Beer vs. Wine: Which is Better?
There are cat and dog people, there are beer people and wine people, and there are also people who love both drinks. As a matter of fact, beer and wine are the two most consumed alcoholic beverages. Both have been around for millennia, developed in different parts of the world, and both have significant roles in history, literature, in different cultures and traditions. And even nowadays, they are so loved across the globe that the world cannot be imagined without them for a lot of people. They are an inevitable part of many people’s lives, they are celebrated and used for celebrating, and they inspire many studies as well as whole festivals dedicated to them.
Beer Then and Now
Amongst the two, beer is still more consumed. In fact, they say that beer is the third most consumed beverage in the world, lead only by water and tea. While it may not have been directly mentioned in as many old scriptures, myths, legends, and so on, so it’s impossible to know the exact time when it was first discovered. However, it is believed to predate wine. The first mention of beverages made similarly to beer as we know it, comes from Mesopotamia, as we learn from a 6.000 years old Sumerian tablet written in cuneiform – the earliest system of writing known to us.
Beer was even mentioned in the first written fictional story that we know of, the Assyro-Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, the one-third man and two-thirds god, king of Sumer, who drinks beer on his hero’s journey. Through trade, beer made it to Egypt, where aside from its intoxicating powers was also widely consumed because it was safer than water, due to the fact that in those areas potable water was often unreliable. Later, it arrived in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, and slowly it spread through Europe. Beer was associated with different female deities across cultures. Usually, fertility and love were also attributed to these goddesses, which also speaks a lot about how people have always perceived beer. Some believe that beer was connected to goddesses, probably because the first brewers were women.
Australia is amongst the countries with the biggest per capita beer consumption, with more than 500 small breweries. This tells us that in Australia local beer is loved by many and Australian craft beer is a popular choice throughout the country. In fact, craft beer production has been growing rapidly and is nowadays a big industry that keeps growing. Moreover, more and more people are getting into the hobby of home brewing.
Wine Then and Now
The first evidence of wine date from circa 6.000 BC in what is now Georgia. Evidence of winemaking was also found in Persia, the Balkans, Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, etc. Nowadays, winemaking is one of the biggest industries in the alcohol industry, with countless wineries across the globe, from huge globally known ones to small local ones.
In the last decade, as a result of awareness about the environment, as well as interest about what we consume and where our food is coming from, wine has also been changing. This is why many people choose to consume organic wines, which are considered healthier. Organic production of grapes doesn’t use pesticides and other harmful chemicals, and also contains fewer sulphates.
Like Australia local beer, local wine is also very popular across the country. We are one of the biggest wine consumers in the world, and there are approximately 2500 wineries across the country. There are over 10.000 varieties of wine grapes, which make for an incredibly large number of wine types. Today, we drink wine both on special occasions and as an everyday drink. It’s almost always considered to be an appropriate beverage for celebrations and romantic occasions, and it’s one of the most popular gifts for any occasion, however big or small.
Wine is often referred to as the nectar of gods, and it is widely used in many rituals and rites, with many religious stories and myths inspired by it. Across cultures, it symbolises fertility, transformation, wisdom, etc. In Ancient Egypt, it was believed that Osiris brought wine to the people, and the goddess of agriculture, his wife Isis, protected wineries. In Ancient Greece, the creation of wine was attributed to the god of fertility, Dionysus. Wine is also mentioned many times in the Bible. Noah planted the seed that became a vineyard, and the symbolism of wine is used many times in the Old Testament. Furthermore, wine even represents the blood of the central figure of the New Testament, and of Christianity in general, Jesus.
Benefits of Beer and Alcohol
Most beer and wine lovers consume the beverages for fun and to celebrate something. Nevertheless, they are also known to have positive effects on our health when consumed moderately. They are also believed to be beneficial for mental health, decreasing the risk of depression, anxiety, and other stress-related issues.
Moderate wine consumption can prevent blood clots and lower the level of bad cholesterol. Rich in antioxidants, wine is considered to be good for your heart and for your blood flow. Of course, organic wines are considered to be better for your health. Beer also contains antioxidants and is also rich in vitamin B, proteins, fibres, and minerals. Moderate beer consumption can be good for your heart, kidneys and bones. It also lowers bad cholesterol, and it reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.
However, drinking any alcohol in large quantities can be harmful, as it can impair brain function. Moreover, drinking any type of alcohol frequently and in large quantities, even if it’s beer or wine, can lead to many psychological issues.