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