Beer is one of the oldest beverages humans have produced, dating back to at least the 5th millennium BC in Iran, and was recorded in the written history of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and has since spread throughout the world.
The process of brewing beer grew tremendously during the rise of Christianity. This was primarily because of the roles that monks had in the production of beer. Monasteries were some of the first organizations to brew beer as a trade. Monks built breweries as part of their efforts to provide food, shelter and drink to various travelers and pilgrims.
Emperor Charlemagne, the ruler of the Christian kingdom around 770 AD considered beer to be an important part of living, and is often thought to have trained Christian brewers himself. As in ancient times, women were the primary brewers during the Middle Ages. Women took over brewing after the monasteries had really established the process. Ancient Nubians had used beer as an antibiotic medicine.
The oldest still operating commercial brewery is the Weihenstephan (Bavaria) abbey brewery, which obtained the brewing rights from the nearby town of Freising in 1040.
Today, beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in the United States. On Average, Americans drink 6.3 billion gallons of beer per year or 67,221,000,000 12-ounce beers.
That’s right, we drink over 67 BILLION beers per year!
So, pour yourself a pint of history with this collection of Spec’s recommended beers and celebrate National Drink a Beer Day with a brand new brew!
Ballast Point Brewing Co. – Dead Ringer Oktoberfest
Subtle notes of fall spice, toffee, and stone fruits play together nicely in this medium-bodied Oktoberfest brew from Ballast Point Brewing Co. Plus, with a 5.7% ABV, you can easily sip a few of these while tailgating.
https://specsonline.com/shop/beer/sierra-nevada-sidecar-orange-pale-ale-6pk-bottle/
A refreshing new take on the hoppy pale ale brewed with Cascade, Equinox, and Mandarina hops with a hint of orange peel from additions in both the brew kettle and the fermenter that tweak the classic hop profile and add a zesty pop of bright orange flavor.
Deschutes – Pacific Wonderland Lager
A sessionable lager befitting of the Pacific Northwest, Wonderland is a dry-hopped wonder befitting of everyday adventure. Citrusy Tettnang Mandarina hops combine with the crisp, bright character of a traditional lager to deliver a beer that is truly refreshing, and undoubtedly worth sharing.
Rogue – Cold Brew IPA
Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ Cold Brew Coffee is blended with an IPA made using Rogue Farms hops for a unique interplay of hops and coffee flavors. Opening with a huge hit of rich coffee aroma that is balanced by a not-so-subtle hop punch, the transition is seamless from one bold flavor to the next.
Schilling – Grumpy Bear Nitro Coffee Cider
Drinks like a cider and pours like a stout! This cider is loaded with cold-brew coffee and is the first nitro cider package we know of. What seems like an unlikely pairing may just be so wrong it’s right.
