HistoryExtra podcast Beer history: everything you wanted to know
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Jul 19, 2025 Phil Withington, a Professor in Social and Cultural History at the University of Sheffield, delves into the intriguing history of beer. He explores its journey from ancient fermentation practices in Mesopotamia to the transformative role of medieval monasteries. Withering also discusses the masculine culture surrounding beer consumption and the historical contributions of women to brewing. The conversation touches on the impact of the Industrial Revolution that paved the way for today's craft beer movement, redefining beer's cultural significance through the ages.
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Women's Role in Medieval Brewing
- Women dominated household and local brewing in medieval and early modern England.
- Commercial brewing became male-dominated as guilds excluded women from institutional brewers' organizations.
Beer Drinking and Masculinity
- Beer consumption, especially ritualized heavy drinking and drinking games, was culturally associated with masculinity.
- Women attended pubs mostly with men and were less often solo consumers in social drinking settings.
Early Brewing Regulations
- Brewer guilds and early licensing laws regulated beer production and retail from the 15th century onward.
- Guilds controlled quality and monopoly, especially in cities like London, regulating both production and sale of beer.