Quench your thirst for knowledge with these impressive boozy facts.
1. The White House brews its own beer.
President Obama is the first president to ever brew beer on White House grounds, according to the official White House blog. Check out the recipes for The White House Honey Porter and White House Honey Ale, which include honey from bee-hives also grown at the White House.
2. The oldest known recipe for beer is over 4,000 years old.
This clay tablet, which dates back to 3100-3000 BC in Mesopotamia, shows the allocation of beer, according to The British Museum. The symbol for beer is "an upright jar with pointed base," which you can spot three times in the image above.
In other mind-blowing news, Egyptian pyramid workers were paid with beer, according to Smithsonian magazine. Workers received four to five liters a day, per archaeologist Dr. Patrick McGovern, who added that "you would have had a rebellion on your hands if they'd run out. The pyramids might not have been built if there hadn't been enough beer."
3. The first professional brewers were women.
In ancient Egypt, beer was traditionally brewed by women, according to The Atlantic. But as the economy transitioned from agriculture-based to industry-based, beer became commercial, brewed and sold mainly by men.
4. Beer pong doesn't have to be a mess.
This one goes out to all the germaphobes who (rightfully) avoid beer pong because, GAH, just think where that ball's been!
Enter Slip Cup, a protective mini-cup that fits inside your beer cup to catch the ping pong ball. Not only will your booze remain grime free, the cups are designed to prevent beer from spilling all over the floor.
5. Beer was once consumed hot.
Yuck. Though most people today prefer their refreshing beer ice cold, that hasn't always been the case. Warm ale provided heat and could even replace a meal, according to The Atlantic. In fact, a piece of advice dating back to the 17th century cautioned drinkers of cold beers, saying warm, malty beverages are more "healthful."
6. Exposure to light makes beer go bad.
You may already know that beer is flavored with hops, but did you know that when hops are exposed to light they produce a compound that stinks "just like a skunk"? Such is the case, according to Dr. Charles Bamforth, a professor of brewing science at the University of California at Davis, who spoke to The New York Times. This explains why many beer bottles are brown, which prevents the process from happening.
7. Beer may be good for your bones.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study in 2009 which showed a correlation between alcohol intake (beer, wine and liquor) and bone mineral density. The researchers found that "moderate consumption of alcohol may be beneficial to bone in men and postmenopausal women."
8. You can bathe in beer.
In Czech Republic, there is a beer spa that offers a 20-minute bath in beer brewing ingredients. The company, Chodovar, claims the practice boosts blood circulation, opens up pores, softens the skin and infuses the body with vitamins. One way ticket, anyone?
9. You can study beer in college. Like, legitimately.
Zythology may be defined as "the study of beer and beer-making, including the role particular ingredients play in the brewing process," but you can't fully go to school for that just yet. However, if you want to incorporate your love of IPA with a valid degree, Colorado State University offers a B.S. in Fermentation Science and Technology as part of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. You can find out more about the program here.
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