Beer

The earliest evidence of beer brewing dates to around 13,000 years ago in the Middle East. Some historians believe beer was discovered accidentally when wild grains were left in water and fermented.

• ~11,000 BCE — Earliest evidence of fermented grain in the Fertile Crescent
• ~3500 BCE — Sumerians brewing regularly, had a goddess of beer (Ninkasi)
• ~3000 BCE — Egyptians brewing as dietary staple, pyramid workers paid in beer
• Middle Ages — Monasteries become brewing centers
• 1516 — German Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law)
• 1876 — Pasteur's work transforms brewing science
• 1980s-present — Craft beer revolution

Fun fact: The Hymn to Ninkasi (~1800 BCE) is the world's oldest known recipe—an ancient Sumerian beer recipe set to music.

I'm a light beer guy. There's something about a cold, crisp Bud Light that just hits right— especially on a hot summer day or at a barbecue.

• Introduced: 1982 by Anheuser-Busch
• Style: Light American Lager
• ABV: 4.2%
• Calories: 110 per 12 oz
• Brewed With: Barley malt, rice, water, hops, yeast

Light beer gets a lot of hate, but I appreciate it for what it is: refreshing, sessionable, and perfect for social drinking. It's the beer equivalent of choosing water over soda.

My brother-in-law is a Guinness guy—the complete opposite of my light beer preference. Guinness is a legendary stout with an incredible history.

• Founded: 1759 by Arthur Guinness in Dublin, Ireland
• Style: Irish Dry Stout
• ABV: 4.2% (Draught)
• Calories: 125 per 12 oz (surprisingly close to light beer!)
• Signature: Dark color, creamy white head, roasted barley flavor

The 9,000-Year Lease: In 1759, Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on St. James's Gate Brewery at £45 per year.

• The Pour: 119.5 seconds for a proper two-part pour
• Nitrogen: Uses nitrogen instead of CO2 for creamy texture
• Widget: Invented in 1988 to recreate draught experience in cans
• World Records: Guinness Book of World Records was created by the brewery in 1955

• Lager — Bottom-fermented, crisp, clean (Bud Light, Pilsner, Helles)
• Ale — Top-fermented, fruity, complex (IPA, Pale Ale, Wheat Beer)
• Stout — Dark, roasted, creamy (Guinness, Milk Stout, Imperial Stout)
• Porter — Dark, malty, predecessor to stout
• Pilsner — Pale lager, hoppy, originated in Czech Republic
• IPA — India Pale Ale, hoppy, bitter, craft beer staple
• Wheat Beer — Light, cloudy, citrus notes (Hefeweizen, Witbier)