10 FUN FACTS ABOUT BEER
Save these little nuggets for the next pub quiz.
We're all beer enthusiasts, that's for sure. But how much do you really know about it? Do you know the history of beer? Where it originally comes from, its influence on our culture, and the difference between beer-drinking men and women? No? Well, it’s time to change that!
Drop these fun beer facts at your next family gathering, impress your colleagues at the next office drinks, and keep them in the back of your pocket for the weekly pub quiz.
The first beer was brewed in 4,000 BC
It happened in Mesopotamia (a historical region covering parts of present-day Iraq and Iran). Brewing beer was considered a mystical process at the time. Men couldn't interfere with beer brewing; only women had this privilege. Brewers were seen as priests, standing especially close to the Gods.
There's a beer with an alcohol percentage of 67.5%
The world's strongest beer (in terms of alcohol) is aptly named Snake Venom. Brewed by the Scottish brewery, Brewmeister, this beer boasts an alcohol percentage of — let repeat it because, holy moly, it's high — sixty-seven-point five percent!
In the Middle Ages, beer was healthier than water
This was because water was often contaminated, posing a whole load of health risks. Beer was also relatively cheap, making it a beverage for all ages, consumed throughout the day. Althoguh, the alcohol percentage was quite a bit lower back then.
Women are less tolerant to alcohol
No, it's not a myth. Women generally get intoxicated faster because their fluid levels are lower. Men have a higher fluid content, allowing them to handle beer better.
Straws were invented for beer
Yes, really! It’s thought that the Sumerians (a civilisation of southern Mesopotamia) drank beer with straws after the discovery of straw-like artefacts at archaeological sites. These objects were found alongside pottery vessels and brewing equipment. Some theories propose that the Sumerians used these straws to avoid the solid residues that might have been present in their beer.
Oktoberfest is the world's largest beer festival
We already know that a fair amount of beer is consumed during Oktoberfest. But did you know that the beer festival in Germany is the largest in the world? In Munich, during those two weeks of celebration, approximately 6 to 7 million litres of beer are consumed. And rest assured, this beer is of high quality because official Oktoberfest beers need to meet strict criteria.
The word 'honeymoon' is connected to beer
Although we don't necessarily associate honeymoons with beer nowadays, it used to be so. In the Middle Ages, it was customary for newlyweds to drink mead (a drink made from fermented honey and water) for an entire 30-day lunar cycle. This was believed to bring prosperity and fertility. Although mead is not made by fermenting sugars from malted grains, it's often considered a type of beer.
Light affects the taste of beer
You've probably seen the advice 'store cool and dark' on your bottle of beer. It's there for a reason. Light can alter the taste and aroma of beer. If you leave beer bottles in direct light for too long, there’s a chance your beer might end up smelling pretty nasty. So, into the refrigerator it goes!
Beer makes you urinate more often
If you're at a festival, concert, or party, it sometimes feels like you're standing in line for the toilet for the tenth time that night. Okay, ten times might be an exaggeration, but beer does make you need to go more often. Alcohol is inherently diuretic, and with the amount of water in beer, the effect on your bladder is even greater.
The average Brit consumed 67.6 litres of beer in 2021
If you’ve spent a Friday night out in Newcastle, Leeds or Bristol, you’d think that puts the UK at least in the top ten of the list. Despite our boozy reputation, we’re not even in the top 20. According to a recent poll by Kirin Brewing Company, Czechia holds the top spot with the average person drinking 181.70 litres of beer in 2021. Yes, that’s… a lot of beer.
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