How Booze Built America - Discovery Channel

I'll be watching. I'm a Mike Rowe fan too.

 

It's pretty interesting so far.
I think it's going to be along the same lines as the show How the States Got Their Shapes, except with booze. I really dug that show, so I hope it is.

random fact... the $2 bill is the only denomination that has a brewer on the front, and on the back.

 

If i don't have a TV, is there a way to watch this online?

 

I'm a high school history teacher, so I loved this show. Several of these stories I already knew of through some of my readings over the years.

I always struggle with how much of this to bring up in class, because I don't want to get any angry letters from parents. But these are high schoolers (who hear a lot worse on Jersey Shore) and it does make the subject a lot more interesting. Basically this year, I told them running out of beer was the reason the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, and went into explaining why they drank beer (cleaner than water). They found that fascinating. I also mentioned Lexington happening right outside a tavern as well as Paul Revere stopping at some taverns on his midnight ride. Stuff left out of the rosy history textbooks is always interesting to them.

That's all the beer references I have deemed appropriate for class thus far

 

^ Wish you were my high school teacher, Maybe I would of stayed longer..

 

haha thanks. I try to bring in as much stuff as possible that is left out of the history books to keep things interesting. And there is a LOT the textbook publishers leave out to paint a rosy picture of American history, which in my opinion makes the subject less interesting. Another one of my favorite stories to tell is how Alexander Hamilton had to resign as Sec of the Treasury because of a controversy that arose where he was paying a man to see the man's wife "privately." The man then claimed he got the money through insider trading, and he said Hamilton was his source. Of course that wasn't true, he was just pimping out his wife to ol Mack Daddy Hamilton. The textbook just reads "Hamilton eventually resigned as Secretary of the Treasury." I always add, when going through that section, anyone wonder why he resigned? Well the textbook doesn't tell you, but I will.

 

I'll search for this on Directv, and set it up to record the series!! Thanks OP for the heads up!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Lies-My-Teacher-Told-Everything/dp/0743296281
This is a great read for lovers of America's true history, not the glossed over lies that you are "taught" in school.

 

That was a great show last night. A good mix of facts and goofing around.

 

Wait, what?

When I think booze, I think of more than beer. A little misleading there.

 

Well, they did go into wine and spirits here, but it was mostly beer. I think when they get to the 'wild west's next week, they'll talk more about whisky, and of course about prohibition. All in all I did enjoy the show, and the DVR is set to catch the rest of the series.

 

Got it -- thanks.

 

I DVR'd this last night and havent watched it yet. I was wondering if anyone had any info on when the next 2 episodes were airing. I checked next Wednesday and didnt see the second episode listed?

 

I DVR'd it myself but haven't watched it either. If you have FIOS, the DVR has a setting where you can record an entire series whenever it is shown without doing each one individually. Check yours.

 

Hmm, Mr. Rowe is perpetuating the Ben Franklin "Beer is Proof that God loves us" myth... wonder what else he'll be tossing out, bottom of the barrel Bock?

 

Unfortunately I have comcast, I also have that feature and used it. I just found it odd that the next episode was next week and wondered if anyone had any info on why or when the next was airing

 

It's airing every Wed at 10pm for 3 weeks.