Beer At The First Thanksgiving: What We Know

The Pilgrims were known to enjoy a drink, but it is unclear whether beer was served at the first Thanksgiving. While beer was more transportable than wine, the pilgrims ran out of it on their journey across the Atlantic. Historian Kathy Rudder claims that the pilgrims drank water at the first Thanksgiving, as they did not have access to barley or hops and would not have had enough time to brew beer. However, many pilgrims did not trust the water, and some historians suggest that hard cider, made from harvested apples, was the drink of choice at the first Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims drank water at the first Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims had initially brought beer with them because it was more transportable than wine. However, they ended up drinking it all before they reached their destination. In addition, they didn't have access to barley or hops, and they wouldn't have had enough time to brew more beer before the first Thanksgiving.

As a result, the Pilgrims resorted to drinking water, which was not their preferred choice. Many of them didn't trust the water, as it could make people sick at the time. This was due to a lack of understanding about microorganisms, which were the source of health problems associated with drinking water.

However, the Pilgrims also drank hard cider on Thanksgiving, which they produced by harvesting apples from the crops they had access to and fermenting the juice. Hard cider was a staple drink for them, as it was safer than water and provided some variety from the water they primarily consumed.

Beer was a safer alternative to water

The Pilgrims were known to like beer, and it is likely that they drank it on the voyage over to America. However, it is thought that they ran out of beer by the time they reached Plymouth Rock, and so it is unlikely that beer was served at the first Thanksgiving.

At the time, water could make you sick, and beer was considered a much safer alternative. Harmful microorganisms cannot survive in beer for long, and so it was considered a safe drink. In fact, in England at the time, only the poorest people drank water. Even middle-class workers could afford beer, cider, milk, or tea.

The Mayflower was a wine vessel capable of carrying 180 casks of wine, and so wine was also likely consumed on the voyage over. However, beer was the main source of water at the time, and ships carried beer and wine for long voyages.

While it is not known exactly what the Pilgrims drank at the first Thanksgiving, it is thought that they drank water, and possibly hard cider.

The Pilgrims ran out of beer when they reached Plymouth Rock

The Pilgrims liked beer, and it is well known that they drank it when they travelled to North America on the Mayflower. However, it is unlikely that they drank beer at the first Thanksgiving.

The Mayflower was a wine vessel capable of carrying 180 casks of wine. It also carried beer and "aqua-vitae", likely whiskey or brandy. The beer was safer to drink than water, which could make people sick. It was also more transportable than wine. However, the Pilgrims ran out of beer when they reached Plymouth Rock, according to historian Elizabeth Pearce. They drank it all during their journey across the Atlantic.

The Pilgrims did not have access to barley or hops, and they wouldn't have had enough time to brew more beer before the first Thanksgiving. Instead, they drank water and hard cider. The cider was produced by harvesting apples from the crops they had access to and fermenting the juice.

The Wampanoag drank water and tea

The Wampanoag were a tribe of native people who helped the Pilgrims survive their first winter in the New World. They introduced the Pilgrims to edible native plants, and aided them in hunting and fishing. The Wampanoag also drank water and tea. While some Native American tribes in the southwest US and Mexico enjoyed fermented beverages, there is little evidence that northern tribes like the Wampanoag drank alcohol before it was introduced by colonists.

The Wampanoag and the Pilgrims came together for a three-day harvest festival in October 1621, which became known as the first Thanksgiving. The Wampanoag brought clams, mussels, raspberries, strawberries, local nuts, and at least five deer to the feast. The Pilgrims provided local birds, wheat, peas, and corn. While there is no record of what drinks were served at the first Thanksgiving, it is unlikely that the Pilgrims served beer, as they had none left by that time.

The Pilgrims had a complex relationship with alcohol. While they are often portrayed as either drunkards or stern teetotalers, the truth is somewhere in between. Beer was an important source of water for the Pilgrims during their voyage, as it was safer to drink than water. However, by the time of the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims had been in the New World for almost a year and had likely consumed all their beer.

While the Wampanoag drank water and tea, the Pilgrims most likely drank water and hard cider at the first Thanksgiving.

Hard cider was a staple drink at the first Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims were known to be fond of beer, but it is unlikely that they drank beer during the first Thanksgiving. The Mayflower was a wine vessel capable of carrying 180 casks of wine, and it is believed that the ship also carried beer and water for the journey. However, the beer supply was depleted by the time they reached Plymouth Rock, and they did not have the necessary barley or hops to brew more.

The Wampanoag tribe, who were also present at the first Thanksgiving, did not drink alcohol. They primarily consumed water and tea. However, they did provide apples, which contributed to the production of cider for the feast.

While there is limited documentation of the first Thanksgiving, it is believed that the Pilgrims did not drink beer during the celebration. Hard cider, made from locally sourced apples, was a more accessible and safer option for them at the time.

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