Beer "Fact" #38: Beer has style. There are more than 120 beer styles worldwide, and plenty of new styles that haven’t been officially recognized, such as White Stout, Black Saison, and Belgian IPA.
Beer "Fact" #13: Hops keep a level head. Isohumulones, a type of alpha acid in hops, aid in head retention.
Beer "Fact" #8: Growlers used to make noise. The term “growler”, which refers to a glass or ceramic vessel used to transport draft beer, is believed to have originated in the late 19th century when the steel pails that were used to transport beer would make a “growling” noise when CO2 escaped from them.
Beer "Fact" #2: Germany knows how to hop. Known for its Hallertau, Tettnang, and Hersbruck varietals, Germany is the top producer of hops worldwide. The United States ranks second, and China third.
Beer "Fact" #24: Beer builds pyramids. In ancient Egypt, workers received beer three times a day as part of their rations.
Beer "Fact" #5: Yeast has its limits too. Common brewing yeast cannot survive at alcohol concentrations greater than 14%. Similarly, common humans cannot survive more than a few pints of beer this strength.
Beer "Fact" #38: Beer bellies aren’t filled with beer. A British study that tracked 20,000 beer drinkers for more than 8 years concluded that beer drinkers are “more likely to put on weight" than non-drinkers, but not necessarily around the abdomen. The researchers concluded that genetics play a larger role in determining how people's weight is distributed than drinking beer does.
Beer "Fact" #25: Beer is for the whole family. During the European Middle Ages and the Renaissance, beer was often a nutritional necessity and was sometimes used in a medicinal setting. It could be flavored with almost anything, from the bark of fir trees to fresh eggs and thyme. Almost everyone drank beer, including children.
Beer "Fact" #29: Homebrewing is a presidential pastime. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Barack Obama are all known to have brewed beer while in office. Ale to the chief!
Beer "Fact" #10: Tegestology is the practice of collecting beer coasters. The term is derived from tegestos which is Greek for “small reed mat”. Not surprisingly, those who collect the coasters are known as tegestologists.
