In this era of alternative facts, we wanted to address another area where belief is not always reality. This week on Beer Notes, we are exploring attribution of beer sayings.
In researching this topic, I tried to find why people always like to use quotes. We like to read them. We like to repeat them. Some people even tattoo them on their bodies. When it comes to beer, however, I think we like to know that others of great importance also valued beer. It puts us all in elite company. It validates our values.
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” This is commonly attributed to Ben Franklin, who didn’t like beer very much and never said that. He did write a letter to a friend that mentioned wine in a similar context.1
Plato never said, “He was a wise man who invented beer.” Plato didn’t believe anything could be truly invented, a form of beer existed and could be discovered.23
Shakespeare did say, “For a quart of ale is dish for a king.” in Act IV. Scene II of The Winter’s Tale.
I like, “Anyone can drink beer, but it takes intelligence to enjoy beer.” by Stephen Beaumont. He is the author or co-author of ten books about beer.
Our rule of thumb is to forget the attribution of many beer sayings. Just enjoy them. Craft beer lovers don’t need to have somebody tell us we are in good company. We know it.
Sources:
1https://sites.suffolk.edu/franklin/2016/03/24/beer-is-proof-that-god-loves-us-and-wants-us-to-be-happy/
2 http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~davpy35701/text/plato-things-not-said.pdf
3 https://www.quora.com/Did-Plato-actually-say-He-was-a-wise-man-who-invented-God
