Page 1 of 2
Yet another thread about booze in ancient times
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:27 am
by War Arrow
Well, we haven't done this one for a while.
http://www.pr-inside.com/archaeologists ... 670364.htm
Billy Quinn and Declan Moore, two archaeologists with Moore Archaeological & Environmental Services (Moore Group) in Galway, believe that an extensive brewing tradition existed in Ireland as far back as 2500 BC. These ubiquitous monuments, which are visible in the landscape as small, horseshoe-shaped grass-covered mounds, have been conventionally thought of by archaeologists as ancient cooking spots, saunas or industrial
sites. However, Quinn and Moore believe that they may have also been used as breweries.
According to Quinn 'the tradition of brewing in Ireland has a long history, we think that the fulacht may have been used as a kitchen sink, for cooking, dying, many uses, but that a primary use was the brewing of ale.' The two set out to investigate their theory in a journey which took them across Europe in search of further evidence.
To prove their theory, Quinn & Moore set out to recreate the process. They used an old wooden trough filled with water and added heated stones. After achieving an optimum temperature of 60-70°C they began to add milled barley and after approx 45 minutes simply baled the final product into fermentation vessels. They added natural wild flavourings (taking care to avoid anything toxic or hallucinogenic) and then added yeast after cooling the vessels in a bath of cold water for several hours.
According to Moore 'including the leftover liquid we could easily have produced up to 300 litres of this most basic ale'. Through their experiments, they discovered that the process of brewing ale in a fulacht using hot rock technology is a simple process. To produce the ale took only a few hours, followed by a few-days wait to allow for fermentation.
Bottoms up everyone!
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:08 pm
by Forum Monk
I expect soon we will see reproductions of an ancient beer bong followed soon by an ancient belly flop contest.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:03 pm
by Minimalist
I wonder what they called the Frat Houses before there were Greek letters?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:07 pm
by rich
Hmph - can't believe the Greeks actually mispelled fart.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:31 am
by War Arrow
Good work, team. I miss this sort of thread, however one thing puzzles me at this juncture - what exactly is a beer bong?
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:49 am
by Digit
I was too scared to ask!
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:26 am
by Forum Monk
Basically its a funnel with one of more flexible tubes (actually a hose) attached to the lower end and designed to get beer into ones belly as quickly as possible. I think the priciple is based on static pressure from elevating the funnel above the head of the drinker, but since I've never used one I can't say for certain. There are plenty of pics and videos on the web, however.
When I was in college, one relied on arms and when the arm could no longer aim the bottle toward the mouth, it was time to pass out. Today, they use the principles of physics to overcome the limitations of impeded hand-eye coodination. The end result is still the same, however; a kid falling asleep as soon as his head hits the curb.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:40 am
by Minimalist
I just don't think it's possible to have too many threads about this kind of a subject.
This is REAL archaeology.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:24 am
by kbs2244
Learning about Primitive Societies?
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:47 am
by Minimalist
Hey...they were primitive. They weren't stupid.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:51 am
by rich
Min wrote:
Hey...they were primitive. They weren't stupid.
At least not after they got beer!!
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:11 am
by dannan14
Advanced beer bong technology requires several peripherals. For example, say you are on a second floor balcony, but your friends are on the ground. You could simply attach a 14' hose to the funnel and proceed as usual. This would be a grave error.
Depending on the size of the funnel and diameter of the hose, the capacity of such a bong can be well over a six pack. This is an enormous amount of liquid to have forced into one's stomach at once and if one is standing at the time disaster (in the form of a cracked skull) may occur. Also, beer may be spilled in the process and that is of course a major no no.
The solution is obvious. At the bottom end of the hose one must attach a valve. This allows more control over the flow of the beer and will help prevent unnecessary spillage.
The remaining peripherals are just as essential as the valve. A crash helmet and a comfortable, reclining easy chair make beer bonging a safe and happy experience.
i hope this has been helpful and informative to those readers who have never had the opportunity to imbibe mass quantities of cheap, bad-tasting beer at great velocity.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:11 pm
by Digit
Dr Jonson is reputed to have said that you were not drunk if when lying on the floor you could keep a firm grip on it!
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:29 pm
by kbs2244
How do analytical engineers know when they are drunk?
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:16 am
by War Arrow
Minimalist wrote:I just don't think it's possible to have too many threads about this kind of a subject.
This is REAL archaeology.
Hear! Hear! (thumps table with fist and fiercely bristles moustache in support).
Happily I am able to report that the internet proves to be a cornucopia of research material, this short film for example which appears to capture an experiment aimed at determining the optimum strategum applicable for beer bong technology when used in conjunction with a person (or persons) of restricted growth. Truly, the more one learns, the more one realises how much is yet left to learn.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=b ... tesearch=#
Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating!