Civil War beer

[Mr. King]

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.

Birch beer is great stuff, if you like root beers and cream sodas. My wife is from the Lehigh Valley, in PA, and she introduced me to birch beer 10 or so years back. To my knowledge, there are 3 varieties: black, red, and white. Red is my favorite by far. It is a smooth version of root beer, much like a sarsaparilla.
Back in 2006 or so, I used to get get birch beer as a great little diner off of Hwy 234 in Manassas, VA. I ate lunch there every day, but I can't recall the name of it for the life of me.

 

[WJC]

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

Thanks for your response.
I believe it is becoming more widely distributed. It is a tasty brew....

 

[WJC]

Did


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.

Took the opportunity to tour the Loewenbrau brewery in Munich. So much better fresh than the bottled version in the US!

 

[John Winn]

I am lucky to live in an area that was part of the great "real ale" revival early on and where craft beers rule. We've got at least ten breweries locally and you can also get craft beers from Washington state and California on tap in many places, none of which contain any additives. So I'm picky about my beer. I personally like ones with more malt and a little more alcohol content (usually goes hand in hand) and am prone to stouts but will drink a good amber or red ale if it's not too light.

I used to brew my own and keep saying I'll get back to it one day but just haven't done it. It's so easy to just buy the real thing now.

As to what those Germans were drinking back in the CW days I'd guess mostly Pilsner styles but I don't really know. I'm sure they didn't have the variety we now enjoy.

 

[WJC]

No one knew about Watermelon , chile, mango or grapefruit flavoured beer. No one knew or beer aged in bourbon,whiskey or tequelia barrels.

And I don't care to know about them now. Nor do I like lemon in my beer. If one has to make a cocktail out of it, it ain't beer....

 

[DaveGberg]

And I don't care to know about them now. Nor do I like lemon in my beer. If one has to make a cocktail out of it, it ain't beer....

I felt the same way until I visited Germany and enjoyed a few Radlers at some summertime festivals...

 

[MOBDEnut]

According to the link provided the number of breweries in the north far out weighed the south with NY and PA accounting for 85% of US production in 1860.

In 1840 Larger beer was being introduced in the NE and then Midwest and even in Texas by the 1850s so it was well introduced by the War. Ale was as old as the Colonies and porter is have said to have not taken hold in the US when import started in 1772. However, as shown in the quote from another thread. Importation of Stouts, Porters, and IPA's were well established. as far as the south it could be a different story as even domestic bourbon production was gov controlled due to the use of Corn for the war effort. Most southern accounts refer to Whiskey rather than beer.

I have found little in regard to accounts on Confederate sources but here are a few things that might help:



Federal Accounts:

"Edward K. Wrightman, of the Ninth New York, (the Hawkin's Zouaves unit) wrote home, "You see I am well clad and lodged...and the Regimental sutler gives us credit for such little extras as we may desire...and have every reason to be satisfied with our condition. Bye the bye, I have just been (9PM), by pressing invitation, eating Clams and drinking lager...smooth the anxious minds of the good ladies who trouble themselves so much about my welfare. My health is very good indeed."

"Samuel Clear of the 16th Pennsylvania who wrote "Still nice weather but very hot. McCafferty (our Sutler) treated the Regt. to Ale...the boys very noisy to night[SIC]"

"John W.Jacques of the Ninth New York State Militia who described how "On the road outside of camp was a wagon with lager bier...as long as the money lasted, comfort was taken..."

"While in Camp Smith, John Jacques noted his pleasure about "Captain Greene's tent, from which the `Lager' flowed freely...".

"...Company B was having a game of ten pins with cannon balls and beer bottles in the company street..."



Confederate accounts.

Hospital "Chimarazo, located in Richmond. It not only boasted a large bakery, but it also helped recuperation of the wounded by means of its 400 keg brewery.

"the south did have their own recipe for home-brew. They were inclined to add "...raw meat and let the mixture ferment for a month or so to add what one veteran remembered as an old and mellow taste".


http://www.realbeer.com/library/authors/smith-g/civilwar.php



https://civilwartalk.com/threads/what-beers-were-popular-in-america-during-the-civil-war.7133/

Animal,

You might want to check your library (probably interlibrary loan) for a book called "Civil War Sutlers and their Wares" by Francis A. Lord. It was originally published in 1969.

Lord points out that while the rules and regulations changed from place to place, "the sale of liquor by sutlers was a thriving one throughout the war." When the regulations were strict, the gentlemen became more inventive in their ways to conceal the goods. "Champagne, ale, whiskey were probably the most popular."

He cites an 1861 itemized bill for the 1st New York Infantry, listing "medical stores" consisting of:

120 gallons bourbon whiskey
42 gallons pale sherry
21 1/2 pale Otard brandy
40 gallons cabinet gin
24 dozen Allsop East India Ale

The colonel of the 1st NY, Lord notes, was cashiered before the year was out.

The book has a fairly extensive appendix which lists manufacturers of all goods of the day, including liquor, wine, and beer supplies. The majority of beer breweries were in Newark, NJ, which is not surprising if you know anything about Newark's history!

Some of the brands of liquor, wine, and beer listed that people would know today are: Almaden (1852), Anheuser-Busch (1852), Ballantine (N/D), Jim Beam (1795), Best Beer (1844), Beef Eater Gin (1820), Carstairs Whiskey (1788), Chivas Regal (1801), Gordon's Gin (1769), Guiness Stout (N/D), Haig Whiskey (1627), John Harvey & Son's Bristol Sherry (1796), Labatt's Ale (N/D), Paul Masson (1852), Austin Nichols Wild Turkey (1855), Old Crow Kentucky Straight Bourbon (1838), Pabst Brewery (1844), Schaefer (1842), Taittinger Champagne (N/D), Yuengling Beer (1829).

 

[amweiner]

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

Stout or Lager
Lager or Bock
Porter or Stout

Yes.

Beer is a good thing, and that there is variety is even better.

 

[WJC]

QUOTE="DaveGberg, post: 1593323, member: 20639"]I felt the same way until I visited Germany and enjoyed a few Radlers at some summertime festivals...[/QUOTE]
Thanks for your response.
So it has spread to Germany? This is a sure sign of the impending apocalypse!
Actually, one family night someone suggested I try Heineken and Ginger Ale. I drank it, but never again....

 

[DaveGberg]

Thanks for your response.
So it has spread to Germany? This is a sure sign of the impending apocalypse!
Actually, one family night someone suggested I try Heineken and Ginger Ale. I drank it, but never again....

Lol. Try a pilsner with carbonated Lime-O. Sam Adams Porch Rocker is a pretty good facsimile. I was skeptical myself but it's actually pretty good on a hot day

It's really a long standing tradition, at least in Bavaria where I visit with my German friends. But have no fear, they go back to the traditional standard around Octoberfest, when the heated debates resume across foaming steins over which is best - Hefe or Pils.

 

[WJC]

Lol. Try a pilsner with carbonated Lime-O. Sam Adams Porch Rocker is a pretty good facsimile. I was skeptical myself but it's actually pretty good on a hot day

It's really a long standing tradition, at least in Bavaria where I visit with my German friends. But have no fear, they go back to the traditional standard around Octoberfest, when the heated debates resume across foaming steins over which is best - Hefe or Pils.

Thanks for your response.
I'll stick with Loewenbrau or Spatenbrau. Hold the juices and sodas....

 

[leftyhunter]

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

I just bought three 64oz growlers and I live close to 3 Weavers Brewey in Inglewood. I also live reasonably close to Santa Monica Brewworks.
I also have a big bottle of Dewars White Label for chasers.
If you or other CWT folk in the Culver City area are interested in a beer party them PM me. I can use my Condos party room with advanced notice. We also have a community grill and pool.
Leftyhunter

 

[leftyhunter]

And I don't care to know about them now. Nor do I like lemon in my beer. If one has to make a cocktail out of it, it ain't beer....

@major bill asked how beer changed since the Civil War era. Just answering a question. Ballast Point Brewing is doing just fine with or without your patronage.
Leftyhunter

 

[major bill]

It appears that many Northern states drank both ale and lager, but most Southern states probably drank mostly ale.

 

[major bill]

If one drinks too much beer you can put on weight. Here is a secret no one will tell you. Because beer is a German" drink and Germans use kilograms, you can too. Just switch your scale over to kilograms before you weigh yourself. You will not lose any weight, but your weight in kilogram looks much better than the same weight in pounds.

If you weight 160 pounds then you only weigh 72.5 kilograms
200 pounds 91 kilograms
240 pounds 109 kilograms

 

[WJC]

@major bill asked how beer changed since the Civil War era. Just answering a question. Ballast Point Brewing is doing just fine with or without your patronage.
Leftyhunter

Thanks for your response.
Good for them: that's capitalism at its best!
Meanwhile, enjoy that "Watermelon , chile, mango or grapefruit flavoured beer"....

 

[WJC]

If one drinks too much beer you can put on weight. Here is a secret no one will tell you. Because beer is a German" drink and Germans use kilograms, you can too. Just switch your scale over to kilograms before you weigh yourself. You will not lose any weight, but your weight in kilogram looks much better than the same weight in pounds.

If you weight 160 pounds then you only weigh 72.5 kilograms
200 pounds 91 kilograms
240 pounds 109 kilograms

LOL!!!!!!

 

[WJC]

It appears that many Northern states drank both ale and lager, but most Southern states probably drank mostly ale.

So can we conclude that that was the reason for the outcome of the war? (Politicians make crazier claims....)

 

[NedBaldwin]

I just bought three 64oz growlers and I live close to 3 Weavers Brewey in Inglewood. I also live reasonably close to Santa Monica Brewworks.
I also have a big bottle of Dewars White Label for chasers.
If you or other CWT folk in the Culver City area are interested in a beer party them PM me. I can use my Condos party room with advanced notice. We also have a community grill and pool.
Leftyhunter

Problem is getting to/from Culver City area. There is this thing called "the 405".

 

[leftyhunter]

Problem is getting to/from Culver City area. There is this thing called "the 405".

Sad but true. Getting around Socal sucks. Another alternative is finding a mutually agreable location that folks can get to by public transportation. There are great breweries in Downtown LA and some good beer joints at the end of the Red Line in North Hollywood.
Leftyhunter