|
Because
the Greeks and the Roman didn't know beer, they didn't
bother to attribute a god to it as they did with Dionysos
and Bacchus for wine.
The
Incas, the Scandinavians, and the Chinese made of beer
an indispensable patron to the gods. The first secular
brewers in Europe did well to insure the goodwill of the
ecclesiastical powers that be - who were more interested
in wine than beer - through the choice of various patron
saints. Among others, there were Saint Kolumbanus in Ireland,
who supposedly introduced beer to many European monasteries
in the 6th century; Saint Florian in Austria and Bavaria,
Saint Bonifaz in Munich, Saint Laurentius or Saint Vitus
in northern Germany, and Saint Leonhard in Alsace.
One
finds in the trademarks of numerous breweries in Germany,
northern France and Alsace two triangles on top of each
other forming a six-cornered star used as a decorative
element.
|
|
This brewer's star appeared in the brewing halls as earlier
as the 15th century. It is a reference to a symbol out of
alchemy, the seal of Solomon that can be divided into the
four basic elements - fire, water, earth, and air - which
also play a decisive role in the production of beer. The
star was originally a sort of product guarantee that the
brewer produced his beer according to established rules
and custom.
Brewers
are fond of using the word star in naming their beers:
- Stembräu
(Germany),
- Stella
Artois (Belgium)
- Lone.Star
(USA),
- Star
(Nigeria)
are
a few examples of trade names.
 …and
we have beer from
the
oldest brewery in the world still in existence (since
1040.)
Naturally on tap.
|
|
