Great The British

ENJOYING a pint with pals has always been a part of the British way of life.

But studies suggest our ale-supping culture may be more than just a civilised social pastime – it may actually run through our DNA.

Anthropologists now believe that civilisation and human society were actually BUILT on beer.

Recent finds have revealed that our hunter-gatherer ancestors were supping it long before they’d learned to grow crops or bake bread.

Vats and drinking vessels unearthed at a site in Turkey suggest they were partying on naturally fermented grain 12,000 years ago.

And when humans did settle down, sow crops and domesticate livestock, alcohol helped them mingle, mate and form communities.

Since then, beer has been at the heart of British culture – but its history has not always been smooth.

Fifty years ago traditional ale was at risk of being killed off by massproduced keg beer, until four young beer fans founded CAMRA

– the Campaign For Real Ale.

It went on to become one of the most successful consumer organisations in the world.

The movement sparked a revival for micro-breweries and

“live beer” – beer that continues to condition after it has been shipped. It means the UK now has more than 2,000 breweries and a vast choice of ales.

But, at the same time, pubs and breweries are struggling to survive after the Covid pandemic forced us all to stay home.

So now is the time for us to pull together and help save our great

British pubs and pints.

And this quirky tribute to all things beer might just give you the thirst to do so. Bottoms up!