Celebrate International Beer Day 2022

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Is there anything better than the first sip of a cold, crisp beer after a long day's work? For many, the answer is a resounding ‘No.’ Beer is one of the oldest drinks the world has ever known, and is perhaps one of its most cherished beverages. Humans have been captivated by beer ever since the first grains were inadvertently found to have fermented and someone dared to taste it. Since then, mankind has become fixated with refining beer formulas and the brewing process in search of the tastiest beer, resulting in endless options of different types, flavours and even alcohol-free options to choose from.

International Beer Day is an annual global celebration taking place on the first Friday of August, and in honour of our favourite frothy beverage, we look back on the history of beer and how this day should be celebrated!

The Origins of Beer

The Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamia cultivated the first known examples of barley, the main ingredient in beer. Their cuneiform writings, which date back to 3500 B.C., mention a fermented beverage called “beer” that was used in ceremonies, celebrations, and rituals. The Babylonians, who conquered Sumer in the late 3rd millennium B.C., also celebrated their beer. They inscribed clay tablets with a recipe for beer, while their extensive lists of herbs, plants, and other ingredients suggest that beer was a complex and important beverage in their culture. The ancient Greeks and Romans also consumed beer and made it part of their daily lives. Their writings show that beer was a daily beverage among the lower classes, while the upper classes sometimes drank a wine-and-beer mix.
By the Middle Ages, Christian monks started making beer and using hops for the first time. Beers were once prepared with regional flavourings like dates and olive oils, and hops, herbs, or fruits that provide taste are still used in the brewing of beers today. Beer brewing is still a craft that uses centuries-old methods that have been meticulously refined over the course of millennia, whether it's macro, micro, or artisanal.

Beer Facts

This glorious day was founded in 2007 in Santa Cruz, California by Jesse Avshalomov, and it quickly spread across the world. August was chosen to celebrate for its summer weather and distance from other beer celebrations. Here are 5 fun facts about beer that you may not know!

  • Beer is the third most popular drink in the world, ranking just below water and tea.
  • The Czech Republic are the world's biggest beer drinkers, consuming 191.8 litres per capita annually
  • Beer contains vitamins and can have positive health benefits thanks to its natural ingredients and the fermenting process.
  • The strongest beer in the world has a strength of 67.5% alcohol. This beer is called Snake Venom and was created in 2017 by Scottish brewery Brewmeister.
  • Have a fear of an empty beer glass? There’s a name for it - Cenosillicaphobia.

How to Celebrate?

Whether you’re a craft-beer enthusiast or a staunch traditionalist, today is a day to celebrate. Directly from the IBD website, here is your official guide for how to celebrate International Beer Day!

  • Drink good beer with good friends

If you were thinking about spending International Beer Day by yourself, think again! Drinking beer may be the most important part of celebrating International Beer Day, but we’re pretty convinced that beer goes best with a little conversation. So drag your friends out to an IBD celebration or invite them into your home, but make sure you have some camaraderie to go with your brews.

  • Give the gift of beer

It’s a well known fact that beer tastes better when someone else buys it for you, so it’s a tradition on International Beer Day to buy beer for your friends! When you present the beer, don’t forget to say the traditional words of beer-giving: ‘I brought you the gift of beer.’ By giving the gift of beer to your friends and receiving the gift of beer in return, everyone's beer becomes much more delicious.

  • Enjoy beer from other cultures

It’s a big beer world out there full of wondrous new flavours. Be adventurous, try something new on International Beer Day!

  • Thank your brewer and thank your bartender

Thousands of men and women around the world have devoted their lives to providing us with the enormous variety of beers we have available to us and on International Beer Day it’s important to let these people know that we appreciate them. So write a note, leave a tip, make a call, or just say ‘thanks’, but make sure your brewers and bartenders know that you love them.

Cheers!

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