A common anthropological theory is that the brewing of beer caused the formation of agricultural society. Brewing’s importance to early civilization was evident- one of the first recorded set of laws, Hammurabi’s Code, included recipes for beer (and punishments for not making it well).

What was the main purpose of the Catholic Church besides saving souls? Making and distributing beer, of course. Monasteries were and continue to be beer making institutions. They are thought to be the first large scale beer production and distribution networks.

The age of Imperialism brought us global trading routes, and beers such as the IPA that implemented methods of preservation to make the journey. Unfortunately, what necessitated this reinvention was colonialism, as most of history is defined by violence and oppression.

Beer was one of the first consumer items to be revolutionized by modern industry. Many of the new technologies invented in the late 1800s, such as refrigeration and pasteurization, were specifically meant for beer. The railroads and steam engines enabled fast transport like never before, enabling (much to the chagrin of craft brewers and enthusiasts) massive sales of simple lagers that otherwise would not have made the long journey.