Why a podcast on the History of beer? What can be more telling than a tradition that has brewed since the dawn of civilization? Alcohol is both at the center and at the extremes of the human experience. Throughout history, alcohol has been food, drink, ecstasy, currency, comfort, political capital, and ritual offering. There were times when getting hammered made you God, and times when grabbing a bad batch gave you terminal diarrhea. Love it or hate it, beer is all around.
Hoppy History: A Podcast about Beer, Alcohol, and History
Our relationship with it is as complex as our relationship with each other. Whereas clans of ancient times bonded together through extreme binge-drinking competitions, tribes of the digital world still routinely have one pint too many and get into all sorts of trouble. In this podcast, we use beer as a staging ground to explore the extremes of the human experience in an attempt to better understand what we collectively think and feel. Grab a pint and chillax, we are here to make your day hoppier.
Did beer cause the emergence of agriculture?
In this episode, Michael Schellenberg and Pierre-Olivier Bussières discuss the role of beer in the emergence of agriculture.
A combination of barley and emmer was likely the first cereals ever grown deliberated by humans. Emmer is a cousin of modern wheat, while barely would have likely originated in the Middle East. With climate warming starting around 9000 BCE, these cereals would have become abundant enough to allow for semi-regular cultivation.
Over generations, the mild climate and a newfound abundance of food would have fostered population growth, encouraging more structured crop management. The semi-wild production of barley, capable of meeting the needs of religious sacraments, would have further bound human groups in the Near East to the land at a time when pastoralism had already largely replaced hunter-gatherer societies.
In the 1950s, the discovery of malted barley predating agriculture disrupted conventional ideas about the origins of civilization. Barley, as diminutive as it may be, posed a significant challenge to the conventional explanation of bread as the origin of sedentarization.
Prohibition in Canada
In this episode, Michael Schellenberg and Paul Meek of Kichesippi Brewing discuss the bizarre episode of alcohol prohibition in Canada.
In Canada, where war measures have largely overtaken the Protestant and Methodist temperance movements of Ontario, many cities are already dry. But when the Canadian government organizes a referendum to settle the alcohol issue, Quebec stood against the proposition, suddenly going against the current of all of North America north of Mexico. In Quebec, only liquor is banned, for a brief period until the creation of the liquor board. While most cities are dry, Montreal and Hull are exceptions.
A Craft Beer History of Ontario
What’s the story behind all those great craft breweries in Ontario? In this episode, Paul Schellenberg and Paul Meek of Kichesippi Brewing discuss the rise of delicious craft beers in Ontario.
Ontario’s craft beer scene is vibrant and diverse, characterized by a rich variety of styles and flavors that cater to a wide range of tastes. As of recent years, the province boasts over 300 craft breweries, reflecting a significant growth from just a couple of decades ago. These breweries contribute notably to the local economy, with the craft beer sector in Ontario generating over CAD 1 billion annually.
This growth is supported by a passionate community of brewers and enthusiasts, and the craft beers from Ontario are known for their quality and innovation. Popular styles include IPAs, stouts, and sours, often featuring local ingredients that highlight the province’s agricultural bounty. Ontario’s craft beers not only serve the local markets but are also beginning to make a mark internationally.
A History of Psychedelics and Beers
What if Humans built settlements only to get high? Was talking with our ancestors a pure chemical byproduct of ritually getting hammered with Mother Nature? In this episode, Pierre and Kumar discuss the psychedelic origins of human History. Also, we chat about ayahuasca, like…a lot.
On that topic, we have a great article on the new revolutionary promises of the godly molecule called psilocybin. What is all the fuss about? Can that powerful psychedelic deliver on all its promises? Check out our in-depth analysis here.
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