View Full Version : Could you drink beer instead of water and still survive?
Could you drink beer instead of water and still survive? (http://io9.com/could-you-drink-beer-instead-of-water-and-still-survive-457081579)
Beer. It is one of the most awesome things in life. This leads to a couple of important questions. One: how long can you survive on beer alone? Two: to what extent is beer a suitable replacement for water?
longrange1947
03-21-2013, 12:15
I believe that both beer and wine, has been used as exclusive replacements for water due to contamination in the "olden times". :munchin :)
Dozer523
03-21-2013, 12:21
I would be willing to give it one hell of a try!
Seriously, in a book about the writing of the US Constitution the author mentioned the public water in Philadelphia was not very safe. As a result a very low alcohol content beer was often preferred. I think the idea that invisible germs caused illness was accepted then and it was known that alcohol destroyed germs . . . thee was also the heat from fermentation.
It was very different beer form today so, in the interest of science, I volunteer to update the study.
Drinking beer instead of water is like putting salt water in your radiator.
It will work, but after a while you will ruin your engine.
willing try I to am study. this in
*Hick-up
Streck-Fu
03-21-2013, 13:22
How do you think humans survived the Middle Ages.... :p
mojaveman
03-21-2013, 16:31
How do you think humans survived the Middle Ages.... :p
Much later than the Middle Ages actually. Someone else posted that in many European cities the water wasn't fit to drink.
The people in Bavaria and in particular Munich could probably survive on beer alone. Drinking a dark Hefeweizen is like eating a loaf of bread. I understand that the French also drink more wine than anyone else.
Kobe beef which is one of the most expensive in the world comes from cows that are raised on only beer. :p
psherlin
07-31-2013, 20:10
First beer is about 95% water. But, it triggers the anti-diuretic hormones to suck up water which causes you to pee more. So it ends up cutting down on your electrolytes which leads to all kinds of problems.
If you wish to see how long you can live on beer, you will need to increase electrolytes. I find that salt and aspirin works well.
The people who drank beer during the Dark Ages lived, and those that did not died, therefore beer saved civilization.
The first beer made in America was made with corn. The next year there was an advertisement in the London Times for a Brew-master to come to America.
Papa Zero Three
07-31-2013, 20:44
Frankly, I've been on a Guinness diet for quite some time. Sometimes I get some water in my mouth when I take a shower or go swimming but I spit that shit out.:)
The_Mentalist
08-01-2013, 13:35
The Germans actually invented beer because of a tainted water supply. They found that the alcohol created through fermenting wheat and barley would kill off whatever it was in the water that made them sick. It is also the origin of leavened breads. Some parasites were not killed off when baking unleavened bread. So, they figured if yeast killed off whatever was bad in the water, it should work on breads too. Voila, we now have light fluffy crusty breads instead of eating tortillas and flat breads. Other cultures came up with their own versions from ale to Meade to wine. Even the tribal Africans have a drink where a root is chewed up and spit back out over and over. It eventually ferments. But this boy won't try that.
Hard liquors were discovered by trying to make to make beer/wine out of other grains and tubers. This gave us whiskey from corn and vodka from potatoes as well as tequila from the blue agave cactus and one of my favorites being rum from sugar cane. Of course there are so many variations of alcoholic beverages these days. Basically, potency depends on 2 things. Sugar content and distillation/ filtration. The higher the alcohol, the higher the diuretic effect. Hence the hangover which is simply dehydration caused by the diuretic effect of the alcohol.
As to the original question, yes you could survive on beer alone. If it were the lower alcohol beer of ancient Germany and not buttweiser. Many animals get their water only from the food they eat. Beer is liquid bread with a bunch of water and a little alcohol.
Papa Zero Three
08-01-2013, 14:07
Beer is liquid bread with a bunch of water and a little alcohol.
Hence the famous Guinness advertising motto "Guinness, a meal in a bottle"
NurseTim
08-01-2013, 16:19
The Germans actually invented beer because of a tainted water supply. They found that the alcohol created through fermenting wheat and barley would kill off whatever it was in the water that made them sick. It is also the origin of leavened breads. Some parasites were not killed off when baking unleavened bread. So, they figured if yeast killed off whatever was bad in the water, it should work on breads too. Voila, we now have light fluffy crusty breads instead of eating tortillas and flat breads. Other cultures came up with their own versions from ale to Meade to wine. Even the tribal Africans have a drink where a root is chewed up and spit back out over and over. It eventually ferments. But this boy won't try that.
Hard liquors were discovered by trying to make to make beer/wine out of other grains and tubers. This gave us whiskey from corn and vodka from potatoes as well as tequila from the blue agave cactus and one of my favorites being rum from sugar cane. Of course there are so many variations of alcoholic beverages these days. Basically, potency depends on 2 things. Sugar content and distillation/ filtration. The higher the alcohol, the higher the diuretic effect. Hence the hangover which is simply dehydration caused by the diuretic effect of the alcohol.
As to the original question, yes you could survive on beer alone. If it were the lower alcohol beer of ancient Germany and not buttweiser. Many animals get their water only from the food they eat. Beer is liquid bread with a bunch of water and a little alcohol.
I thought the Egyptians discovered beer? I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the third time.
I thought the Egyptians discovered beer? I could be wrong, it wouldn't be the third time.
They did but the Germans invented the Good Beer;):p:eek:
Drink water? Why would anyone want to do that? :rolleyes:
Richard
2018commo
08-01-2013, 18:21
When in Portugal we took wine to the field, came in juice boxes. Our host's claimed the water made your insides rust.
Remington Raidr
08-01-2013, 18:32
Hence the famous Guinness advertising motto "Guinness, a meal in a bottle"
It's "Guiness . . . for strength". ;)
It's "Guiness . . . for strength". ;)
I'd check the spelling again there sport ....
... and as far as the attitude ..... :munchin
Glass, Cup, or Bottle .... it's all the same.
http://foodreference.about.com/od/bar_beverage/a/What-Is-Guinness.htm
mark46th
08-03-2013, 08:06
Don't forget, in the Middle Ages, the average life span was about 35 years...
psherlin
08-04-2013, 16:05
Guinness came from the docks burning which roasted the barley, which gave way to all kinds of different beers. In Egypt there was one of the biggest beer producing areas, located in north east of the country, but they were not first in beer. They did pay the builders of the Pyramids in about 2 gallons of beer a day, which back then was more of a cereal as all the grain was still in it. I love my "job" I get to talk about beer, drink beer, and they pay me in beer!