Beer has been with mankind since before recorded history. A steady supply of beer in fact, may have been the reason why mankind abandoned the ways of the hunter-gatherer and first took up agriculture. Beer is made by steeping a source of starches and sugars, typically grains such as barley, in water to create a liquid known as wort. The wort may then be flavored with herbs and spices such as hops. Additional fermentable sugars can also be added in the form of fruits, juices, and honey. The wort is then fermented to produce beer. Early beers were made with local sources of starch, and flavored with a blend of herbs known as gruit. They were fermented with the wild yeast that existed naturally in the air. These beers were consumed fresh, often while still fermenting, because they were quite perishable.
"The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with beer."
- Egyptian inscription dated 2200 BC.
During the middle ages, European brewers began to notice that by adding hops to their beers, they could extend the shelf life of their brews. Gradually hops became a standard ingredient in European beers. It was also in this time that barley became the primary source of fermentable sugars for beer. By 1516, the Reinheitsgebot, or German beer purity law, sated that beer could only be made from water, malted barley, and hops. The action of beers fourth ingredient, yeast, was not yet understood.
In the 1700's the industrial revolution allowed for the production kiln dried malt which was golden in color, and lacked the smoky flavor of malt that was fire dried. Around this time yeast became better understood. Pure yeast cultures allowed for a better tasting, more consistent product. In the 1800's lager yeast was isolated, and the first lager beers were produced.
In 1842, Josef Groll produced the first clear, golden colored lager beer at a new brewery that had been built in the Czech town of Pilsen for the production of Bavarian style lagers. Groll's beer serves as the inspiration for all golden lagers, AKA Pilsners, that have followed from Becks to Budweiser.
Beer has been with mankind since before recorded history. A steady supply of beer in fact, may have been the reason why mankind abandoned the ways of the hunter-gatherer and first took up agriculture. Beer is made by steeping a source of starches and sugars, typically grains such as barley, in water to create a liquid known as wort. The wort may then be flavored with herbs and spices such as hops. Additional fermentable sugars can also be added in the form of fruits, juices, and honey. The wort is then fermented to produce beer. Early beers were made with local sources of starch, and flavored with a blend of herbs known as gruit. They were fermented with the wild yeast that existed naturally in the air. These beers were consumed fresh, often while still fermenting, because they were quite perishable.
"The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with beer."
- Egyptian inscription dated 2200 BC.
During the middle ages, European brewers began to notice that by adding hops to their beers, they could extend the shelf life of their brews. Gradually hops became a standard ingredient in European beers. It was also in this time that barley became the primary source of fermentable sugars for beer. By 1516, the Reinheitsgebot, or German beer purity law, sated that beer could only be made from water, malted barley, and hops. The action of beers fourth ingredient, yeast, was not yet understood.
In the 1700's the industrial revolution allowed for the production kiln dried malt which was golden in color, and lacked the smoky flavor of malt that was fire dried. Around this time yeast became better understood. Pure yeast cultures allowed for a better tasting, more consistent product. In the 1800's lager yeast was isolated, and the first lager beers were produced.
In 1842, Josef Groll produced the first clear, golden colored lager beer at a new brewery that had been built in the Czech town of Pilsen for the production of Bavarian style lagers. Groll's beer serves as the inspiration for all golden lagers, AKA Pilsners, that have followed from Becks to Budweiser.
