May 13th, 2005 · Robert Siegel talks about the history of beer with Tom Standage, technology editor at The Economist. A History of the World in Six Glasses is Standage's new book that traces the history of civilization through beer, wine, distilled spirits, coffee, tea and coca cola. Beer was first produced at the end of the ice age and became popular with the Sumarians.
May 13th, 2005 · Grocery shelves are sagging with every kind of beer imaginable, in taste and appearance. With the help of beer expert Michael Jackson, Michele Norris and Robert Siegel take stock -- and taste -- of some of the world's finest (and most expensive) beers.
Apr 9th, 2005 · Graphic designer Nigel Holmes creates pictorial explanations of the mundane and the offbeat: Pouring a beer, changing a tire... perhaps performing a facelift. Some of his favorites are in a book called Wordless Diagrams.
Mar 25th, 2005 · In Mexico's Sierra Madre range, the religious drama of Easter has been refashioned by indigenous groups into an expression of cultural solidarity, replete with barrels of corn beer called tesguino.
Feb 23rd, 2005 · Our storyteller shares the tale of an animal rescue -- or an attempt at an animal rescue -- involving a beaver, a box, great compassion and perhaps a bit too much beer.
Feb 4th, 2005 · Actress and essayist Annabelle Gurwitch finally got the brass ring of acting gigs -- a role in a beer commercial scheduled to run during the Super Bowl. But the ad was pulled over concerns that it may be offensive.
Jan 19th, 2005 · Football's Super Bowl brings lots of beer ads. This year, Anheuser-Busch -- brewer of Budweiser and Bud Light -- has once again purchased exclusive rights for the national telecast. Anheuser-Busch recently attacked some ads by rival brewer Miller saying the commercials overstate the results of taste tests. Brewery scientist Michael Lewis helps NPR do its own comparison.
Dec 24th, 2004 · From rowdy medieval carolers demanding beer, to British Army officers serving their subordinates, Christmas-time has a long tradition of shaking up social status. NPR's Renee Montagne talks to Stephen Nissenbaum, author of The Battle for Christmas, which chronicles the history of role-reversal on Christmas.