How Much Do You Know About Beer?

When it comes to beer, it seems like everyone is an expert, so here's some beer trivia for you to help impress your friends ....

How Much Do You Know About Beer Trivia?

Just like the importance of all those people behind the scenes, I think it's important to be fully armed with knowledge about the beverage itself. After all, without understanding beer, it can be difficult to fully appreciate the craft!

Oldest Brewery in The United States?

D.G. Yuengling & Son is the oldest operating brewing company in the United States. It was established in 1892 and survived prohibition by producing "near beer" with 0.5% alcohol content and also ran a dairy that produced ice cream. 

Oldest Beer?

The oldest known recipe for "beer" dates back more than 4,000 years and was made by the Sumerians. In the 1980's Anchor Brewing recreated that recipes for modern beer fans to try. 

Beer's Impact on Civilization?

Beer likely started out as a way to preserve excess grain that would have otherwise spoiled during the winter. Workers building the pyramids were given four liters of beer per day since the fermentation made it safer to drink than the Nile river water. Just imagine - no beer, no great pyramids! Later, British brewers were forced to add extra alcohol and hops to help preserve the beer as it made the trip from England to India ... we no call this style IPA or India Pale Ale.

Top US Beer Cities

While cities like Portland and Bend, Oregon (home of Deschutes Brewery) may dominate when you hear about the best beer cities, the list of top beer cities is actually pretty surprising. When compared by population - breweries per capita if you will, cities like Portland, ME (17+ breweries; 1 per 4,000 people!) and Asheville, NC (19+ breweries; 1 per 10,000 people) pop to the top of the list! Other top craft beer cities include: Portland, OR with 68 breweries, Denver, CO with 58, and of course San Diego with more than 100 breweries and brewpubs!

America's Favorite Beer

Sadly, this is still dominated by Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite.

Largest Craft Breweries in the United States?

1. D.G. Yuengling and Son (Pennsylvania)
2. Boston Beer (Massachusetts)
3. Sierra Nevada Brewing (California)
4. New Belgium Brewing (Colorado)
5. Gambrinus (Texas)
6. Lagunitas Brewing (California)
7. Bell’s Brewery (Michigan)
8. Deschutes Brewery (Oregon)
9. Minhas Craft Brewery (Wisconsin)
10. Stone Brewing (California)

Among the top 500 craft breweries, California dominates with 12 breweries and Colorado has five.

Health Aspects of Beer?

Beer contains all of the minerals that we need to survive and in many places still is an important form of clean water. In times gone by, brewers created low alcohol brews that even children would consume since it was safer than drinking water from wells and streams. Beer (alcohol) can actually help raise HDL cholesterol levels, which are associated with lowering the risk of heart disease and cognitive functions. Additionally, drinking moderates amount of beer has been linked to reducing the risk of kidney stones and helping to strengthen bones due to the high levels of silicon that allows the body to deposit calcium and other important minerals into bone tissue.

What Is the Study of Beer Called?

Zythology - the study of beer and beer making. While you may have joked about this at one point, hundreds of colleges now offer zythology degrees including Florida State, University of Alabama, and Texas Tech that all offer doctorate and masters degrees in beer making!

What Aspects of Beer are Monitored to Ensure Great Quality?

While beers are judged using metrics such as Appearance, Smell, Taste, and Mouthfeel, a brewery technician uses scientific tools such as Mass Spectrometers to measure ABV (Alcohol By Volume), Specific Gravity, Plato, pH, color, and IBU (International Bitterness Units) to ensure that each batch is consistent.

When Were Beer Cans Produced?

The first commercially produced beer cans appeared in 1935  as Krueger's Cream Ale in the US and in 1931 at the Felinfoel brewery since Americans were still enduring prohibition at the time. With canned beer being received positively, canned soda and juices quickly followed, and due to their higher acidity lead manufacturers to invent lined cans that ultimately improved the taste of canned beer.