 History of Beer
Some historians speculate that grain and water was used to make beer even before our
prehistoric ancestors learned to make bread. Beer has been made with different ingredients
in different cultures and regions throughout the world for millennia, with the first
commercial enterprises developing in Germany, Austria and England in the 1200s.
In colonial North America, it is said that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock because
they were running low on beer supplies. Mind you, beer had been made by North American
Indians with corn and black birch sap long before hops and grains were introduced by the
European settlers.
Prior to taverns being built and becoming the communal hub of every town, many colonial
households had a malt house attached to their homes, just like a kitchen. One reason cited
for this necessity: fear of drinking the water in this new world! Everyone from babies to
elderly women drank beer, from breakfast onward throughout the day. This was, ostensibly,
before the discovery that the same process of boiling water to make beer also made water
potable!
While most of us don't have beer for breakfast anymore, for many, beer continues to be a
very enjoyable, thirst-quenching beverage that we imbibe on a regular basis. The joy of
producing your own beer, experimenting with different varieties and tastes while avoiding
the chemicals and additives in commercial beer, can be a very satisfying, healthful and
economical hobby that may develop into a passion.
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