history of beer
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The history of beer and travel

I’m pretty sure that I could be a culinary blogger. The only problem is that I am way better at eating and drinking than writing about it. Nonetheless, I think I found a way. As a beer connoisseur, I am always looking to discover local brews when I travel. I also love history, so it only made sense to write about the history of beer.  What does beer have to do with travel? Well, lots, really. Let’s take a look.

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history of beer
Beer on a patio

the History of beer

It almost seems that beer has existed as long as humans have existed. It was produced 7,000 years ago in modern-day Iran, making it one of the earliest beverages ever made. Egyptians and Mesopotamians were also proficient at making beer, and many other cultures followed suit.

Somehow this knowledge has been stored in my head for years. It wasn’t until I saw a documentary called How Beer Changed the World that I realized it would be fun to share it with others.  If you have 45 min or so, I highly recommend it.

Hello grain

So what caused this sudden spike in beer making? When humans transitioned from being nomadic, they started to cultivate the land. This included growing grains, and grain opened up a variety of foods and ensured a more reliable, sustainable food supply. (Thank you, medieval history class, for this knowledge!)

history of beer
Left Field Brewery in Toronto

Beer was most likely an accidental discovery. Weather and trial and error were most likely causes behind the discovery of the brewing process. This was the beginning of a fascinating way we have evolved as a society.

Beer for your health

Let’s be honest, before modern times, the world wasn’t the cleanest or the healthiest place. No proper refrigeration, storage, and a general understanding of how diseases spread played an enormous role in high mortality rates. Beer and wine were a lot safer to drink than water.

The process alone helped eliminate some of the contaminants found in water, making it safer to drink. As beer was made from grains, it was also more nutritious, especially if you couldn’t afford food. In the Bavarian constitution, beer is referred to as “liquid bread,” proving its importance. In history, many were even paid with beer. When I was at the Tower of London, I learned the Beefeaters, those who guarded the king, got their name that way. They were given access to the king’s table as payment, including meat (beef most likely) and beer. Hence the name Beefeaters. I guess it sounds better than “beer-drinkers.”

Beer brewers

The history of beer probably wouldn’t have much of a story if it weren’t for those who brewed it. Those who brewed beer were often monks and priestesses, as brew was made for religious ceremonies. They refined the recipes and recorded them for future generations. We can see that in ancient times and through the rise of Christianity.

As a clever early marketing tactic, many monasteries added images of saints to their signature creations. This was probably one of the earliest examples of brand loyalty creation. This might also explain why so many beer brands have an image of a saint. Those monks knew what they were doing.

The supply chain

As beer-making evolved, so did the industry around it. Farmers were needed to grow and supply the grain. Barrel makers made the vessels for holding and processing it. Others were required for transportation and delivery to merchants and barkeepers that sold it. Beer was a lucrative commodity, and it fuelled the economy. In reality, the history of beer is closely tied with that of commerce.

history of beer
Beer making magic

The rise of culinary travel

Beer also plays a crucial role in today’s world. Not only as a consumable product but also as a tourism generator. There is a whole sector of travel devoted to food and drink. It is culinary tourism, and it’s growing strong. Many have already tapped into this market, and others are getting ready to do just that.

Geographical differences, like water and soil, have played a role in the different types of beer produced worldwide. This gives beer lovers a reason to visit other locations and explore the flavours.

Brewery tours

When we visited Amsterdam, we had a blast at the Heineken brewery. The beer there tasted very different from the Heineken we have at home plus the tour was fun. The whole reason we went there was to see where Heineken originated and try it from the source. While in Halifax, we visited Alexander Keith’s brewery. Our tour guides were dressed in costume and acted out the brewery’s history.

history of beer
Hello Heineken

As you can tell, we like to visit breweries at home and while we travel. More and more breweries are capitalizing on the fact that people love to visit them. They are becoming tourist attractions, generating economic benefits from visitor spending. From tours to on-site restaurants and shops, breweries are big business.

Craft beers rule

In recent years, craft breweries have popped up all over Canada and other parts of the world. While the definition of “craft” is debatable for many, these tend to be smaller operations that experiment with different flavours.

history of beer
Oh, look! A beer festival 🙂

Beer festivals, another addition to the tourist attractions arsenal, have become a perfect marriage of breweries and beer enthusiasts. The uniqueness of these beers attracts people in droves. Even in Toronto, there is a beer festival almost every weekend. And they are packed.

Beer in popular culture

There are those who make beer, those who drink it, and others who pay homage to it. Beer blogs, shows and tours are all the rage. What started as an accidental concoction grew into a money-making industry. One that I am enthusiastically a part of.

My friend Angela and her husband Aaron love beer so much that they created a show about people across Canada that “pour their heart and soul into crafting tasty beer.” Crafted in Canada, the show is about Angela visiting a different brewery in each episode. The history of beer, one brewery at a time. It makes me thirsty just watching it.

history of beer
I do like beer

History of beer: bringing it together

I am pretty fascinated by the history of beer. Not only is it fascinating, it still influences our world. I don’t think those who created this yummy brew would have expected it to become such a significant influence on the world.

Are you a beer enthusiast? Are you a culinary traveller?  Let me know!


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