Civil War beer

[major bill]

NCI Visuals Food Beer
Len Rizzi (photographer) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

What kinds of beers were drank during the Civil War? I was wondering if we still drink the same type of beers.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Lagers and Pilsners, mainly.....German and Czech beers. The Pilgrims made beer, so there was some English influence (Ale), but, at the time, the style was basically the same....

 

[major bill]

Until the 1980s Lagers dominated the American market. Around here we would get Bock beer in the spring.

 

[Dusty]

I know they drank this one back then. Maybe not exactly the same taste as today, but very popular around here, on tap in most bars. The lager is top notch. I worked a few blocks from the brewery in Pottsville, for 10 years. Americas's oldest brewery.

 

[Jimklag]

View attachment 147130 I know they drank this one back then. Maybe not exactly the same taste as today, but very popular around here, on tap in most bars. The lager is top notch. I worked a few blocks from the brewery in Pottsville, for 10 years. Americas's oldest brewery.

Heck. I still drink Yeungling when I get a chance. Good beer.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I got some Yuengling while in TN a month ago.....LOVED it!!
I used to make my own beer until I started reenacting......I keep saying I am gonna start back up again....

 

[1867crete]

View attachment 147130 I know they drank this one back then. Maybe not exactly the same taste as today, but very popular around here, on tap in most bars. The lager is top notch. I worked a few blocks from the brewery in Pottsville, for 10 years. Americas's oldest brewery.

I would love try and am looking forward to it!!

 

[reading48]

I live four Mi. South of where it is brewed in Pottsville....Lager is the big pick of College students...

 

[donna]

Good question. Bumped a earlier thread on beer.

 

[Mr. King]

View attachment 147130 I know they drank this one back then. Maybe not exactly the same taste as today, but very popular around here, on tap in most bars. The lager is top notch. I worked a few blocks from the brewery in Pottsville, for 10 years. Americas's oldest brewery.

Secretly, the true aim of both of Lee's invasions was Pottsville. He had a thirst for a particular lager.

 

[major bill]

I have researched Michigan Civil War era newspapers and in most cases beer seemed associated with the local "Germans'. However it is probable that many others drank beer as well. I understand Birch beer is made from black Birch trees but have never tied it. I assume it has a peppermint type taste. I know that Yellow Birch trees are tapped and the syrup made from the sap has a spearmint or peppermint type taste.

 

[mofederal]

I'm sure that the Irish, English and Welsh in the US would like stouts and ales. Immigrants would probably tend to want drinks from their homelands, so these would make sense. Guiness has been made a long time, it was probably available in the US. The Germans brewed their own beers too. So I would say not too different than today in many ways, but served warm.

 

[major bill]

Well I use to allow my beer to warm for a while after it came out of the fridge before I drank it. Not sure it was warm, but only slightly chilled would be a better term.

 

[mofederal]

My dad used to tell me stories about drinking in Irish pubs in Londonderry during the war. He said he would ask for a cold one, and the barman would pull one out from under the counter. He said it was very warm. He said one old guy would say his beer was too cold, and grab this poker from the fireplace and warm up his beer. He said the Marines and navy guys would shake their heads at this. I'm sure the beer was Guiness, as my dad implied it was. He would buy Guiness Stout when he could find it.

 

[JOHN42768]

I think it is safe to say "Whatever was around"

 

[major bill]

Not sure Stout was drank during the Civil War. What is better:

Stout or Lager
Lager or Bock
Porter or Stout

 

[Restf]

Aaaaaah, Liquid? Sorry couldn't resist, typical answer from someone who has no clue.

 

[major bill]

There are many style of German beer but I am more knowledgeable about more modern German beers and do not know exactly what styles were brewed during the Civil War.

Lagers to include Pilsner and Dunkle Lager
Bocks to include Mailbock, Doppelbock and Eisbock
Wheat Ales to include Hefeize, Dunkelweizen, and Weizenbock
Kolsch
Weisse
Altbier (yum yum)
Rauchbier (a smoked beer, rather smoky tasting)
Schwarbier (kind of like stout but often a heaver flavor than stout)

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

To more specifically answer the question do we "still drink the same type of beers"?......I would say Yes, we do drink the same type of beer BUT the beer is nowhere the same in ingredient nor taste!....By way of example, today's beer, unless it is a good import (following the German Reinheitsgebot, for example) or a good micro-brewed Lager, Ale, etc., there are too many preservative, "sugar" substitutes (like rice) and the water is different (via it's purification and additives).....

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Not sure Stout was drank during the Civil War. What is better:

Stout or Lager
Lager or Bock
Porter or Stout

In my opinion, that questions compares apples to oranges, as each is different in taste and, in some cases, is brewed according to season....They're all good!