What is Beer, Where does Beer come from

 

Beer as we know it today is a commercially driven product and we are all familiar with the main brands and the advertisements that go with them. Ireland is famously known for Guinness, from St. James’ Gate in Dublin and Dublin Restaurants, or from Ireland’s second capital City the city of Cork for Cork Restaurants. Guinness is good for you, full of iron and it will give you strength, there are numerous postcards and posters depicting strong actions as a result of drinking the black stuff. Guinness is the main sponsorship of the Ireland’s hurling Championship so brand awareness is very important.

 

The Americans give us the King of Beers – Budweiser - and with some outstanding advertisements like the Christmas jingle and at the Super Bowl time the infamous bud ads with the Frogs. Sometimes with all the hype and marketing of the brand the essential origins of beer and where it came from has disappeared.

 

What is beer? Beer has been brewing for more than 8,000 years worldwide, and in olden days was considered a food staple. Beer is an alcoholic beverage made from malted grains, hops, yeast, and water. The word beer comes from the Middle English ber(e), and from the Latin bibere meaning "to drink." Ancient Babylonian records indicate beer as being used in sacrificial rituals. All of the ancient cultures have been making beer throughout the ages and have looked at it as a form of medicine. Physicians and holistic practitioners of old used beer liberally in their cures as it was considered safer than water. Thus, beer was often used to mix medicines and was also used as the liquid in recipes instead of water.

 

Beer varieties are virtually endless, especially with the current popularity of home brewing. Home brewers have more control over the flavour and alcohol-content which is dependent upon the grains, malts, and brewing methods. New studies are now showing that drinking beer is actually beneficial to your health (in moderation of course).

 

Cooking with a beer adds an abundance of flavours to any dish or meal and the menus in restaurants and bars are now reflecting this. Light beers are being brewed, that contain less alcohol and less calories so the health benefits keep increasing. Soon some bright spark will formulate a beer diet – wouldn’t that be great? Bottoms up, Cheers and Slainte!

 

Find A Restaurant Ireland - Restaurants Serving Beer