Thanksgiving: How ‘Puritan’ Were Those Pilgrims?

On this day, when we give thanks while filling our bellies with the bounties of nature, we also think about the origins of the holiday and our forefathers (and foremothers).

In reading about Thanksgiving, I learned a great deal about the prevalence of beer and alcohol for the Pilgrims, and the drinking habits of our leaders early in our nation’s history.

Did you know that the Puritans loaded more beer than water onto the Mayflower before they cast off for the New World?

Or that Abraham Lincoln held a liquor license and operated several taverns?

And that in the 1830’s the average American aged 15 or older consumed over seven gallons of absolute alcohol (resulting from an average of 9 1/2 gallons of spirits, 1/2 gallon of wine, and 27 gallons of beer), a quantity about three times the current rate?

To learn more about the beer-drinking Pilgrims and brewmasters like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, click here. And have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Tagged as: beer, forefathers, history, Pilgrims, thanksgiving