Calendar of Events
Beer: History and Appreciation
From the spontaneous fermentation of stored grains in Mesopotamia circa 5,000 BCE to the explosion of local craft breweries in our own time, beer has influenced and been influenced by many cultures around the world. This two-week forum led by Associate Professor of Psychology Ben Chihak will introduce participants to the history, practice and significance of the brewing and consumption of beer. It will examine the story of beer from a variety of cultural, economic, historical and scientific vantage points. The first week will provide an introduction to the basic biology and chemistry of the brewing process as well as the importance of beer throughout human history, including the ways it contributed to human survival and the growth of societies and empires. This will set the basis for our exploration in week two of the development and broader importance of various types of beer. We will travel across time and place to learn about the diverse styles and significance of beers from the ancient world, the British Isles and British empire, Germany, the Czech Republic, France, Belgium and the United States. The second session will also include an optional tasting element in which participants can sample some of the notable varieties profiled during the forum, including styles inspired by historical recipes such as Irish stouts, Scotch ales, India and British pale ales, abbey ales, Belgian and French saisons, Czech pilsners, German wheat beers and American ales, pilsners and wheats.
Thursday Forum is held in Kesler Auditorium on the first floor of Hickok Hall. Each weekly session begins with registration and refreshments from 8:45-9:15 AM, followed by the lecture until 11:30 AM. The presentations blend lecture, media such as film and music, and discussion.
Admission to each four-week forum series is $40. Admission to individual lectures and one- and two-week forums is $12 per week. Admission includes the lecture and morning refreshments of coffee, tea and pastries. Payment can be made in person on Thursday mornings by cash or personal check. Credit card payments can be processed by registering online in advance at www.coe.edu/thursday-forum. For more information, visit the Thursday Forum website or call 319.399.8523.
In the event of inclement weather, consult local media outlets to find out if the day’s forum will take place.