More than a fashion: beer and its link with popular culture over time
At present, the passion for a good beer has reached almost worship levels, with fans who analyze each sip and share their experiences in social networks. However, this modern obsession is not an exclusive phenomenon of our times. From centuries, the love for this fermented drink has been linked to cultural, social and economic processes that go far beyond the simple tasting.
A story written in old letters and recipes: the roots of beer passion
The interest in beer traces to times in which the letters and documents of historical characters reveal to us the importance of this drink in different parts of the world. A revealing example is found in a seventeenth -century manuscript, where James Howell, an English politician, describes in detail the varieties that predominated in Europe and its surroundings, pointing out that in regions as different as Saxony, Denmark or Switzerland, beer constituted an element of daily life.
His observations show a country, Prussia, where golden beer made with wheat was so popular as to consider it a drink worthy of praise. In those times, the importance of distinguishing styles and qualities was so strong that even rudimentary guides were created that they tended to classify beer for their color and flavor.
The Lager beers revolution and its impact on consumption
The nineteenth century was a turning point with the appearance of the Lager, a beer that began in Munich, Vienna and Pilsen, and that soon conquered hearts in different corners of the planet. The first fans of the time valued the taste and fineness more than the volume of alcohol, a change of paradigm with respect to the most traditional beers, which used to be denser and with greater alcoholic content.
A culture of appreciation began to consolidate that defended the purity of beer, criticizing artificial ingredients and highlighting the quality of careful fermentations. Legislation and regulations, as well as marketing strategies, helped to raise Lager beer status, which was then associated with sophistication and innovation.
An interest that transcends social networks: the pioneers of the beer dissemination
By 1934, there were already publications that led their gaze to the consumer, demystifying the process of elaboration and clarifying doubts about styles and flavors. Although it was often conveyed with a somewhat elitist tone, this literature pointed out that an increasingly wide audience was curious to understand what they were drinking and why that beer could be different.
An interesting example is an book published under a pseudonym, in which the beer bottled by its industrial rigidity was criticized, making a sarcastic comparison with packaged mayonnaise. But along the same lines, the discussion revealed to an increasingly conscious and demanding community, which sought authenticity and flavor in each package, even long before the explosion of digital platforms.
The study of beer behavior in England in the mid -twentieth century
An anthropological analysis of pubs in England in the 1940s shows a fascinating image of the different types of consumers. While some were looking for the affordable, others valued the quality, and there were even those that talked each beer as if it were a wine, appreciating their complexity and the variety that barrels offered in different stores.
These observations suggest that, although the majority opted for economic options, interest in experience, product quality and recommendations between friends were fundamental aspects for a group increasingly committed to beer culture.
A movement that goes beyond the bottle: societies, clubs and innovation in beer
Since the early twentieth century, several organizations dedicated to protecting and promoting the true essence of beer emerged with enthusiasm. The National Society for the promotion of pure beer, foam fans in the ancient order of blowers and societies dedicated to preserving beers in barrel or promoting artisanal recipes, built the foundations for a culture that valued the quality, diversity and social nature of beer.
These communities were not only dedicated to conserve traditions, but also to challenge the stereotypes of mass production and pasteurization, looking for a resurgence of classic and innovative styles. The history of the alternative beer movement, which is now known as the era of artisanal beer, could have its origin in those pioneer initiatives that, at the time, fought for a more authentic and enriching vision.
Perhaps, in some forgotten corner of old files or on pages yet to discover, stories and recipes await that can continue to inspire the NEXT generation of brewers and lovers of good drink.
