Beer

History of Beer

It has been theorized that beer was first invented over 10,000 years ago and was primarily used because it was a good nutrition source. Theory continues that since people needed a steady supply of the ingredients needed to make beer, they began farming.

Ancient Times

While the above theory is interesting and clever, we do know that beer was consumed by many ancient civilizations including the Egyptians, Sumerians, Incas, Chinese, and Babylonians. Beer played a role in celebrations and religious rituals in these ancient cultures.

While archeologists have found ancient carvings and paintings of people making or drinking beer, the most impressive discovery was a recipe for beer from Mesopotamia dated over 4,000 years ago. The Mesopotamians claimed that the recipe had been handed down from the God Enki.

American Colonial Times

When the Mayflower finally reached America, supplies, including beer, were scarce. However, the colonists soon learned from the Indians how to make beer from maize.

Breweries were common in the colonies, and it is rumored that George Washington and Patrick Henry not only advocated a tea boycott but they also sought a beer boycott as well. Legislation was also passed in early (1637) colonial times limiting the price of beer to one penny per quart. George Washington even petitioned congress for supplies for his troops which included “a quart of beer” for each soldier every day.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both experimented with brewing beer and state governors also established breweries. Conducting business in taverns was also not uncommon for people like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere. Apparently, the Boston Tea Party was even planned at a tavern.