Pirates' Favorite Beer: What Did They Drink?

Pirates are renowned for their drinking abilities and alcohol was of great importance in their leisure time. The alcoholic beverage most associated with pirates is rum, which was also used to kill the taste of bad water on ships. Pirates also drank ale, gin, wine, and various mixtures such as Bumbo, Flip, Rumfustian, and Sangaree. Beer was the test drink for aspiring pirates, who had to down a mug to prove their stomach capacity.

Pirates drank beer to prove their stomach capacity for drinks

Pirates have always been famous for their drinking abilities. Alcohol was of great importance in the leisure lives of pirates, as it helped them communicate better. If a man wanted to become a pirate, he often had to prove his stomach capacity for drinks, with beer being the test drink. Prospective pirates had to drink a mug full of beer bottoms up.

Pirates also drank rum, gin, wine, and various mixtures of these drinks. Bumbo, for example, is a mixture of dark rum, lemon juice, grenadine syrup, and grated nutmeg or cinnamon. Flip is made of ale, brandy, lemon juice, egg yolk, granulated sugar, and ground ginger. Pirates also drank grog, which was made by adding a dram of rum to a sailor's water ration to kill the taste of the rancid water.

Pirates drank while sailing, but this sometimes caused problems as it was not safe to navigate a ship with alcohol in one's blood. They also drank because it was sometimes difficult to find water, and the water they did find would spoil quickly.

Pirates drank rum

Pirates were known to be heavy drinkers, and rum was a strong drink they could easily swallow in ample amounts. They were drowning in it whenever they had the opportunity.

On pirate ships, rum was often the downfall of many crews. Unlike military and merchant ships, where rum rations were measured out, the democratically run pirate ships, with their weak code of discipline, sometimes led to a complete disregard for sobriety. There are several accounts of pirate ships being easily boarded because the crew was too drunk to fight.

Pirates also drank rum for practical reasons. Water had a tendency to go bad on ships due to bacterial growth, so rum was added to the water rations to kill the taste. This was called "grog".

In addition to rum, pirates also drank ale, wine, gin, and various mixed drinks, including "bumbo", "flip", "rumfustian", and "sangaree".

Pirates drank gin

Pirates were known for their drinking abilities and their inclination to consume excessive amounts of alcohol. When pirates went ashore, they often celebrated their victories loudly and aggressively, forcing others to join them in their drinking. Refusing to drink with a pirate was considered a terrible insult and could even result in death.

Gin, also known as "geneva", was a popular drink in England shortly after the end of the Golden Age of Piracy. While it is not mentioned in sailor documents from that time period, it is likely that pirates had access to and consumed gin, given its widespread popularity.

In addition to gin, pirates also drank a variety of other alcoholic beverages, including rum, wine, beer, and various mixed drinks. The test drink for aspiring pirates was usually beer, which they had to drink a mug full of to prove their stomach capacity. However, once they became pirates, rum was their drink of choice. The better way to express the pirates' inclination to rum is to say that they were drowning in it whenever they had the opportunity.

The democratic nature of pirate ships, with its weakened code of discipline, sometimes led to a complete disregard for sobriety, making them vulnerable to capture. There are several accounts of pirate ships being easily boarded because the crew was too drunk to put up a fight.

Pirates drank wine

Port wine is unique compared to regular wine due to the addition of grape brandy during the fermentation process. This fortification makes it more stable during temperature changes and allows it to last longer during sea travel. This was especially important for pirates who often spent long periods at sea.

Pirates also drank other types of alcohol, including ale, mead, and various mixed drinks. However, wine, specifically port wine, was a preferred choice for officers and those seeking a longer-lasting drink during their sea voyages.

Pirates drank grog

Grog was a staple drink for pirates, sailors, and naval crews. It was a way to make drinking water more palatable, as water often went bad on ships due to bacterial growth. A small amount of rum was added to water rations to mask the taste of rancid water, and this mixture was also added to tea and coffee. Grog was also made in a large barrel called a grog tub and then rationed out to sailors. The name "grog" comes from the nickname of British Rear Admiral Edward Vernon, "Old Grogram," who ordered his sailors' rum diluted to prevent hoarding and drunkenness.

Pirates were also known to drink rum straight, as well as a variety of mixed drinks, including bumboo, flip, rumfustian, and sangaree. Pirates also drank ale, wine, and punch.

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