The myth goes that in 1620 the famed Mayflower landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts when their beer supply was running low. If you’re picturing a bunch of rowdy seamen getting crunk on a boat, refrain yourself. The beer found on the Mayflower was most likely “ship’s beer,” which contained very little alcohol but could be stored for months without spoiling.
Although I probably should mention that the image of the pilgrims landing in Plymouth in hopes of refueling their beer stash was a trend created by the makers of Budweiser. As Anheuser-Bush went head to head with Prohibition in the early 1900s, an advertising campaign was launched in hopes of portraying beer as an integral part of American culture. Budweiser ads portrayed beer as “the drink of the great” and during Thanksgiving from the 1930s to the 1940s, the U.S. Brewers Association ran slogans in newspapers announcing, “Beer, Not Turkey, Lured Pilgrims to Plymouth Rock,” in hopes of spiking beer sales.
Sorry, no party hardy Pilgrims here.
Cheers!
-Charisma
