Civil War beer

[Albert Sailhorst]

Then, there is the difference between a top fermentation and a bottom fermentation, type and amount of hop used.....the list goes on!

 

[Tom Reagan]

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.

Never knew this... Might have to try some birch beer then, since I like mint.

 

[WJC]

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 started drinking Yuengling a few years ago when it became one of the few remaning American-owned breweries. It's a great beer! My understanding is the recipe is unchanged....

 

[WJC]

View attachment 147988
What kinds of beers were drank during the Civil War? I was wondering if we still drink the same type of beers.

My understanding is that most beer was 'homebrew' at the time, though large numbers of commercial breweries were in production. The number of commercial breweries was at its peak in the 1870s, so there was probably quite a variety, at least in larger communities. As we've seen just in recent years, the public's taste in beer has changed, so a lot of modern-day brews might be different, though Yuengling still uses the 'old family recipe'.
Sadly, there was also the Temperance Society, and, in some states, prohibition....

 

[WJC]

Then, there is the difference between a top fermentation and a bottom fermentation, type and amount of hop used.....the list goes on!

So many beers, so little time!

 

[PeterT]

I started drinking Yuengling a few years ago when it became one of the few remaning American-owned breweries. It's a great beer! My understanding is the recipe is unchanged....

I enjoy Yuengling ! We drank a lot of it during our USA Golf Bucket List Tour in April.

 

[Yankeedave]

Iirc the german troops of the 11th Corps were allowed to replace the allotted whiskey ration with beer. I'm part german myself, so i get this.

 

[DaveGberg]

View attachment 147988

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

Then, there is the difference between a top fermentation and a bottom fermentation, type and amount of hop used.....the list goes on!

IIRC from my homebrewing days, top fermentation and bottom fermentation defined ales and lagers, so most of the familiar categories fall under on of the two types (lambics are a whole other matter).

Which brings up a north-south question. Lagers are usually brewed at lower temperatures between 48 to 54 degrees, while ales are brewed at warmer temperatures between 60-75 degrees F, so I'd expect southerners would have had a more difficult time producing lagers and an even harder time obtaining them. So I wonder if this made a difference in beer choices between the two divides.

 

[CW3O]

Altbier is my favorite. First was exposed during my tour of duty in Dusseldorf, Germany.

 

[donna]

Chronological history of Beer in America:

http://www.beerhistory.com/library/holdings/chronology.shtml

 

[donna]

Some beer trivia:

1860 There were 1269 breweries producing beer in America. Shows the importance of beer.

1862 Internal Revenue Act taxes beer at rate of $1.00 per barrel to help finance government during the Civil War.

 

[leftyhunter]

We had a previous thread on official Confederate home brew beer recipies. Apparently there was a Confederate Southern cook book published during the war that had home brew recipies including Spruce beer.
What us different about 21st Century beer vs antebellum beer is basicly there are som many stiles and variety due to modern transportation and the mindbogling numbers of beer breweries foreign and domestic. For example San Diego County and Los Angeles County each has scores of breweries.
It is doubtful that antebellum beer drinkers even knew what an India Pale Ale or Belgian style beer was. No one knew about Watermelon , chile, mango or grapefruit flavoured beer. No one knew or beer aged in bourbon,whiskey or tequelia barrels.
Before prohibition there were small local breweries but the only ones that survived were big breweries that made malt products such has malt syrup which people then added yeast to make home brew.
The American beer renaissance would have to wait untill the early 1980s when Fred Maytag revived the near bankrupt brewery of Anchor Steam.
@NedBaldwin I think you will like this thread.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

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

Stout or Lager
Lager or Bock
Porter or Stout

Whats better blonds, brunettes or red heads? For me it depends on the weather but they are all good and much cheaper then the above.
Leftyhunter

 

[MOBDEnut]

1860 There were 1269 breweries producing beer in America. Shows the importance of beer.

What was the ratio of that number broken down by state and or city?

 

[JPChurch]

We used to drink Pabst Bock beer when it came out in the Fall. This was back in the 70's.

 

[major bill]

Altbier is my favorite. First was exposed during my tour of duty in Dusseldorf, Germany.

When I was in Germany I was too far south to get Altbier so one had to drive an hour to buy Alt Beer. We did have some very good Swartzbier (German black lager). Kind of like stout but a bit dryer and not so sweet but no bitterness. Swartzbier is similar/same to Guinness Black Lager.

 

[NedBaldwin]

...Los Angeles County each has scores of breweries...

You and I may need to do some field work to determine the accuracy of that statement.

 

[CW3O]

Did

When I was in Germany I was too far south to get Altbier so one had to drive an hour to buy Alt Beer. We did have some very good Swartzbier (German black lager). Kind of like stout but a bit dryer and not so sweet but no bitterness. Swartzbier is similar/same to Guinness Black Lager.

Did two tours in Germany totaling over seven years, one in southern Germany (Wuerzburg) and one in Dusseldorf (heart of Altbier country. Tried every German beer imaginable, Lagers and Pilsners from tap (vom fass) are great, not to keen on stouts, bocks or smoked beer, but alt beer (Kind of a middle ground between the two) is my favorite. Only drawback to Altbier is the small glasses it is served in, had to order two or three at a time. Recently brewed up a batch from an old recipe. Yum, sadly there is none left so I have to get back to the brew kettle. On tap some IPA and some Altbier.

 

[major bill]

Well you might have some left if you didn't let your brother drink any of it.

 

[CW3O]

I only give

Well you might have some left if you didn't let your brother drink any of it.

I only give him the cheap domestic stuff!