beer glass (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is well known that beer has been with mankind for a long time. As beer itself changed, expanded, and improved, so did the way in which we actually got the beer to our mouths. The earlier vessels man used for drinking included earthenware, pottery, carved out wood, and even sewn-together pieces of leather. As time went on, man saw small improvements in the quality of their beer glasses. Early Europeans living during the time of the Bubonic plague saw the creation of beer steins, which had an enclosed top on the steins to keep flies from landing in the brew and getting the person sick.

The development of glass may have been the most important aspect of the way beer glasses are made today. As beer glasses became more and more popular, consumers could actually see what they were drinking and demanded a lighter and more appealing look as well as taste. This led to the filtration of beers; people no longer wanted the coarse chunks that were often found in the earlier beers of the breweries. With this new, more aesthetically pleasing wave of beer glasses, it seemed like beer steins were on the way out.

The development of glassware continued and produced a variety of beer glasses for all kinds of different beers. The most popular in the United States is the 16-ounce pint glass. It was originally used to fit the top of a Martini shaker, but bartenders soon found that as the brew flowed out of the beer taps the pint glass was the perfect vessel because it allowed for some of the carbonation to be released and allowed the aroma of the beer to be more pronounced. It is also favored for its storage capabilities; pint glasses can be stacked on top of each other and stored easily upright on shelves, quickly making them a favorite with the bartenders who ended up having to wash out each glass.

A drive to get people to buy their brand of beer by earlier breweries led to some unique and groundbreaking moves on the marketing and promotional front. Early breweries were often prohibited to give away beer or other rewards to their customers, but found that giving away beer glasses was a great way to reward customers and also to advertise for themselves. This led to the breweries producing beer glasses that were works of art unto themselves. The first were ornate and expensive; they would often have gold or silver embossed on the sides. Eventually, artists for the breweries began doing detailed etchings on the sides of the glasses or steins and even developed a method of firing enamel paint onto the beer glasses. These enameled glasses remain some of the most rare beer collectibles, even though they were made more recently than the others. Today, some of the beer collectibles and signs are worth thousands of dollars and sought out worldwide by eager collectors. Have you looked up in the top of Grandpa’s old drawer lately?

Image via Wikipedia

Brewed on every continent around the world and enjoyed in every nation, beer can quench every type of thirst and go down as easily as spring water to thick, heady concoctions that resemble that of the thickest oatmeal.

Just as the gourmet blends have conquered a large portion of the coffee business, handcrafted brews continue to keep a firm hold on the most serious of beer drinkers.  There are hundreds of thousands of brews out there, which are sure to please everyone.

When it comes to the gourmet types of microbrews, there are some things to keep in mind.  If you are new to microbrews and gourmet types, you’ll find the tips below to be very beneficial.

Start light

When you go to a pub or just out to drink, you should start off light with a basic lager, pilsner, or wheat beer.  After that, you can work your way towards the full flavored beers, such as porters and Oktoberfest beers.  These can be very potent, especially for those who don’t really drink that much.

Starting light is also good for your overall tolerance, as drinking light will prepare you for the more potent drinks.  This way, you can enjoy plenty of microbrews without having to worry about stopping too early.

Brewpubs
The ideal way to try new types of beer is to pay a visit to a local brewpub.  Many of these small brewery/restaurants will offer samplers, which feature small glasses with four to five of their most popular beers.

This way, you can experience a variety of beer tastes without having to spend a lot of money. Once you have tried a couple of the beers, you’ll know what to order.

Dark beers
If you are a casual beer drinker or can handle your alcohol tolerance, you shouldn’t be afraid in the least to try dark beers.  The dark color doesn’t mean that the beer is heavier or contains more calories, it simply means that the malt in the beer is roasted longer or roasted to a  darker color than others.

Small business
Small businesses and small businessmen are yet another reason to get into microbrewed beer other than the taste.  Local microbrew producers brew their beers in small batches, so you’ll be helping to keep the business afloat, rather than supporting the large giants of the industry.

When you know that your money is going to help the little people, you’ll normally find the brew to go down much smoother.  Small microbreweries need all the help they can get to continue brewing, which is reason enough to support them.  You’ll get a great beer for your money – and you’ll be supporting those that actually need your help.

Via: Term Life Insurance

TapHunter lets you search for your favorite craft beer on tap in San Diego, Philadelphia, Seattle, Vancouver, and the Denver/Boulder area.  The listings cover breweries, brew pubs, and bars, and they are continuously updating these lists. If you are searching for your favorite craft beer, I highly recommend this site.

Search for Craft Beers on Tap – San Diego – Tap Hunter.

The Lost Abbey is a brewery in San Marcos, California, and has one of the most interesting websites that I’ve seen in a long time. Their tagline is:  Inspired Beers for Saints and Sinners alike. The beers are modeled after the Trappist and Monastic beers, and include Lost and Found Abbey Ale, Devotion, and Judgment Day.  In addition, they have a line of seasonal beers and non–denominational ales. Click on the link, “Our Crusade” to find out more about the brewers themselves.

The Beer Festivals website is one of the best and most up-to-date calendars of  worldwide beer celebrations. From the UK to Japan to the US, all the links in the calendar are click-enabled. Here is the June 2010 event listing.

I knew about the Chosen People, but a Chosen Beer? Schmaltz Brewing Company (yes, that is their real name) has an entire line of  He’Brew Chosen Beers.  The beers have great names: Jewbelation – Bar Mitzvah; R.I.P.A. on Rye; Genesis Ale; and Messiah Bold.  There is a an online store where you can buy  shirts and other swag, and a list of where you can buy the beer. L’Chaim!

Only in America! Beer Tap TV has a number of shows devoted exclusively to beer, all on streaming video. They have guides, forums, and a blog as well.  There is a calendar of upcoming events as well.

I am re-launching my beer blog and re-dedicating it to  being just about beer! There are plenty of other blogs about wine and mixed drinks, so let’s raise a glass to one of the oldest drinks in the world!

I will be discussing not only the finer aspects of beer, but will be posting about the various beer websites, museums (are there any?), breweries, micro brews and craft beers, beer Tweets, definitions (WTH is IPA exactly?), books, guides, and anything else centering around beer.

Did you know that beer dates back to the Neolithic? I’ll drink to that!