The Beer Bucket List: Raise a pint to the past!
Inn, tavern, public house, speakeasy, rathskeller, bar, roadhouse, canteen, saloon, pub…there are as many terms for the “bar” as there are for “cheers.” We don’t know exactly when the first alcoholic beverage (likely some form of beer) was served to a thirsty paying customer, but historical records do tell us approximately when this pivotal moment in time occurred. And it ties into a theory I have as to why many of us feel inexplicably at home when we enter such a place.
And who am I? Well, just call me Eli the Mad Beer Man. I’m an opinionated freelance writer who loves to drink great beer, travel to magnificent bars to drink great beer, learn the magnificent history of great beer…and spread the gospel about better beer. For you see, beer is more than just a tasty adult beverage made of hops, barley and a pantheon of other delicacies…it’s the elixir of the gods. When looked at properly–through beer goggles perhaps–it has quite literally changed the course of human history. As a self-proclaimed “professional drinker” I rant and rave about all things beer on Confessions of a Beer Geek. In this exclusive series for MOJO 135 I’ll reveal which beer bars you need to visit before you slip off your mortal coil and head for that “Last Call” in the sky. Let’s call it “The Beer Bucket List.”
A few months ago a movie called “The Bucket List” came out starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It was about two terminally ill men who made a list of things they wanted to do before they “kicked the bucket.” Well, this is my own personal (beer) bucket list if you will.
But tell me…do you know how the whole bar phenomena began? No? Let’s “hop” into the past for a quick history lesson.
People have been consuming alcohol since the dawn of time. Some 13,000 years ago the ancient Sumerians accidentally invented the fermentation process and thus created the very first beer. This liquid was so important to them that they worshipped Ninkasi, the Goddess of Brewing and Beer. Let’s jump ahead several millennia to the Roman Empire (around 2,500 years ago) and their amazing road system, which at one point covered nearly 54,000 miles. And where there are roads there are travelers. It didn’t take long for the entrepreneurial types to construct the first inns and taverns to give all those weary travelers safe lodging and much needed refreshment–for a price of course.
By the time Rome fell into ruin (about 1,500 years ago) the Saxons had created the alehouse. These alehouses, most of which sprouted from within private homes, soon turned into public gathering spots (eventually called “public houses” and ultimately shortened to “pub”) for the local townsfolk to discuss business, gossip and drink. At that time beer was much healthier than water because the brewing process filtered out the funk (like the Plague, human waste and disease, etc.).
As traveling and pilgrimages became the trendy thing to do, demand for lodging grew so great that folks began staying in monasteries — a place where the brewing process was refined, and many say perfected (but I’ll save that history lesson for another time). Over the centuries taverns, inns and hostels–all of which served alcohol–were as prevalent as Starbucks. It got so bad that in 965 A.D. King Edgar of England decreed that there was to be only one alehouse per village. That didn’t really work out so well, and by 1446 there was a unified group of innkeepers called the Hostellers of London. One thing led to another and now you can’t go a block without running into a place to rest your head–a place with a noisy room, a hard bed, and a “continental” breakfast. Ah, just like old times.
But I digress…that in a pint glass is how your favorite watering hole was born. As you can see we’ve all been drinking together for a very long time. It’s even fair to say we’re genetically predisposed to tying one on. So the next time you walk into a bar and get a warm, fuzzy feeling it may not just be the booze talking… it’s an ancient feeling of camaraderie.
So join me every Wednesday as we scour the globe looking for beer bars with serious mojo. While it may not be a place where everyone knows your name, someone may very well know the name of your long dead relative.
Submitted by: Eli - The Mad Beer Man
Great start up, look forward to following the trail of Barhopping hot spots!
I to love beer! Here’s to beer, the solution to and cause of, all of life’s problems! Nice mini-history lesson. Keep it up!
Nicely done! And to think that I thought History in high school was boring. If I had only known then what I have learned now
Woot! Sounds like a wild ride to me. Lead on brother!
The idea of the pub sign came to Britain with the Roman armies. In Rome, tavern keepers hung a bunch of vine leaves over the door as an advertisement but, in Britain, they found precious few vines. They therefore improvised with any evergreen plant and pubs called “the Bush” or “Holly Bush” are still found countrywide
When pubs were built to cater for the pilgrimage trade they took religious names to reinforce their monastic connections. Often the signs were inspired by pictures found in churches’ stained-glass windows as the population were largely illiterate - hence names like Angel, Ship (ark) or Lamb (of God).
Thereafter, pub signs have commemorated royalty, heroes, battles, ambition and the odd scandal. Between them, pub signs tell a pictorial history of Britain but they’re often overlooked in the rush to the bar.
Elaine Saunders
Author - A Book About Pub Names
http://www.completetext.com
Well done sir!!!! I cant wait to see where we are going on our tour. I’ll be back every wednesday.
Wow! A history lesson and a pint?
Who would have thunk it!
Good stuff, Eli. Can’t wait to read more!
John
Great article! And to think I get to “hop” along with you in search of these … Zivjeli!!!
I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to read my little journey into the past, and thanks for the kind words and encouragement.
In the coming weeks I’ll be bouncing around the globe showing you bars that you really need to check out before you “kick the bucket” or your liver gets too used up. ;) who knows, it might even be in your own backyard!
Elaine, thanks very much for additional information. I’m ordering your book right now. Anyone else intrigued by the past should give it a look see.
To everyone else… stay tuned! We’re just setting sail on a most glorious drinking adventure!
Zivjeli!
If this continues in the footsteps of your other endeavors. This blog will be an interesting and enlighting. I can’t wait to see more.
Very nice history lesson. Beats the shit out of the lessons back in school. Wait,… I was down the steet,… drinking beer. Well, I guess I’ll learn a little something this time. All: Great comments
Da Lexter
Awesome dude. Can’t wait to read more. Much more interesting than the history classes we took eh? Looking forward to Wednesdays now
Interesting idea for a column. Looking forward to reading more!
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