Instead of cookies and milk, some Irish families leave a pint of Guinness for Santa on Christmas Eve.
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beer
10th century Norwegian Viking ruler…
10th century Norwegian Viking ruler King Haakon the Good made the household production of Juleøl (Christmas Beer) a law. Families that did not have beer at their Christmas feast were issued a fine.
Long before Christianity made its way to the native Germanic peoples, Norwegians celebrated the winter solstice by brewing and drinking beer to honor their Norse gods. To celebrate “Jul,” a Norwegian word that in modern vernacular refers to the Christmas season, Vikings brewed and consumed strong, barley-based beer while in the throes of winter’s coldest and dreariest months. They also used the ale to make offerings in hopes to entice the gods to bring back the summer sun.
According to “The Geography of Beer,” King Haakon the Good, who ruled from 934 to 961, later used the ancient Jul celebration to push a Christian agenda. As part of his efforts to introduce Christianity to the Norwegian people, King Haakon the Good implemented a pagan-meets-Christian mash-up, making it a law to celebrate Christmas with beer. Those who didn’t have beer at their Christmas feast were issued a fine. Norway became Christianized in the 11th century.
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“Budweiser” was originally the German….
“Budweiser” was originally the German name for beer brewed in the Czech town of České Budějovice (German: Budweis). Anheuser-Busch stole the name for its American brew, and the breweries have been in trademark battles ever since. If you order a Budweiser in the EU, you get the Czech brew.
Arthur Guinness, founder of Guinness…
Arthur Guinness, founder of Guinness, signed a 9,000 year lease at the St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin for £45 per year back in 1759.
In 2004, a black bear was found…
In 2004, a black bear was found passed out in a Washington State campground after drinking 36 beer cans; when rangers tried to scare it away, it climbed up a tree to take a nap. It was caught the next day after returning for more beer.
In 2006, a Norwegian woman living…
In 2006, a Norwegian woman living in an apartment above a pub, suddently found her kitchen tap pouring beer, and not water, due to a plumbing error in the pub.
In 2016, Guinness confirmed…
In 2016, Guinness confirmed that it had changed up its filtration process eliminating the use of isinglass (derived from the dried swim bladders of fish) making it officially vegan.
Germany has launched..
Germany has launched a rocket with yeast on board into space. When the rocket returns the yeast will be used to make beer. Making it effectively space beer.
A man was arrested for trespassing…
A man was arrested for trespassing at the Budweiser brewery. His name? Bud Weisser.
5,000 year old beer receipt
This picture of an ancient tablet is actually a 5,000 year old beer receipt. ‘Alulu beer receipt’ records a purchase of “best” beer from a brewer, c. 2050 BC from the Sumerian city of Umma in ancient Iraq.