Beer. Beloved, bubbly, and believe it or not… older than your grandma’s sourdough starter. Humans have been brewing this golden goodness for thousands of years, long before anyone thought to invent pizza delivery, TikTok dances, or socks with tiny beer mugs on them.
So grab a pint (and maybe some beer socks to match), and let’s take a tipsy stroll through beer’s surprisingly weird history.
🍺 It All Started With… Spilled Grain?
The very first beer was probably an accident. Picture it: ancient Mesopotamians left some grain soaking in water a little too long, it started bubbling and fermenting, and instead of tossing it, someone thought, “eh, I’ll drink that.” Brave? Yes. Genius? Absolutely.
Egyptians loved beer so much they even paid pyramid workers in daily rations. Imagine working a 12-hour shift of hauling giant stones, and your paycheque is a few pints. Honestly, not the worst deal.
Monks, Taverns & Alewives
Fast forward to the Middle Ages, and beer brewing had gone professional. Monks perfected the recipes, giving us strong, reliable brews that could basically pass as liquid bread.
But they weren’t the only brewmasters, “alewives” (yes, women!) were running the beer game in medieval towns. Taverns became the original “local hangout,” aka medieval craft breweries, minus the chalkboard menus and ironic moustaches.
And because water wasn’t always safe to drink, people drank beer instead. Hydration and happiness in one pint—science.
Beer Goes Big Time
The Industrial Revolution rolled in, and suddenly beer wasn’t just brewed in small batches, it was mass-produced. Refrigeration and new tech made lager the star of the show, thanks to German immigrants who brought their brewing know-how to North America.
This is the era where beer really became… beer. No more weird mystery flavors (looking at you, 1300s).
Prohibition: The Dark (and Sober) Years
Then came Prohibition in the early 1900s. Breweries were shut down, and people had to get creative. Some pivoted to making soda or “near beer” (aka sad beer). Others… well, let’s just say not everyone followed the rules.
Thankfully, Prohibition ended, because let’s face it, life without beer is just water and bad moods.
The Craft Beer Boom
Fast forward again: the 1980s and beyond. Craft beer explodes. Suddenly, every city has breweries experimenting with IPAs, sours, stouts, and beers that taste like chocolate cake, pumpkin pie, or straight-up pickles (yep, it’s a thing).
Calgary alone has become a craft beer hotspot. You can spend an entire weekend just hopping from one brewery to the next, bonus points if your socks match your pint.
Beer & Socks: A Perfect Pairing
So what have we learned? Beer has been with us through it all: accidents, monks, Prohibition, and today’s craft scene. And honestly, it’s aged like… well, like a fine barrel-aged stout.
Here at Friday Sock Co., we love beer so much we made socks about it. Because nothing pairs better with a cold pint than cozy mismatched socks covered in tiny mugs of golden goodness. Shop our beer socks here!
So next time you raise a glass, give a little toast to history… and maybe your socks too.