Imagine starting your day with a pint of beer instead of coffee. Sounds unusual, right? But in medieval Europe, beer wasn’t just a casual drink—it was a breakfast staple. “Small beer,” a low-alcohol brew, was consumed daily by farmers, laborers, and even monks. It was safer than water, provided essential nutrients, and kept people hydrated.
While today the idea of a morning beer is often seen as indulgent, history tells a different story. Let’s dive into the fascinating tradition of beer for breakfast and explore how it evolved over time.
Beer as a Breakfast Drink: A Historical Perspective
Small Beer: The Safer Alternative
In the Middle Ages, clean drinking water was hard to find. Wells and rivers were often contaminated, leading to widespread disease. Beer, on the other hand, was brewed in a way that killed harmful bacteria, making it a safer alternative.
- What was small beer? It was a weak beer with an alcohol content of 0.5% to 2.8%—far less than today’s standard beers.
- Why was it popular? It provided hydration and energy without the intoxicating effects of stronger ales.
- Who drank it? Everyone! From children to adults, beer was a household necessity.
Morning Ales in 17th-18th Century England
As England moved into the 17th and 18th centuries, beer remained a breakfast staple, especially for the working class.
- Taverns served beer with breakfast. It was common to have a “morning ale” alongside bread and porridge.
- Workers relied on it for energy. Laborers, farmers, and craftsmen drank beer before heading to work, much like we rely on coffee today.
- Even notable figures enjoyed morning beer—Samuel Johnson, the famous 18th-century English writer, was known to drink ale for breakfast.
The Rise of Coffee and Tea
By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, beer’s breakfast reign started to decline.
- The introduction of coffee and tea from Asia. These drinks became popular among the upper classes and gradually replaced beer as the go-to morning beverage.
- Changing social norms. As temperance movements gained traction, alcohol consumption, especially in the morning, was increasingly discouraged.
Does Beer for Breakfast Still Exist Today?
While morning beer is no longer a mainstream habit, some European traditions still keep the practice alive:
- Germany: A traditional Bavarian breakfast often includes Weißwurst (white sausage) and a wheat beer like Hefeweizen.
- Belgium: Some breakfast menus still feature beer alongside waffles and cheese.
- The UK: “Hair of the dog” drinking culture includes morning ales for those recovering from a hangover.
Summing Up: A Cheers to the Past
While beer is no longer a breakfast staple, its history shows how essential it once was for hydration and nutrition. As societies evolved and cleaner water became available, coffee and tea replaced beer as the morning drink of choice. Yet, in some parts of Europe, morning beer remains a cultural tradition rather than a necessity.
So, if you ever decide to start your day with a beer, just remember—you’re not being indulgent, you’re keeping history alive!
