of Life.

This area lay in Sumaria between the River Tigris and Euphrates. Today we knoe this area as modern day Iraq. There are several artifacts, cueiforms, and hieroglyphs which make reference to the production of beer throughout , Sumarai, Africa and Babylon.

While the men may have been involved in the process from cultivation to storing, it was the women-folk who were responsible for taking the product and turning into food fit for sustenance. It was common for women to be involved in the production of beer. A tribute to this is found in the Hymn to Ninkasi. See Appendix I.

The production of beer continued to be documented as a part of life and ritual. This was tradition was clearly in scripted in the tombs of the dead. The Egyptians would provide beer in exchange for the labor provided to build the massive pyramids. Pictures of straws or siphons used for the purpose of drinking beer are preserved as a part of natural history for the region. Pharoahs are depicted with “gold straws” .

The production of beer during this period was known as “bouza”. This was typically a barley bread which was allowed to dry. It would then be used as a starter. This bread would be crumbled into water. Strained and then left to ferment.

The production of beer was very critical to the region. After the Babylonians conquered the Sumarians in 2 BC, several notable events occurred. First, considered to be the first Epic ever written, was a story about a man by the name of Enkidu who was given 7 cups of beer by a prostitute and became human. This account is found in the Epic of Gilgamesh.

The other event was brought on by the Babylonian ruler, Hammurabi in 3 BC. Hammurabi put into effect the oldest known set of laws that is know to this time. This law included how the beer was made, who received it, and how much. The amount of beer rationed would depend on ones status.

History of Beer Part II

Greece and Rome


As civilization moves notherward, the production of beer did also. The next culture to incorporate beer into it’s tradition was Greece . Many of the terms that are used in connection with beer come Latin. Cerevasia is Latin for beer.

Aristotle, in his symposium on Intoxication, debates with his teacher Plato about the effects of alcohol vs. pinon (beer). There is no Greek or roman word for alcohol.

“A peculiar thing happens tin the case of the [ drink made] of barley, the so-called pinon. Under the influence of all other intoxicants, those who become intoxicated fall in all direction, sometime to the left, sometime to the right, and sometime on their faces. But these who become intoxicated from pinon only fall onto their backs and lie flat.”

Greece had many mythological gods for beer. Among them were Osiris, God of Agriculture. This god is used interchangeably with wine. Dionysus, God of intoxication drink. This god is also used interchangeably with wine. Silenus, god of drinking. He is usually associated with Dionysus.

Closer to the turn of the century, it was not uncommon to use ceramic vases called amphorae. Although these vases are commonly associated with wine, these were the typical storage containers used to transport all sorts of goods. Some amphorae stood as tall as 5 feet. The excavation of these ceramic vases were of great archaeological reference. The vases declined as popular storage containers about 700 BC. Amphorae is Latin for amphi (on both sides) and phoreus ( carrier).

Gaius Plinus Secundus (Pliny the Elder) 23 CE was born in Como Italy. Among his other achievements he wrote an encyclopedia of natural history. This included a description of what we know today as hops. He termed the plant, Lupus Salictarius, “a wolf among scrubs”. He was making reference to the plants “wicked and pernicious” attributes.

As the Romans moved north, it was discovered that Europeans has developed its own beer. This would be indicative of other continents and their indigenous beers. The Northern Europeans included Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Black Diamond Brewing Company is shaking things up with their facelift on some of their beers.  Outside the bottle and inside the bottle.  The great outdoors and extreme sports is the target for many of the labels.  If you haven't checked them out lately, now is a good time to do it.  Their beers are bigger and bolder than ever.  Currently, this beer label is under review by ABC.  They say it's the longest wait ever for any of their labels.

Introduction

The bottles, the labels, the nanes of the beer can be more challenging than that of wine. Labeling laws for beer are not as strict as wine. Often times unless one knows what they are looking for, it can be a bit overwhelming.
In addition to the above is the general attitude to beer over the decades. The lack of collective attitude, cohesiveness, and education does little for the beer industry.

Most publications about beer are tongue-in-cheek, conversational or focus more on style and origin rather than encompassing beer as a whole subject.

Very few publications discuss beer as a subject with the sobriety that reflect the growth of civilizations, agriculture, or the process of beer.

Beer styles are factored by many influences. Exporting and market. Availability of crops. Migration of cultures..

Beer is a beverage in itself requires several activities to be appreciated as a whole. There is the understanding of our olfactory nerves, visual clues, tasting, tactile and auditory sensory.

In addition to these must come the acquaintance of the ingredients in themselves. There are also physiological factors which can alter perceptions and psychotically factors which can influence our perceptions.

Beer appreciation also encompasses proper storage, serving, and glassware issues. These subjects are hardly respected by restaurants, local pubs or saloons. By educating the consumer, perhaps we may educate the establishments which we go to. These guidelines will serve as guidelines for which you frequent as you learn which ones treat your beverage of choice for the evening with respect.

It is the intention of this Guide to Beer Appreciation that you as the consumer become more educated and sophisticated about your preferences and your choices as you learn to appreciate and respect your beer.

Hopefully, beer as a beverage throughout all aspects of the industry will take notice and put beer on its rightful pedestal alongside wine as it were in the tombs of the pharaohs.

Virginia Jamison
image is a grecian amporae.  A common storage and shipping vessel used to transport wine, beer and other goods.  Wooden barrels would take it's place in the 7th AD.  The discovery of these items is a valuable clue to archeaologists in dating excavation sites.

Doing Beer Right

O.K. So this isn't the Beer Academy.  But don't those girls look like they are having fun.  Beer is not stuffy.  Beer can be very elegant and girly if we do it right.  Here's to doing beer right.  Or shall I say, "Doing right by beer."

Beyond Wine- A Woman's Guide to Beer Appreciation

Well, We did it.  We had our first Beyond Wine Presentation.   Beth Zangeri has been a great mentor and we were all very lucky that she was able to be present.  I included a picture of the stinging nettle that was referred to as a bittering agent before the German Purity Law. There will be more events to come.  I had a great time doing it and I recieved everyones feedback cards. 

Thanks girls.