In the age of the internet, acquiring a vast array of knowledge has never been easier. And even though it’s always handy to be equipped with essential life skills and the like, amassing an assortment of random facts is often even more enjoyable (and useful). After all, what better way to make sure that you’re always well-prepared for casual conversation?
1. Whether you’re hanging out with fellow beer enthusiasts, competing at a local trivia night, or just aiming to impress with your brew-centric expertise, here are five interesting facts about beer you’ll be glad to have on tap. It’s possible to chill a beer to icy-cold perfection in just two minutes.
Is there anything worse than running out of chilled beer? Luckily, one of our favorite beer hacks makes it easy to take your brew from room temperature to cold with just two ingredients (and two minutes). Next time you want to quickly chill a beer, grab a bowl and fill it with ice and salt. Place your beer can or bottle in the middle, then stir for a couple of minutes – that’s it!
2. Anheuser-Busch employs more people than every single American craft brewery combined.
The fact that the U.S. craft beer industry employs more than 120,000 people is impressive all on its own. But once you learn that there are still more people working at Anheuser-Busch, you’ll probably never look at your can of Busch Ice the same way.
3. The first beer cans were introduced in 1933.
You might think of cans as a fairly recent addition to the beer industry, but they’ve actually been around since the early 1930s. A Newark, NJ-based brewery partnered with a canning company to package their Krueger Special Beer, and thus, beer cans were born. The beer had a 3.2% ABV, which fell right in line with liquor regulations of that era. Thankfully, those laws have seen some much-needed updates over the past several decades. So, while the beer can might still be a classic staple, the overly-strict liquor laws are a thing of the past.
4. North Dakota drinks more beer (per person) than any other U.S. state.
Las Vegas, Nevada might be considered the unofficial booze capital of the United States, but as it turns out, it can’t compete with North Dakota. The Midwestern state takes the crown, with each of its drinking-age residents drinking about 43.6 gallons every year – that’s quite an impressive amount of Bud Light, Busch, and other go-to favorites! New Hampshire came in second, at just over 42 gallons per resident per year, and Montana claimed third place with 40.5 gallons annually.
5. During Oktoberfest festivities, more than 7 million liters of beer were poured and enjoyed.
For passionate beer lovers, Oktoberfest is one of the happiest times of the year. That might just have something to do with the fact that about 7.3 million liters of beer were served at the iconic festival – and that’s only counting the original Oktoberfest in Germany! Add in all of the various Oktoberfest celebrations that have taken place around the world, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see that number climb many million higher. That’s millions of pints of fantastic German beers, like our beloved Weihenstephaner brew. It’s a premium beer inspired by the legacy of the world’s oldest still-existing brewery, Germany’s Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan, and the perfect one to enjoy in honor of Oktoberfest. Anheuser-Busch is a giant in the global beer-making market, with a staff that totals over 150,000. And of course, the diverse list of employees includes the famous Budweiser Clydesdales – no other beer brand can say they have horses on their team!
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Want to learn more about beer, wine, and your favorite spirits? The Hensley Beverage Company is your go-to source for Arizona brewery updates, top-selling brews, and more. And if you’d like to add some of the best-rated and most popular beverages to your retail store or bar/restaurant menu, we have you covered. For more information about our offerings, contact our team today.