50 Fun Facts About Beer You’ll Want to Brag About at the Bar
If beer had a résumé, it would be long, impressive, and probably a little bit drunk. From ancient brews made in clay pots to beers brewed with beard yeast (yes, really), there’s no shortage of strange, hilarious, and downright brag-worthy trivia about beer. Whether you’re sipping a lager, rocking your best punny tee, or just looking to win your next pub debate, this one’s for you.
Here are 50 fun facts about beer that will have your bar mates raising their glasses—and maybe their eyebrows.
1. Beer Is Older Than Your Grandad’s Dad Jokes
Beer dates back over 7,000 years. Archaeological findings from Iran’s Zagros Mountains suggest Neolithic people were getting buzzed way before happy hour was a thing. Smithsonian
2. The World’s First Professional Brewers Were Women
In ancient Mesopotamia, brewing was considered a divine gift from the goddess Ninkasi. Women, not men, ruled the beer game.
3. Cenosillicaphobia Is a Real Fear
It means the fear of an empty beer glass. At Cochrane Balz Brewing, we call that a “code balz emergency.”
4. Beer Was Once a Breakfast Drink
Before coffee took over, Brits used to start the day with a pint of “small beer”—a low-alcohol brew that was safer than water.
5. Beer Has Saved Lives
In medieval Europe, contaminated water could kill you. Beer? Not so much. Fermentation made it safer to drink than water.
6. There's a Beer Brewed with Space Yeast
Celestis Brewery in Japan launched yeast into space and used it to ferment beer. Because “out of this world flavor” wasn’t just a tagline anymore.
7. Beer Ice Cream Exists
You're welcome. Some breweries now craft ice cream infused with stouts and IPAs. Dessert just got a buzz.
8. The Strongest Beer in the World?
It’s called “Snake Venom” and clocks in at a wild 67.5% ABV. That’s not beer. That’s a potion. Brewmeister
9. Monks Brewed It During Fasts
They called it “liquid bread.” Monks in the Middle Ages would drink beer while fasting. If that’s not commitment, what is?
10. Beer Was Currency
Egyptian pyramid workers were paid in beer—around four liters a day. Bet you didn’t learn that in school.
A Quick Intermission: What’s Your Beer Saying About You?
Before you brag too hard, maybe check if your drink choice is giving you away. Think you know what your beer says about you? Think again. Read this and sip carefully.
11. Hops Are Cousins of Cannabis
Yep. They’re botanical cousins, which may explain why both make people mellow and weirdly chatty.
12. Oktoberfest Started as a Wedding
The iconic Munich beer fest began in 1810 to celebrate a royal marriage. Clearly, they knew how to throw a party.
13. The Foam Matters
It’s called “head,” and a good one isn’t just aesthetic—it affects aroma and texture.
14. There's a Beer for That… Literally
Belgian monks created Trappist beers, brewed only in monasteries. Sacred suds, if you will.
15. Americans Drink 6.3 Billion Gallons a Year
That’s enough to fill more than 9,500 Olympic-sized pools. USA, USA, USA.
16. Beer Inspired One of the First Fridges
Carl von Linde, who developed modern refrigeration, was funded by breweries. Cold beer = innovation.
17. There’s a Beer Bath Spa in the Czech Republic
Soaking in hops and barley? Apparently, it’s good for the skin—and your mood.
18. The World’s Oldest Brewery Is Over 1,000 Years Old
Weihenstephan Brewery in Germany has been brewing since 1040. And you thought your local craft spot had history.
19. Cider Counts Too (Kinda)
Beer purists might scoff, but cider lovers know it’s a fermented apple party—and we brew tees for both crowds.
20. Canada’s First National Toast Was for Beer
In 1867, at the country’s founding banquet, Sir John A. Macdonald toasted with—you guessed it—beer.
21. You Can Cook with It
From beer can chicken to stout brownies, brews are a kitchen MVP. Need proof? Just slap on our barbecue aprons and show off those grill skills.
22. Pint Glasses Are Science
That tulip-shaped glass isn’t just fancy—it enhances aroma and carbonation. Try one from our glassware collection for max flavor and flex.
23. Beer is Technically Food
It has calories, grains, and carbs. Your nutritionist may disagree, but your weekend self won't.
24. There Are Over 100 Styles
From saisons to stouts, IPAs to lagers—beer isn’t one-size-fits-all. Just like your shirts. Speaking of which, grab a tee that fits your taste.
25. Ancient Beers Were Chewed
Early brewers in Peru would chew maize to activate enzymes before fermentation. Now that’s mouthfeel.
26. Some Beers Are Illegal
Beers like Tactical Nuclear Penguin (ABV: 32%) are banned in some countries due to high alcohol content.
27. Beer Helped Build America
George Washington brewed his own. Abraham Lincoln owned a tavern. America was fermented on hops and hustle.
28. Beer Miles Are a Thing
People actually run and drink at the same time. Four laps + four beers = one bad idea and a lot of burping.
29. Beer Yoga Exists
Because what better way to find inner peace than a downward dog with a pilsner?
30. One Brewery Tried Making Beer from Whale Testicles
Iceland’s Steðji Brewery once brewed a beer with smoked whale balls. Yep, it was banned. And no, we won’t be making shirts about that.
31. There’s a Beer-Tasting Robot
Engineers in Japan built a robot that tastes beer to ensure quality. Artificial Intoxigence?
32. Beer Heals Wounds (Sort Of)
In the Middle Ages, beer with hops had antibacterial properties. Think of it as medieval mouthwash.
33. Ancient Recipes Still Exist
The oldest known beer recipe is over 3,900 years old. And it’s in a hymn to Ninkasi, the goddess of beer. Divine drafts, baby.
34. Beer Bellies Are Exaggerated
It’s not beer—it’s calories and lack of movement. Science has spoken. Source
35. Vikings Believed Beer Was a Gift from the Gods
They thought that in Valhalla, a goat named Heiðrún produced an endless supply of beer from her udders.
36. There’s a “Beer Mile” World Record
As of June 2025, the record sits at 4:28. That’s one beer every 400 meters. Chug. Run. Repeat.
37. Beer Kills Slugs
Gardeners use it as bait. Slugs love it… and then drown. Nature is brutal.
38. The U.S. Once Outlawed Beer
Prohibition (1920-1933) nearly killed beer in the States—until people got thirsty and very creative with their loopholes.
39. Homebrewing Became Legal in the U.S. in 1978
Thanks, Jimmy Carter. Today, millions of hobby brewers owe their buzz to that signature.
40. Ancient Chinese Brews Were Made with Rice
About 9,000 years ago, brewers in China made alcohol from rice, barley, and tubers.
41. There’s a National Beer Day
April 7th marks the end of Prohibition in 1933. You don’t have to celebrate, but you’d be wrong not to.
42. Beer’s the Third Most Consumed Beverage
After water and tea, beer takes the bronze medal for human hydration priorities.
43. You Can Get a Degree in Brewing
Yes, really. Institutions like UC Davis offer beer science programs. Beer: now available in higher education.
44. There’s a Museum of Beer
The Czech Beer Museum lets you dive into history—while sipping.
45. Beer Is the OG Social Network
Before DMs, there were taverns. It’s where revolutions were planned, deals made, and jokes born.
46. Different Countries, Different Drinking Rules
In Germany, you toast by clinking glasses and making eye contact—or it’s seven years of bad sex. You’ve been warned.
47. Beer Goggles Are Real
Studies show alcohol affects facial perception. So yes, science says you might be making poor romantic decisions.
48. Your Sense of Taste Changes with Altitude
That airplane beer never tastes quite right, does it? Blame dry air and low pressure, not the brew.
49. There’s a Beer Pipeline in Belgium
The city of Bruges built a 3km pipeline to transport beer from the brewery to the bottling plant. Efficient and slightly arousing.
50. Beer Is Best Shared—with a Shirt That Says So
At Cochrane Balz Brewing, we don’t sell beer—we sell the spirit of it. If you love beer, sarcasm, and shirts with jokes about your junk, you’re in the right place.
Want a Shirt That Says You’ve Got the Biggest Balz at the Bar?
If you made it this far, you’re already a legend. But legends need gear.
Stock up on our punny T-shirts, cheeky pint glasses, and ballsy barbecue aprons before your next hangout.
Oh, and while you’re at it—don’t miss our latest blog on why your Calgary Stampede outfit is begging for a shirt that shows off your Balz. And if you're shopping for your old man, we wrote a whole Father’s Day gift guide too.
Final Sip: Beer’s Not Just a Drink. It’s a Personality.
If you’ve ever flexed your beer IQ to impress someone—or to distract from spilling your pint—then this list is your ammo. Beer isn’t just liquid fun. It’s a cultural icon, a conversation starter, and apparently…a great reason to wear something that makes people laugh.
And that’s the kind of energy we’re always brewing.
Explore the full line at Cochrane Balz Brewing, and wear your beer brain with pride.
