What is Beer - Part One
In hopes of derailing the prohibition movement many breweries banded together and mounted advertising campaigns to educate the public on the virtues of beer. The Summit County Brewers Association was formed by the major Akron brewers, and in early 1917 they ran some education articles in the Akron Beacon Journal. The following was posted on February 17th, 1917.
What is Beer?
The question “What Is Beer!” answers itself if we reflect on the way we USE beer.
Primarily we use beer to quench thirst. Secondarily we use it to add zest to a meal and to enhance the pleasure of social intercourse. Thirdly we bear in mind in these uses that beer contains considerable nutriment and we use it therefore as a food. Fourthly beer is employed as a tonic, which is medicinal use.
Beer is, therefore, a beverage, a relish, a food and a tonic.
First, then, and in its most general and important capacity, BEER IS A BEVERAGE and a relish. The two functions cannot well be seperated.
In law and science the term “food” carries a broader meaning than in popular language. It includes beverages and relishes or condiments. The term “food” includes all those substances which, when taken into the body, build tissues, restore waste, furnish heat and energy and provide appropriate condiments. It also includes beverages, most of which have nutritive properties, although THEIR CHIEF VALUE IS CONDIMENTAL AND SOCIAL. Beverages are those liquid foods which are more valued for their taste and flavor than actual nutritive value.
It has been said a man can live without food for three weeks, without drink for three days, and without air for three minutes. The importance of beverage is thus evident. A beverage, to have the best effect, should not merely supply liquid, but have some body and please the eye, gratify the nostrils and tickle the palate. Such a beverage quenches the thirst better and gives more complete and lasting satisfaction. By gratifying appetite as well as mere thirst it relieves the craving of the system with less quantity, preventing the drinking of too much fluid, which is injurious, particularly in hot weather, in a less degree but similar fashion as overeating, because the heart must pump all the liquid through the body and is thus overloaded.
Beer satisfies these requirements of a satisfactory beverage and relish in the most perfect way. It supplies the liquid, its aroma is pleasant to the smell, its taste delights and satisfies the appetite, its body gives lasting gratification to the system.
