Beer is healthier than water....its true

[Ducatiboy stu]

Watching a show on ABC1 just now, and the doco has turned to how beer was the safest drink in the 18 & 1900's.

Seems that beer was actually safest thing to drink in the old days because the brewing process killed all the pathogens. So back in the day, since the water was always polluted in the cities beer was often drunk instead of water.

But we all know that, dont we.

 

[Camo6]

Some even theorize that civilisation was founded in an effort to supply a safe drinking source by cultivating grain to make beer.

But there are only a couple of brewers on AHB old enough to know that.

 

[Eagleburger]

Some even theorize that civilisation was founded in an effort to supply a safe drinking source by cultivating grain to make beer.

sounds reasonable.

 

[Bribie G]

Western populations evolved by gaining an enzyme called acetaldehyde dehydrogenase so that we could drink alcohol without going totally apeshit on one middy of VB. Eastern populations generally lack this enzyme because they worked out a different method of sanitising their water supplies.
Tea.

I feel sorry for many Japanese, they have excellent beers but can't drink too many.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Its a bit like milk. The population that can drink milk are actually the genetic freaks as us humans have never naturaly been able to tolerate lactose

 

[menoetes]

Western populations evolved by gaining an enzyme called acetaldehyde dehydrogenase so that we could drink alcohol without going totally apeshit on one middy of VB. Eastern populations generally lack this enzyme because they worked out a different method of sanitising their water supplies.
Tea.

I read up about acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (thanks Bribie & thanks wikipedia). That's really interesting. So 50% of people of North Eastern Asian decent can't really produce it, but neither can 5- 10% of blonde haired blued eyed people of norther European decent- ****. That might explain a thing or two about me.

Though it seems acetaldehyde dehydrogenase breaks down the ethanol in your beer to the production Acetaldehyde which causes a lot of your hang-over... sounds like a 'damned if you do and damned if you don't' kinda situation to me

 

[Tahoose]

Interestingly I was reading some time ago that the British navy's demand for beer was incredible. The town of Portsmouth was huge for brewing because of this. I can't remember the figure but it was something along the lines of 2 gallons of beer per man per day.
These beers would be safer than drinking the water that they could carry and generally wouldn't spoil.

 

[Grott]

I'm in Adelaide, beer is still better/safer than water, and I like that. :beerbang: (Ps We do have a de-sal plant but don't use it)
Cheers

 

[TimT]

Yeah, ale - or cider, or wine - as part or whole of a man's wages was common.

I love that idea, but sometimes the grog must have tasted like swill. The history of brewing for colonialists/members of the military is often the history of working with very limited resources - taking a stone and turning it into beer....

 

[WarmerBeer]

with very limited resources - taking a stone and turning it into beer....

Mmmmm, stone beer.

Oh, hang on ...

 

[TimT]

Some people don't like it, but I say stone beer rocks.

 

[stm]

There was a doco a few years ago called How Beer Saved the World, which was long these lines.

 

[Dave70]

I saw a docco once about how detrimental beer could be to ones health and simply chose not to give a ****.

 

[sponge]

Its a bit like milk. The population that can drink milk are actually the genetic freaks as us humans have never naturaly been able to tolerate lactose

God I'd kill for a glass of milk right now.

Or a milk stout. Best of both worlds.

 

[WarmerBeer]

I saw a docco once about how detrimental beer could be to ones health and simply chose not to give a ****.

I come to the same conclusion pretty much any time I watch anything on television.

 

[Lecterfan]

I come to the same conclusion pretty much any time I watch anything on television.

I don't need even need to get as far as the tv.

 

[Eagleburger]

TV is for kids and old folk.

 

[Mr. No-Tip]

One thing I've never understood about the "beer is safe" argument, how come no in realised boiled water was also fairly good?

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Because boiled water does not taste like beer

 

[Grott]

One thing I've never understood about the "beer is safe" argument, how come no in realised boiled water was also fairly good?

w

I'm glad they didn't, who wants boiled water in preference to good old beer?

 

[stux]

One thing I've never understood about the "beer is safe" argument, how come no in realised boiled water was also fairly good?

Its a combination of excessively long boiling, yeast to outcompete everything else, alchohol and the preservative effect of hops.

Add some C02 and its even better.

Liquid Bread

Also, making bread from barley sucks

 

[Mr B]

I'm amazed how some people tolerate, and even prefer, **** beer. It's not the Very Best..........

 

[Droopy Brew]

I've always said it.
Didnt read any further as I dont require any further evidence.

 

[Camo6]

One thing I've never understood about the "beer is safe" argument, how come no in realised boiled water was also fairly good?

I think boiling was an invention of dissenters comparable to today's BIABers and No-chillers. The difference is we can't just stone em like they deserve.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Stoning should be mandatory

http://youtu.be/MIaORknS1Dk

 

[Camo6]

Posted that in the wrong thread Stu...





No 'ee didn't...

 

[stux]

I think boiling was an invention of dissenters comparable to today's BIABers and No-chillers. The difference is we can't just stone em like they deserve.

In the medieval period, the difference between Ale and Beer was that Ale was not hopped (or gruit), and also was not boiled, which led to a beverage which went bad very quickly.

The distinction between Ale and Lager being the two types of beer is a more modern thing