History Of Beer, Lift Your Beer Stein
Lager is the oldest alcoholic beverage known to mankind. Evidence of lager recipes date back as far as 4300 BC, on clay tablets in Babylon and scrolls in traditional Iraq. Beer was so highly valued in these Middle Eastern and Asian cultures that this was frequently used as payment to workers.
The grain used to provide lager early in its' history sundry dependent on the culture. In Asia, rice and sorghum were used as the base for their beer. In Africa the grain of choice was millet and in South America it was corn. The refining process for lager during these times did not adequately separate the hulls of grain from the liquid. In an effort to strain the hulls from the libation, these beers were not consumed from beer steins but from a cup using a straw!
The Romans brought lager into Europe around 55 BC and it continued to be brewed by people in their homes till the middle ages. Monasteries and convents throughout Europe between 500-1,000 AD took on the role of the first producers of lager. Lager turned into a commodity for trade providing funds for these institutions. Weary travelers all though this time period who sought shelter at monasteries and convents along their route were welcomed not only with a smile but with a stein of lager!
By 1,000 AD hops started to be used as the first grain in beer. Beer became a hallmark in the economies of England, Austria and of course, Germany. Germany established a brewery guild and was generally known as a purist in the production of this valued drink. It was in 1516 that German Duke Wilhelm the IV announced that German beers could only contain the four ingredients of hops, malt, yeast and water.
It wasn't till the 1500s that beer, via the pilgrims, found its way to America. Beer production was quickly welcomed by the political and academic leaders of the time. William Penn, the founder of the state of Pennsylvania, owned an operated a brewery as did Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. The esteemed Harvard College also had its ' own brew house. Lager was a main beverage for the soldiers in the revolutionary war. They each received a one quart ration of lager every day. So, the lager in your stein obviously had a notable role in the early beginnings of our country.
With so much history behind the origination of beer, it's fun to drink a good lager from a unique beer stein or glass that tells the story behind beer. Whether you are celebrating your heritage with a german beer stein or the return of a soldier from deployment with a US Army glass beer stein, there are a wide variety of unique steins and glasses to commemorate the history of lager. Cheers!
Kevin Johnson is the founder of BeerSteinMart.com which can supply a variety of beer steins and glasses that represent the history of lager and their unique heritage.
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