The history of beer in the United States is well-documented up through the mid-20th century, when something of a brewing renaissance took place. Instead of drinking well-known, mass-produced beers, Americans began opting for craft or home brews. The shift led to new tastes, styles and techniques, but so far, has been relatively unstudied by historians. Last year, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History indicated its intentions to fill that hole in academic knowledge and posted a “beer historian” position that garnered national headlines. Kojo talks to the woman who landed the position about beer’s role in both regional and American history.
Guests
- Theresa McCulla Brewing Historian, The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History; @theresamccu
Slideshow: Beer History Artifacts At The Smithsonian
Colorimeter, circa 1890-1900, used to compare color of beer samples to range of malt beverages.
Advertisement for Budweiser beer, Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, Mo.
Bauernschmidts American Brewery Sign, Baltimore, circa 1899-1919.
Make Your Own Beer at Home, Advertisement for malt extract, circa 1900.
Hamm’s Draft Beer Can.
Bar sign, Hamm’s Beer.
Tavern Sign, George Gunther’s Extra Lager Beer, Baltimore, 1890.
Fermenting room, Souvenir album, F.A. Poth Brewing Company, Philadelphia, Pa.
Beer Tray, Cerveza Dos Equis.
American beer can with handle, circa 1933-1950.
Souvenir booklet, Ballantine Inn, New York World’s Fair, 1940.
Colorimeter, circa 1890-1900, used to compare color of beer samples to range of malt beverages.