Beer Expeditions

Over the years I often wondered where beer came from. Who was the firs one to make it and tast and so on. Being of Irish decent I can refer back to an Irish drinking song called beer beer beer, where it gives the credit of the inventor of beer to some one named Charlie Mops. I would like to believe this is true but I think it is to much of a quincadence that mops rymed with hops. Plato wrote about beer he said something like this, “He was a wise man who invented beer.” I hate to say it but I doubt that Charlie Mops was around in or before Plato’s day.
I have had discussions about this many times over a few pints with friends. from my research, the history channel and my fiends. I know that beer dates back some 5,000 years in China. According to my friend Joe, who likes beer almost as much as I do, he says and I have somewhat verified it that, about 6000 years ago in Mesopotamia the Sumerian’s drank a substance much like beer out of a bowl through a reed. This is interesting because if this is true that means drinking straws were invited because of beer. It is also said that Noah had beer on the ark. When I ask people where do you think beer came from a common answer besides the smart alcs that say “the store” or “the brewery” is Heaven. When I ask who invented it most common answer is God. From what I learned most ancient civilizations and cultures over the years ether acquired the knowledge or independently figured out how to make beer or a form of it. No one knows for sure but it sounds like it was meant to be. Where beer came from? we may never know, and I would like to give credit where credit is due but I think I will be still toasting Charlie Mops after I had a few. here are the lyrics to that song. I haver heard a few different interruptions and versions, but here are the words that I know.

A long time ago, way back in history,when all there was to drink was nothin but cups of tea.Along came a man by the name of Charlie Mops,and he invented a wonderful drink and he made it out of hops.

beer beer beer
tiddly beer beer beer.

He must have been an admiral a sultan or a king, and to his praises we shall always sing.Look what he has done for us he’s filled us up with cheer!Lord bless Charlie Mops, the man who invented beer beer beertiddly beer beer beer.
The Curtis bar, the James’ Pub, the Hole in the Wall as wellone thing you can be sure of, its Charlie’s beer they sellso all ye lads a lasses at eleven O’clock ye stopfor five short seconds, remember Charlie Mops 1 2 3 4 5

beer beer beer
tiddly beer beer beer.

A barrel of malt, a bushel of hops, you stir it around with a stick,the kind of lubrication to make your engine tick.40 pints of wallop a day will keep away the quacks.Its only eight pence hapenny and one and six in tax, 1 2 3 4 5

beer beer beer
tiddly beer beer beer.

He must have been an admiral a sultan or a king,and to his praises we shall always sing.Look what he has done for us he’s filled us up with cheer!Lord bless Charlie Mops, the man who invented beer beer beertiddly beer beer beer.
The Lord bless Charlie Mops!

beer beer beer
tiddly beer beer beer.