Archive for August, 2007
Amazing Facts about Beer
Beer, like all alcoholic drinks, is made by fermentation caused by bacteria feeding on the yeast cells, then defecating. This bacterial “poo” is the alcohol.
The first ale-house customers in England used clay tankards with whistles baked into the rim or handle. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. Hence the phrase “Wet your whistle.”
Tossing salted peanuts in a glass of beer makes the peanuts dance.
In Babylonia 4000 years ago a bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink for a month after the wedding. Mead is a honey beer so it was the “honey month” or “honeymoon”.
In ancient Mesopotamia (now Iraq) tavern owners found guilty of overcharging patrons for beer were put to death by drowning.
Before the advent of thermometers brewers tested the temperature of maturing brews with their thumbs: too cold and the yeast wouldn’t grow, too hot and it would die. Hence the phrase “Rule of thumb”.
Brewer’s Droop is a real condition. Hops contain a herbal form of the hormone oestrogen that can lead to erectile dysfunction.
Beer used to be served in pints and quarts. Hence the phrase “Mind your Ps and Qs”, meaning be careful how much you drink.
In olde England, town inns paid a government tax known as a “scot” for serving beer. Beer lovers who left town to drink in rural pubs were said to be drinking “scot-free”.
The British army used to supply its men with a one penny cash allowance for beer, as it was considered a vital nutritional staple on long overseas missions. With this, soldiers enjoyed six pints of ale every day.
The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock because of beer. They’d planned to sail further south but ran out of beer, so stopped and founded the USA.
Add comment August 23, 2007
True Story
The other day I saw a man playing Dancing Queen on the Didgeridoo.
I thought, that’s Aboriginal.
Add comment August 11, 2007
