Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been encouraging my readers to work through the Starz selections in their streaming queue. For those of you new to the column, Starz didn’t renew its contract with Netflix and they will pull
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been encouraging my readers to work through the Starz selections in their streaming queue. For those of you new to the column, Starz didn’t renew its contract with Netflix and they will pull the streaming content in February. But when I came across this Discovery Channel offering, I couldn’t pass it up. I knew I would dedicate a whole column to this one show.
“How Beer Saved the World” not only changed my life, but re-arranged my understanding of history.
Now, I like beer. I grew up in the Northwest, and by the time I was drinking age, you couldn’t flip a bottle cap without hitting a local micro or craft brewer.
The beer I will forever remember came to me while living in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. There was a pub just down the street from work. It was a hot, muggy summer day, and a couple of the guys and I stopped by for an after-work beer.
The beer was an ale made from huckleberries, aptly named Huckleberry Ale, and it came in an ice- cold glass. The glass was so cold, the beer froze to the sides and broke off in little beer bergs that floated to the top. At that moment, my world changed.
Now if you don’t know what huckleberries are, then let me bring you up to speed. Huckleberries are the state fruit of Idaho. They grow in mid-Alpine regions, often on the lower slopes of mountains, up in the pine trees. Small and round, like a blueberry, but bright red or dark purple and a little smaller.
They are hard to find and a lot of work to gather. But the price is well worth it. They are heavenly. God’s fruit, if you will, and you might have to wrestle a grizzly bear to get them.
The beer forever altered my expectations of what beer is and needs to be. It is why I don’t waste time with Bud Light and it probably the thing I miss most about living on the Mainland.
“How Beer Saved the World” is an entertaining documentary that uses historical evidence to outline beer’s importance in the history of mankind and its role in the birth of civilization.
As a food staple, it turned the hunter into a gatherer, facilitated the development of the wheel, written language and math. It built the pyramids, fueled a revolution and inspired mass production and modern medicine. Beer literally saved the world.
This smartly presented show will change your understanding of history, life as you know it and beer.
‘How Beer Saved the World’
Cast: Henry Strozier
This show is: Feel-good
Rated: TV-PG
Common Sense rating: Will make you want to drink more beer.
Netflix description: Did you know that beer was critical to the birth of civilization? That’s right. Beer. Scientists and historians line up to tell the amazing, untold story of how beer helped create math, poetry, Pyramids, modern medicine, labor laws and America.
Netflix stars: 4 out of 5.
