Fun Fact Friday

Today is the Opening Tap for Philly Beer Week 2011! 

PBW is a huge deal in Philadelphia and the surrounding area.  There are literally hundreds of events that occur throughout the city and the suburbs featuring all forms of beer - brewing lessons, meet the brewer sessions, food pairings...  You name it, you can find it in Philly during PBW.  It's one of my favorite times of the year! 

So, in honor of Philly Beer Week, here are some fun facts about beer!

~ In 1962, Iron City was the first brewery to try serving beer in pop-top aluminum cans.  8 years later, 90% of beer was served in self-opening cans!

~ President Teddy Roosevelt took 500 gallons of beer with him on an African safari trip. 

~ Prohibition began on January 16, 1920.  It lasted until December 5, 1933.  13+ years, you guys.  I'd have left the country.

~ Pabst Beer is now called Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR, a staple in hipster bars everywhere!) because it was first beer ever to win a blue ribbon at the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1893.

~ The oldest known written recipe is a beer recipe.

~ The Pilgrims were supposed to sail the Mayflower further south, to the mouth of the Hudson.  But they were starting to run low on their beer supply, so they sailed into Plymouth Rock instead.

~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected partially because of his promise to end prohibition.  Boy, those Roosevelt boys sure loved their booze!

~ Cenosillacaphobia.  The fear of an empty glass.  May you never suffer from that awful phobia!

*facts from here, here, and here.