We the People...

Hmm... There are certain truths in life that we hold to be self-evident. All men are created equal and beer is good. Those two seem to be the most obvious to me. So, the question is certainly not "is beer good?", but rather "why is beer good?". To explore this and come up with a legitimate answer one must first understand that beer is a beverage of the people by the people and for the people.

As far back as ancient Mesopotamia, people have brewed beer not as a luxury item, but as a necessity for everyday life. It has been called liquid bread by many, and with good reason. Both bread and beer rely on the power of yeast for survival. In many cultures beer accompanied bread to the table for every meal. Even children would consume a lower alcohol version with their meals. It is from these humble beginnings that the tasty beverage reaches our palates today.

For some in the beer community it has become a goal to elevate the status of beer to something along the lines of what wine currently enjoys in this country. I myself often wish that my love of craft beer could be viewed with the same regard as a wine enthusiast's love of wine. To have every good restaurant capable of displaying their beer list right alongside their wine list and both to be of equal quality would be a wonderful thing. Someday that might just happen, but until then we can't forget that beer is a drink of real people. One needs no higher education or inflated sense of self worth to enjoy all that beer has to offer. Although prices have been going up lately, it is totally possible to find a 750ml bottle of some of the finest beer in the world for around $15. That is something that can't be said of wine.

If you are still not convinced that beer is the peoples' brew, all you need to do is head down to your local pub and pull up a bar stool. Order a beer you've never tried or even something that comforts you to your core and strike up a conversation with a stranger. In a room full of jovial imbibers gleefully reveling in the events of the day it is easy to see what makes beer so great. It isn't the yeast or even the hops, but the people who make this our beverage of choice.

Cheers,

Joey Beers